Prayed Up

Lately, I've been feeling guilty because my prayer closet has been missing one thing: ME! I haven't been spending as much time praying and in communion as I should be and I feel bad for it. I've been doing my "on the go" prayers, and in turn it's left me feeling like I'm missing something.

I was listening to the Redefining Wealth Podcast - episode 226, where Prayer Coach Jazlyn Denise, spoke about her Prayer Playbook. Even though this wasn't the latest episode, this one stood out to me. I appreciate her truths during the episode because she was transparent and honest and HUMAN! If it's one thing I've learned to appreciate in my adult life, is the real and raw authenticity of others. We are not perfect beings but the ability to acknowledge that makes all the difference.

There was one thing she said that really stood out to me:

"If the enemy can keep your prayers silent, he can keep you bound; life and death are in the power of the tongue"

- Jazlyn Denise

Basically, she was saying, do not fear praying aloud or in front of others, or be ashamed to pray at all. Once the devil knows your fear, he will will you into keeping your prayers to yourself. I always thought about prayer as this big grand gesture that needed to be done a certain way. Don't get me wrong; reverence is important. I do believe that just like your self-care time, prayer/communion time needs its own slot. I usually pray and do my devotionals at night, because I am a zombie when I wake up early in the morning. Over the years, my prayers went from what I heard others say in church, to just being downright real. No need to be Shakespeare!

Prayer has nothing to do with others and how they sound when they pray but has everything to do with your relationship with God. I was having a convo with someone the other day and told them that going to church used to be a hassle for me because I was concerned with church people being so 'holy' and me, well, not so much. I felt like I was always stuck between a rock and a hard place because I went to church to save face. It wasn't until after college, that I treated going to church and prayer as my own personal time with God, and not just how I look in my Sunday's best. My relationship with God may not be like yours, but I know where I stand with God. Do I go to church every Sunday? No. But I do acknowledge the fact that He is the Savior of my life, and nothing else matters if He's missing.

Prayer, is like texting or making a phone call, to Godutshell, not complaining when you pray. I've been here and I HAVE DEFINITELY done this. You ever pray, and then before you know it, you done rambled off a list of things that are going wrong in your life and how God needs to fix it? Yea, don't do that. It's not effective; you're the same one that'll say prayer doesn't work. Praying allows you to speak to God, and to acknowledge all the lessons he needs you to learn in order for you to proceed to your next chapter. Your prayers don't have to sound like 'thee', 'dost sayeth', and 'thou', but it should reflect your truest self and put you in a position for a blessing.

Positioning yourself also means designating time to pray. I told you I do my stuff at night because that's what's worked for me on a consistent basis. But Jazlyn suggesting taking it up a notch and designating a space. It makes sense. We eat in a certain spot, use the bathroom in one area of the house, and sleep righteously in our Queen sized beds, BUT with the one relationship that we claim is so important, we give Him a "Lord thanks for today" while rushing to work my own testimony. There's nothing wrong with that, but He deserves more. It made perfect sense. Listen I don't own a home yet, so I don't have a whole closet. But I can afford to clear a rug, reserve a bar stool, or settle in my room chair, in order to get that one on one time.

Prayer is like texting or making a phone call, to God. Make that time special. Make it so that you actually want to call Him; not just when you have an emergency. HE IS NOT ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. Talk to Him before you break down. Speak boldly and honestly to God; don't keep silent. Pray to God, because your life depends on it.