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Heard…

Pray for Ukraine. Pray for the innocent people in Russia. Pray for local crises. Pray for friends and loved ones who are sick, having surgery, or have lost a loved one. I’ll be honest, sometimes it seems a little overwhelming to think about all the things that need to be prayed over. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t pray for specific needs. But one of the things that God has really been dealing with me about is my prayer life.

Like most people of faith, I tend to spout off the numerous needs in my home, my community, and my world. Jesus taught us to pray. He made it personal and led by example, showing us that prayer is less about sharing all of our worries with God and more about just having a conversation with Him.


This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. (Matthew‬ ‭6:9-13‬ ‭NIV‬‬)


I believe that the global church should rise up in prayer over major crises that are experienced in our world and communities. I have first-hand experience with the power of prayer. Sometimes, however, we can put so much emphasis on the need that we forget the One who has already met the need.


Last week, I shared a song that my Daddy recently wrote. He’s been writing songs for years, and one of my personal favorites deals with prayer. It reminds me that I don’t have to be overwhelmed with all of the needs that are out there. My Father in Heaven already knows what we need.


 Click Here to Listen to “He’s Already Heard My Prayer” (Music and Lyrics by Stephen White. Arranged by Stephen White and Jill Cook)


That being said, I want to encourage you to make your daily prayer life conversational. God wants to be our very best friend. He already knows what we need personally. He would just love to talk to us. And when prayer is conversational, we have to give Him a chance to speak.


“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John‬ ‭10:27‬ ‭NLT‬‬)


I love this scripture because it reminds me that God‘s voice brings me peace. When the enemy tries to play on my mind, I can rest in the arms of Jesus and listen as He speaks life and truth over me.


Ultimately, as Christians, we should be in prayer daily for our families, for our nation, and for our world. But remember, prayer is more about having a conversation with our very best Friend than just going through a checklist of everything that’s not going right. And then stop to listen to what Christ wants to speak into your heart. If you are a Christian, His voice is familiar to you and will bring you peace. Just pray. He already knows, and He just wants to talk.


No need for a prayer this week. Instead, I challenge you to listen to the voice of the Shepherd and be comforted by His voice of peace.


© Jill Cook and Unbroken & Undone Ministries.  All rights reserved.




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