“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:13 (NKJV)

The posture of the heart when praying is very important. Prayer is beyond mere words, it’s beyond speaking, it is about the heart and our thoughts when we pray. The heart to pray requires:

A heart that is filled with faith is very important in prayer. We should approach God believing that He hears us.

Hebrews 11:6

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him…”

James 1:6

“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting…”

Faith does not mean that we dictate the answer to God. Faith means: “Lord, I know You are able, I know You hear me, and I trust You with the outcome.”

One of the greatest challenges in prayer is waiting. Sometimes we pray once and expect an immediate answer without being persistent. But Jesus taught His disciples:

Luke 18:1

“Men always ought to pray and not lose heart.”

A praying heart does not easily give up. You may not see the answer today. You may not understand what God is doing. But you continue to pray.

Galatians 6:9

“Let us not grow weary while doing good…”

Delay is not necessarily denial. Sometimes God is working in ways we cannot yet see.

Offences come and they are capable of making the heart bitter, but forgiveness is very important to make the heart right. Jesus connected prayer with forgiveness.

Mark 11:25

“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him…”

It is difficult to maintain a healthy prayer life while deliberately holding on to bitterness and unforgiveness. A heart that prays must learn to say: “Lord, help me forgive as You have forgiven me.”

More so, our heart must desire the will of God. Prayer is not about making God submit to our plans. Prayer also involves surrender. Jesus demonstrated this in Gethsemane:

Luke 22:42

“Nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”

A mature prayer life moves from: “God, do what I want.” To: “God, let Your will be done in my life.” Thanksgiving is very crucial in our fellowship with God. Even while asking God for things, we should remember to thank Him.

Philippians 4:6

“In everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

Thanksgiving changes our perspective. Instead of focusing only on what we don’t have, we remember God’s faithfulness. A thankful heart says: “Lord, even before I see the answer, I thank You because You are faithful.”

Prayer should not always be about “me, myself, and my needs.” A mature believer learns to carry others before God. In 1 Timothy 2:1, Paul encourages believers to offer: “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks… for all men.”

Pray for your family. Pray for your church. Pray for leaders. Pray for those who are struggling. Pray for people who don’t know Christ. A praying heart is a compassionate heart.

Whenever you pray or before you pray, always check the state of your heart, now right is it before God. The posture of your heart is as important as the prayers.

Don’t make prayer merely a religious duty. Make it a relationship. Don’t pray only because you have a problem. Pray because you have a Father. Don’t pray only when you need God’s hand. Pray because you desire God’s presence.

Reflection: The greatest question is not: “How long do I pray?” It is: “What is the condition of my heart when I pray?”

Confession: I am God’s beloved and I live right in His presence. I pray with the heart that has been cleansed by the Holy Spirit.

Related Scripture: James 5

Bible Reading: Exodus 33