wishful praying

When I was little I used to wish on my birthday candles that my aunt would accept Jesus in her heart. When I was 12 she did. But it wasn’t because I wished on my birthday candles; it was because my mom, my family, and myself prayed relentlessly for her salvation.

When I was little I didn’t quite know the difference between a wish and a prayer and the truth is that I think it’s a more common mistake then you may think.

Do you ever feel like the prayers you breathe to God are more like a wish and less like a powerful promise that you can put your faith in? I do.

I don’t bank on them- because I’m not sure that they can be trusted. The honest truth is that a lot of times I don’t have faith in them. They’re just a wish list. And I’m left crossing my fingers and worrying about them all day.

But this isn’t the way it is supposed to be. Prayer is supposed to be powerful. My prayers are rooted in promises straight from the God of the Universe. I can expect that the Lord will honor my prayers prayed in faith and in confidence. And I can praise Him and rest in peace because I know that He will be faithful.

The dreams that the Lord has laid on my heart aren’t simply wishful thinking. They may seem crazy. They may seem foolish or illogical or impossible. But I don’t have to resign them to childish wishes that only happen in fairy tales. Disney says “a dream is a wish that your heart makes.” But I know that’s wrong. A dream is prayer that God lays on your heart- meant to be prayed with confidence and pursued in a way that glorifies the Lord who made you.

This summer God is teaching me a lot about prayer. And I think that I'm just touching on the tip of the iceberg! But I know this, if I learn how to pray in confidence and with expectation- it changes everything.

So don’t turn your prayers into wishes. And don’t dream on shooting stars.

Pray and dream with confidence that the Lord will come through.

“Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God” 

I John 3:21

“Who you become is determined by how you pray” – Mark Batterson, The Circle Maker