Recently, my aunt, who resides in an assisted living facility, celebrated her 92^nd birthday. My mom wanted to call her sister, but she no longer has a cell phone. We decided to call the nurse’s station and request someone bring a phone to her so Mom could wish her happy birthday.

We called and got a recording: “Please listen carefully for our options have changed. If you are interested in career opportunities, please press 1. If you have questions about moving into our community, please press 2. For all other inquiries, please press 3.”

I pressed three and got, “If you want to speak to the executive director, press 1. If you want to speak to the resident care coordinator, press 2. For all other inquiries, press 3.”

After four attempts and after pressing different combinations, a real person finally picked up and was kind enough to connect my aunt with my Mom so they could visit briefly.

I thought, “I surely am glad prayer doesn’t work this way!”

If there are any complications with prayer, it’s usually on our end, never on God’s end. God is all ears, ready to hear us and willing to answer if we’ll just call on Him. Jeremiah 33:3 reads, “Call unto Me and I will answer you . . .”

If anything, we need to slow down our busy lives and take time to commune with God. How can we strengthen our prayer lives?

First, make prayer a priority. Realize the importance of prayer as a critical spiritual discipline that draws us closer to our Heavenly Father. If Jesus started His day with prayer (Mark 1:35), how much more should we?

Second, eliminate distractions. The Mark passage says Jesus went to a “deserted” place. This is easier said than done in our social media world, but we must find a way to withdraw. Don’t turn on the TV until you’ve prayed. Don’t open your laptop until you’ve started your day with God.

Third, remove barriers to potent praying. What makes our praying weak? 

*Prayerlessness (I Samuel 12:23). Prayer does us no good if we don’t pray. Or if we pray sporadically.

*Unconfessed sin (Psalm 66:18). Confess what you know to confess and ask God to show you anything else that needs confessing.

*Selfish motives (James 4:3). Often, we’re not thinking about the Kingdom of God. We’re thinking about what we want rather than what God wants. 

*Praying amiss (James 4:3). How many times have we prayed for something, but God had a better idea? We thought we knew what we wanted, but God knew best.

*Lack of faith (James 1:5-8, Matthew 21:22). Do we fear God really doesn’t  want to give, or that what we request is too big or difficult for God? Do we forget that nothing is impossible with God?

*Lack of persistence. Jesus taught persistence in prayer (Luke 11:5-13, 18:1-8). Keep on asking, seeking, and knocking.

*Not abiding in Christ (John 15:7). A continuing, vibrant relationship with Christ invigorates our praying.

*Not knowing what to pray for (Romans 8:26-27). Thankfully, the Holy Spirit is our helper in prayer.

Fourth, incorporate scripture into your prayers. Seminary professor Donald Whitney has written a book entitled Praying the Bible that will help us in this area.

Fifth, use a prayer list or journal to guide your praying. Along with praying for family members and those in need, pray daily for missionaries on their birthday; for different people groups who need to hear the Gospel; for nations who need a Gospel witness; for community, state, and national leaders; for our public servants who keep us safe; for our military; for sister churches and pastors; for our schools; for the lost. Pray for a different group each day.

Sixth, commit to grow in your prayer life. During this season, we celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates as they step into the next chapter of life. No matter what age or stage of life we’re in, we never graduate from the school of prayer. There’s always more to learn. Be like the disciples and plead, “Lord, teach us to pray.”

Seventh, pray specifically and expectantly. Praise God for specific attributes. Thank Him for specific blessings. Register specific requests. Pray a promise and claim that promise. Then watch for God to move and provide.(David L. Chancey serves as Transitional Pastor, Eagles Landing at Griffin, Griffin, Georgia. See more of his writings, including his books, at www.davidchancey.com. Contact him at [email protected]).