🙏 Prayer: A Proven Strategy to Cultivate the Soil

Friends,

One of my convictions is that Jesus is the GOAT, or greatest of all time.  In my humble opinion, there isn't a close second, nor will there ever be.

Here's an equally convincing truth I live by:

✨Jesus provided the best example for living like God intended.

If you want to prepare your spirit, or 'cultivate the soil' as I explained in our latest podcast episode entitled God Wants You to Grow, following His lead is a good way to get the results you desire.

Here's how Jesus prepared to receive from God:

Very early the next morning before daylight, Jesus got up and went to a place where he could be alone and pray (Mark 1:35, CEV).

He prayed.

After a high-demand period in His life, Jesus pulled away.  He paused from being on the go and took time to grow.  Prayer was the strategy that positioned Him to receive all God wanted to share.

Once again, if Jesus used the strategy and it paid dividends, it just makes sense to follow His example.  Now, let's look at why prayer works.

✅ Prayer reestablishes dependency.

Prayer, which in general is a conversation with God, pulls us off the throne of our lives.  To engage in prayer is to say you're not self-sufficient, which is exactly where God wants us to be in the first place, just as the verse below explained:

And without faith living within us it would be impossible to please God.  For we come to God in faith knowing that he is real and that he rewards the faith of those who passionately seek him (Hebrews 11:6, TPT).

We come to God in faith that He is really God, not us.  That's the setup for rewards only He can provide.

✅ Prayer is an opportunity to release deposits.

Think of preparing natural soil for a moment.  Getting the seed in the soil requires removing debris that is in the way.  Clearing the path ensures that the seed lands where it needs to in order to grow optimally.

Part of the strength of prayer is that it plays the same role in our lives.  When we come to God, He gives us permission to clear the path for the seed of truth He wants to deposit.  Notice how this verse put it:

Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything.  With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God (Philippians 4:6, CEV).

When worry about anything is within us, prayer is the excavator.  When you release what troubles you to God, Who, as we already established, really is God, you put it in the hands of the very One able to resolve it!

✅ Prayer is where we receive direction.

This is why preparation is so important.  If you believe you're really in charge or fail to transfer your concerns, you'll miss the most vital outcome of prayer--direction.

Jesus always knew the what, when, where, and how of next because of the direction He received.  The best news is that direction isn't exclusive to Jesus, and this verse is one of the reasons I'm so sure:

Ask me, and I will tell you things that you don't know and can't find out (Jeremiah 33:3, CEV).

This invitation, given specifically to Jeremiah, is our evidence that direction can reach more people than Jesus.  All we have to do is ask for it, and in His timing, and according to His will, God will answer us with information even ChatGPT can't gather.

The finish line for this blog post is upon us, but here's the main point: prayer is the strategy that pay dividends when it comes to preparing to receive God's wisdom.  If you need a reminder of Who's really in charge, a nonjudgmental avenue to share your concerns, and unprecedented guidance, prayer is the way forward.  It worked for Jesus, and it can also work for you, too!

Friends, that's all I was led to share about prayer, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who has seen the impact of prayer.  

💬How has prayer played a role in your growth journey?  Let me know in the comments.

And if you want a deeper dive into prayer, check out our previous podcast episode 👉: Pray Your Way to Clarity.

When God says so, I'll be back with another blog post.  Until then, (re)discover the tremendous benefit He can have on your life through prayer.

Joyfully,

Reginald  Hinton Jr.

Scripture quotations marked (CEV) are from the Contemporary English Version Copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.

Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from The Message, copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.

Reginald Hinton Jr., the President of Indurance Movement, has spent more than half his life in a relationship with God, and he uses the deep well of wisdom he's gained to help others find their true selves--the unique story God created before they were born.