What Is Prayer? Answers to the Questions We All Have: Hearing Jesus, Daily Bible Study

What Is Prayer? Answers to the Questions We All Have: Hearing Jesus, Daily Bible Study

In today's episode, Rachael has a conversation on prayer before starting the Bible Study 101 series, working through what prayer actually is, why it belongs at the center of Bible study, and how to work through the obstacles that keep most people from praying consistently: not knowing what to say, a wandering mind, falling asleep, and what to do with prayers that still feel unanswered.

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This episode's conversation was with Monika Kirkland. Her new book, It Is Well With You: Becoming Fully Awake to the God Who Is Near, releases August 18th. Find her at monikakirkland.com

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Chapters

0:00 Why we're pausing for a conversation on prayer before Bible study 101

2:17 What is prayer?

4:16 What does prayer have to do with Bible study?

6:56 What do I do when I don't know what to say in prayer?

9:25 Why does my mind wander when I pray?

13:30 Is it okay to fall asleep while praying?

18:06 A story of answered prayer

23:01 What do I do with unanswered prayer?

24:18 What does it mean to war in the spirit?

26:04 How do I pray scripture over someone?

28:19 Two simple prayer rhythms to start this week

30:41 A closing prayer for you

What Is Prayer?

Prayer is connection and communion with God, the way we relate to Him directly instead of only hearing about Him secondhand. It's also an invitation to participate in what God is already doing in the world. Prayer isn't a formality before Bible study. It's the relationship Bible study is meant to deepen.

What Do I Do When I Don't Know What to Say in Prayer?

Start where you are. It's common to feel unsure your words sound right, especially early in your faith. The fix isn't finding the correct phrasing, it's showing up honestly. Prayer, like any relationship, feels a little awkward at first and becomes natural the more time you spend in it.

Why Does My Mind Wander When I Pray?

A wandering mind during prayer is common and not a sign of spiritual failure. In seminary, Rachael's professor John Coe taught that instead of just fighting your way back to focus, you should pay attention to where your mind wandered. Sometimes that reveals a person God wants you praying for. Other times, it reveals something you're holding onto more tightly than your relationship with Him.

Is It Okay to Fall Asleep While Praying?

Yes, and it isn't something to carry shame over. Changing your position or environment can help if it happens often, standing, walking, or praying with worship music playing. Rachael shares her own practice of never saying "amen" in her personal prayer time, choosing instead to stay in ongoing communication with God throughout the day, including into sleep.

What Do I Do With Unanswered Prayer?

When you cannot trace God's hand, trust His heart. Some prayers are answered with a no, some with a not yet. The posture Jesus modeled in Gethsemane, presenting the request and then surrendering to God's will, is the posture we're invited into while we wait.

What Does It Mean to War in the Spirit?

Warring in the spirit means actively partnering with God against the enemy's work in a specific situation, through fasting, prayer, and praying scripture aloud over someone by name. It's not passive waiting. It's active, focused intercession.

How Do I Pray Scripture Over Someone?

Find a verse that speaks to what the person actually needs and pray it directly over them in your own words. Colossians 1:11, "strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience," is one example of a verse that can become a lifeline in an exhausting season.

Two Simple Prayer Rhythms to Start This Week

Start the day with scripture before screens, opening the Bible before opening your phone, to set the tone for your whole day. There's also a practice from Richard Foster's Celebration of Discipline worth trying: turn your palms down and give God whatever is troubling you, then turn your palms up and ask Him to fill you with His peace.

FAQ

Do I need a certain amount of time to pray? No. Prayer doesn't require a set length. A short, honest prayer counts as much as a long one.

What Bible verse is good to pray when I'm struggling to find words? Colossians 1:11 is a good starting point, or any Psalm that matches what you're feeling in the moment.

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