In the last newsletter we took a look at hurdles to prayer. In this newsletter we look at overcoming those hurdles. There is no “3 simple steps to be victorious in your prayer life!”, although we wish there were.  We are all on our own faith journey and must find our own way to overcome – ways that work for us. What I am sharing here are only a few ideas to engage your heart and mind so that we do not just accept the status quo; “That is just the way I am.” Our prayer lives are vital to our personal intimacy with God and it vital for truly effective ministry. “…..The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” – James 5:16b ESV

• Identify your hurdle/s. You can not overcome your hurdle until you own it.
• Let the “prayer hurdles” themselves become a call to prayer. I think this picture communicates that message beautifully. Let that which trips us up bring us immediately to our knees in prayer.
• Ask someone else to pray with you about your hurdles. “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” – James 5:16a ESV
• Persistent despite the obstacle. Don’t feel it? Do it anyway! One of the breakthrough moments in my life was when i realized that God did not owe me anything, nothing, not even feelings. I owe him everything. Some of my greatest victories have come after pressing through periods of dryness.
• Know. Faith in God is based on fact not feeling. I pray based on fact. Fact: God is God. Fact: He loves me. Fact: He hears my prayers. I press in based on these facts and others, NOT on feeling. “God, I worship you for who you are, whether I “feel” you or not.
• Shut up! “Be still, and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10 Try journaling to help slow down your prayer time and to help developing a listening heart.
• Pray prayers directly from the Word filling in the name of the person you are praying for. Ephesians 3:14-21 and Colossians 1:9-14 are just a few ideas.
• Talk to others, how did they overcome their hurdles.

Discuss – Evaluate – Execute:

• What hinders your prayer life?
• Which of the steps above do you believe will help to overcome your hurdles?
• What additional steps do you want to take?
• Write down your plan.
• Discuss it with a friend who will hold you accountable.