Prayer

One thing I need to work on is prayer. I have never had a strong prayer life and do not set aside time during my day to pray. I may say a quick prayer in the morning during my bible study and say a few short prayers throughout the day, but prayer is not an active part of my life. I was really convicted about this after listening to my dad's sermon yesterday. Three reasons that I am not devoted to prayer: not expecting God to answer, misplaced priorities, and laziness.

Prayer should be a daily, consistent spiritual discipline. Daniel "got down on his knees and prayed" three times a day (Daniel 6:10). David cried out to God evening, morning, and noon (Psalm 55:17). I need to make it a priority to set aside time each day for prayer. I need to be persistant in my prayers as well. Jesus taught his disciples to always pray and not give up (Luke 18:1). When I don't see God answer prayer, it is easy for me to give up on that prayer, but He does not want me to give up. I have heard multiple people talk about praying for something for years before God answered their prayer. I also need to pray fervently and with intensity, not just half-heartedly. If I was in a life-or-death situation, I would be praying my heart out. That is how God wants us to pray about everything. He also wants us to expect Him to answer, something I am not good at. 

I have always liked using the ACTS acronym for prayer: adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. One thing I am lazy about in my prayer life is confession. Yesterday, my dad went through a list of sins and I realized how much sin is in my life: anger, lustful thoughts, complaining, speaking negatively about others, doubting God, lying, idolatry, placing values and priorities on worldly things, not using my spiritual gifts, not sharing my faith, gluttony, lack of self-control. If I am harboring these sins in my life, which I have been, and not confessing them, asking for forgiveness, and repenting, I cannot expect God to hear or answer my prayers.

I want to make prayer much more of a priority in my life. I think it is a huge part of overcoming my battle with bingeing. I want to challenge myself to something: praying before and after meals. Praying before meals is nothing new, but I wonder if praying after meals would weaken my craving to keep eating. It may not get rid of it completely, but it will be much harder to continue eating if I am spending that time in prayer.

I am confident that God wants me to experience victory and freedom from this addiction. I am also confident that He wants to help me in this battle. I love what John 14:13-14 says:

You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, because the work of the Son brings glory to the Father. Yes, ask for anything in my name and I will do it.

I need to be constantly asking God to help me in my struggles, and I need to expect that He will answer.