Our We the Faith People Series has reached the last week, We are in Day 35 of Lent. A lot happened in these 7 days, 2026 years ago; As we reflect the events of the Passion Week, here in the Faith People Series we will be dwelling up 6 key topics
- What is Prayer? (Today)
- What is regeneration? (Tomorrow)
- What is Baptism? (Wednesday)
- What is Eucharist? (Maundy Thursday)
- What is Christian Living? (Good Friday)
- How do I respond in Faith? (Silent Saturday)
In our last post, Finding Rest in a Restless World, we explored how the Sabbath allows us to pause our work and feast on God’s presence. But what does that “feasting” actually look like in our daily lives? How do we maintain that connection when the Monday morning rush begins?
For “the Faith People,” the lifeline is Prayer. It is the ongoing, intimate dialogue that sustains our spirit and aligns our hearts with the Heart of the Universe.
What is Prayer?
At its most fundamental level, prayer is simply talking with God. It isn’t a religious performance or a list of “thee’s” and “thou’s”; it is a child speaking to a Father.
Jesus gave us the ultimate framework in the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). Prayer is the space where we praise God for His holiness, thank Him for His provision, confess our stumbles, and ask Him for our deepest needs and desires (Philippians 4:6). While the Bible shows us what to pray for, we aren’t left to struggle for words alone. The Holy Spirit Himself helps and teaches us, groaning on our behalf when our own words fall short (Romans 8:26).
We have this incredible promise: God always hears the prayers of His children. He doesn’t just listen; He answers with exactly what we need, at exactly the right time (James 5:16).
The Great Question: Is Prayer Necessary?
If we believe in the Providence of God—that He already knows the future and what He is going to do—why bother praying? The Bible is remarkably clear: God’s people are commanded to pray. Jesus didn’t suggest it; He modeled it by rising early to speak with the Father (Mark 1:35-38) and commanded us to do the same (Matthew 9:37-38).
Prayer is not about changing God’s mind to match ours; it is about God using our prayers to accomplish His will (Isaiah 37:21-22). There is a mystery here: God is sovereign, yet the New Testament says there are some things we do not have simply because we do not ask (James 4:2-3). In His grace, God allows us to be active participants in His eternal work (Matthew 6:9-10). From the days of Abraham to the early Church in Acts, we see God bringing about massive change in response to the cries of His people (Genesis 18:22-33; Acts 4:23-31). When prayer is answered, it isn’t “luck”—it is a moment that gives God glory.
How to Pray: The “ACTS” Model
If you’ve ever felt stuck or like your prayers are hitting the ceiling, remember that prayer is not meant to be complicated. Daniel, a faithful servant of God, provided a beautiful model of adoration, gratitude, confession, and petition (Daniel 9:4-19).
A simple way to remember this is the acronym ACTS:
- A – Adoration: We start by adoring God for Who He Is. We praise Him for His majesty, His kindness, and His power.
- C – Confession: We honestly bring our sins and failures before Him, repenting and receiving His forgiveness.
- T – Thanksgiving: We thank Him for His goodness, His specific blessings, and the “answered prayers” we often take for granted.
- S – Supplication: Finally, we bring our needs. We pray for ourselves, our loved ones, our professional challenges, our Church, and our nation.
A Call to the Believers
Prayer is the “oxygen” of the Christian life. Without it, our faith becomes a cold set of rules rather than a vibrant relationship. I challenge you today: Don’t wait for a crisis to talk to your Father. Start your day with Adoration. End your day with Thanksgiving. Carry the conversation through your commute, your meetings, and your chores.
You have been invited into the throne room of the King. Don’t leave the invitation sitting on the table.
Reflect: If your prayer life was the only evidence of your relationship with God, what would it say about how much you trust Him?
Next Step:
Prayer is us talking to God, but how do we become the kind of people who want to talk to Him in the first place? Join me in the next post: What is Regeneration? (The miracle of the new birth).