Welcome to my new blog Giving Inspiration For Today. To celebrate I'm kicking off with a Purpose series on 7 Keys to Purpose. This will be a 6-week series. Below you will find the 7 Keys and a summary of each week's topic. Week 1 starts now because it's time to open the door with these God-given keys.
Key #1: Prayer
Prayer is an activation tool. When you come to God in prayer you are given faith to move in purpose.
I define prayer as an exchange with our Heavenly Father. Prayer is a time to commune, a time to receive divine insight and instruction from our creator. There are many types of ways to pray with this blog will go into some tips. However, the most important thing is that you learn to be still and open to hearing the calm whisper of the spirit. Prayer should be an intimate time between you and God. When we pray we unlock purpose.
Type of Ways to Pray (Tips)
1. Prayer of Thanks
One of my favorite ways to pray is to come to God with the spirit of gratitude. Thanking him for all of the blessings in your life i.e., for waking you up in the morning, for giving you breath in your lungs, for letting you see a new day, for keeping you safe through the night, for keeping you guarded with angels even when you don't see them, for helping you to get through whatever it is that God has on your plate. When we come to God with a spirit of thanksgiving it blesses the giver and receiver.
2. Prayer Walk
Walking can become more than just physical exercise. It can be a way to calm the mind and come to God in prayer. Personally, taking a prayer walk has become a life-saving thing for me. Whenever I'm frustrated, in need of direction, or just overcome with emotions going on a walk and intentionally seeking God gives me a way to be calm, confident, and have clarity. Often times after that walk I know what to do and the exact next steps to take. A prayer walk is also powerful the closer you can get to nature, whether it's going on a hike, at a park, or my favorite, at the beach. Also, I'm always inspired by those the bible says walked with God Enoch, Noah, and Levi. I believe God wants to add your name to the list of those who walked closely with him.
3. Prayer Journaling
This is one of my favorite ways to pray. This is where you go to God with just a pen and paper to reveal what's on your heart. When you come to God by prayer journaling he reveals things to you as you write. As you write you gain solutions to things that you never thought that you would get but this is a powerful way of communicating with God. As a writer, it's one of my favorite things to do in the morning, whether I'm gratitude journaling or just freely writing a "Dear God" entry. I give myself 7 minutes to just sit still with God and write.
4. Surrendered Prayer
These are those prayers when you don't know what to pray. When you come before God with the circumstances of life, maybe you feel lost, maybe you feel fatigued, maybe you feel a heavy burden, maybe you feel like even giving up, maybe you feel sad and hopeless, these are the times when surrender will help. You can go to your Heavenly Father on your knees or lay down on the floor and ask him to give you the strength you need to get through the day. What I love about surrendered prayer is that God is faithful. He will give you comfort and teach you how to rest in him.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
5. Intercessor Prayer
This is a type of prayer where you go on behalf of someone else or on behalf of your city, country, government, or church. The prayers are endless, but you are interceding on behalf of others. Petitioning God for another is powerful because it says in the word... the fervent prayer of the righteous availeth much, James 5:16.
Honestly, this is where God has had me a lot at the start of 2020 and during this pandemic. My children and I have dedicated ourselves to not just praying for our own safety but also praying on behalf of others, including their teachers, essential workers, praying for those who may have lost loved ones during this pandemic, the homeless or hungry, and praying for those who are lost and don't know Jesus. There is something that warms my own heart when praying for others and even though this is often done in private I do feel as believers we are called to send prayers up for as many people as we are lead.
Side Note: Make a Prayer List of people you are committed to praying for this year. If you feel called to pray for others I want to recommend a great book that I'm currently reading. The Lifestyle of a Watchman: A 21-Day Journey to Becoming a Guardian in Prayer by James W. Goll
6. Humility Prayer
This is when we come to God asking to be more like Jesus. This is when we take the time to allow him to look into our hearts and change anything that is unlike him. This is usually a deep inner prayer where we must humble ourselves in order to receive the pruning that may be necessary.
I use to struggle with this type of prayer because of a spirit of pride. It can be difficult to admit when you have fallen short or take accountability for the areas leading you astray from God. It may be that we are being impatient, doubt, or lack faith. Now, this is not to say that we are to feel condemnation, please know as Christians we are to walk in forgiveness and Grace. However, we come to God knowing we need more of him, more of the fruits of the spirit, Galatians 5:22-23. Walking in humility makes you more purpose-driven, you become more about God and service to others than only self-seeking.
7. Ask Prayer
Now, this type of prayer is one that we are all familiar with. We come to God asking for him to do things for us, however, I'm going to encourage you to ask bigger and to ask according to his word (I will go more in-depth with this in week 6 of this series). Often times I have struggled with asking God for big things, as he'll say back to me, "that's all you want? I'm an abundant God." It's okay to ask God for things and dream bigger. Now unto Him, that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, Ephesians 3:20. God reminds us constantly to come to him in prayer and as children of God, this is key to purpose and having an intimate trusting relationship. Just remember when you do ask to let go of how it's going to look. God's goodness has a way of surprising you.
Final Word
God loves you and he wants you to come to him in prayer. When you pray it activates a key that you will need to live with purpose. He will give you that purpose not just for the long haul but for that moment, for that day, the purpose you need to continue to grow into the best version of yourself. You can become all God has called you to be. God wants to take away your fears and replace them with a spirit of faith, peace, and confidence in his word. Which of these 7 ways to pray are you committed to trying this week to unlock more purpose in your life?
Did you enjoy this post? Feel free to comment, like, and share. Join my email list so you never miss a post during this series. Stay tuned for week 2 comes out next week May 6th.
Upcoming Series Topics and Keys to Purpose below:
Week 2- Praise
Week 3- Perception
Week 4- Provision
Week 5- Preparation
Week 6- Promises and Profession
Behind the scenes:
I'm finishing up Purpose For Today which will be the 5th book in the Giving Inspiration For Today Book Series volume 2. I started writing in 2019, then took a writing Sabbatical, started writing again in silence in September of 2020, now I'm almost to the finish line. I'm so excited to share what God has given me to release. I believe it is a fresh way of looking at Purpose that is going to set many of us purpose-driven women free. Thanks for reading and let's stay connected on my newest Instagram or Facebook page @GivingInspirationForToday
Featured book in Giving Inspiration For Today series Well-being For Today: A Guided Journal to Nourish Your Well-being. If you're looking for a journal to start your prayer journaling in or maybe you are an aspiring author consider Well-being for Today. Available now on Amazon for $27 click the link here to get your copy.