When I Pray
Praying to God has always been a part of my life. I know how to pray, but I’m still learning to hear God’s voice and to pray those things He places on my mind, and I’m still learning how to be still in His presence. One of the privileges we have in praying is making intercession for others. Recently I have been especially blessed by visualizing myself standing before the throne of God in my prayer time, and I sincerely believe I am there. This is the faith of every believer whether they visualize this or not. I’m not trying to visualize God, but rather, as I stand there and talk to God, I begin to call out the names of those I’m praying for and then visualize individuals joining me as I speak their name to the Father. Usually I’m standing there before God and I start calling out the names of my family. And I will say something like, “Father, I have Kristen (my wife) with me, and I know you know her needs, so I ask you to bless her (and I will name in details of what I know to pray for her). And I will do every member of my family that way, but the point is I’m standing before God with them beside me. After that, I go through my prayer list of other names, calling each one out and then again seeing them with me. I call out the names of those in my church, and by the time I finish my time in prayer, I’m standing in the throne room of God with a lot of people!
Praying this way takes time and faith and it can renew your love for praying for others. God’s Word says, “But without faith [it is] impossible to please [Him,] for he who comes to God (in prayer) must believe that He is, and [that] He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.“ —Hebrews 11:6
Why not try this the next time you go to the Lord in prayer and see how many people you can bring into the throne room of God with you. “…praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” —Ephesians 6:18
When you go to God in prayer, don’t go by yourself. Bring as many people as you can into the throne room of God. That’s what it’s there for and that’s why the door is always left open.