Pray First: The Transformative Power of a Life Built on Prayer

by Chris Hodges

If prayer is the lifeblood of the Christian faith, then I’m afraid many believers are anemic.

Prayer can change us from the inside out as we experience more of who God is and less of who we are.

Relying on our relationship with God is the only way to accomplish all that He has created us to do in this life.

God never intended us to live naturally. He wants us to live supernaturally. Prayer is that access point, where heaven touches earth, where we maintain our lifeline with our Creator, our Savior, and our Redeemer.

Communicating with God throughout your day brings Him into everything and everyone you encounter—your

Prayer is about living in connection to God and, through that connection, living out His purpose for your life, which is why it’s important to talk to God before you act, before you decide, before you’re tempted, before you speak, before you risk.

It’s thoughtless, rude, and disrespectful to the relationship. It reflects an attitude that God is just there for what He can do for you. Such discourtesy treats God not as your Abba Father but like a genie. Obviously, that’s not who He is, and that’s not how your relationship with Him should work.

But if you’ve ever experienced the power of God unleashed through prayer, then you know nothing is impossible—because the most powerful force on earth is not nuclear, atomic, military-based, or government-led. The most powerful force on earth is God’s power in answer to the prayers of His people.

Focusing on communion with the Holy Spirit is like being with your best friend all day long. Consequently, it’s essential to cultivate and develop a friendship with Him. As you get to know Him more and more, you can pray from the bond of friendship and fellowship you experience. The word translated as Holy Spirit is usually parakletos, Greek that literally means “one called to be by one’s side.” He is your friend, advocate, champion, guardian, and an additional kind of intercessor.

The Holy Spirit fortifies you when you’re struggling and gives you the power to resist temptation. He also intercedes on your behalf when you don’t know what or how to pray. The Spirit knows you better than you know yourself.

There is a mighty lot of difference between saying prayers and praying. —John G. Lake

While there are many more, I usually include seven of His names when I pray: Righteousness, Sanctifier, Healer, Banner of Victory, Shepherd, Peace, and Provider.

What may sound like a rhetorical question here actually has a literal aspect to it. Looking up to the mountains does not refer to gazing toward heaven and God. In ancient Jerusalem, the government leaders’ headquarters were on the hills, or mountains, above most of the city. So the psalmist was basically asking, “Does my help come from those in earthly power?”

Some scholars have argued that a better, more accurate translation of the original Greek might be “Do not allow us to be led into temptation.” See the difference? We will face temptation presented by the Enemy today, so we need God’s help to resist and stand strong in our faith.

If you’re not fighting the devil every day, then he’s working harder than you!

Remember, prayer is foremost communion with God, but it’s also confrontation with the devil.

God’s Word is clear that we’re to pray continually and creatively:

It may sound goofy, but I start at the top of my head and offer every part of my body to God and pray to receive His cleansing touch. Offering my mind and all my thoughts, assumptions, and attitudes, I then pray for my eyes, asking the Lord to keep my vision focused on Him, on the needs of others, on what He wants me to do that day.

Then I’ll focus on my ears and pray that I would listen to God’s voice and not the temptations of the Enemy. Next, my mouth and tongue are offered for cleansing so that the words I say may be pleasing to God and not harmful toward others. From there, I move down to my hands and feet. I’ll pray that my hands may be of service and touch others with God’s love. I’ll ask God to set my feet on course with where He wants me to go.

But clearly-Jabez wasn’t willing to settle for a life of pain—and neither should you.

Notice that Jabez asked four requests of God: for blessing, influence, presence, and protection.

We are blessed to be a blessing!

Pray for blessing so that you can bless others around you.

Praying for influence is one of the most important prayers you can pray. When you’re willing to pray, “Lord, show me my calling, show me the legacy You want me to leave,” you discover the joy of significance and contentment.

God wants us to invest in the only thing that lasts forever—people.

Do you know how you can tell if those dreams are from God? If they’re impossible for you to accomplish without Him! If the size of your dream isn’t intimidating to you, then there’s a good chance it isn’t what God has in mind for you.

You were created to be an influencer—and I don’t mean the kind on social media. You may not know your purpose yet or the extent of it, but God does. He wants to show you and empower you to do what seems impossible to you now.

I know it feels better to us if we believe we’re qualified and competent, educated and trained for the purpose and opportunities colliding before us. But it doesn’t take long to realize that no matter how many credentials or how much experience we have, it’s ultimately never enough. Because only God can accomplish the impossible—and He prefers to reveal His power and greatness through those who serve Him.

Remember, prayer isn’t about God moving toward you. Prayer is about you moving toward God.

Instead of focusing on ourselves, praying the names of God makes it all about Him. Then when we make our requests and petitions known, we’re communicating confidence in who He is and not merely what He does for us.

Our God doesn’t have peace that He dispenses when we need it—He is Peace! When we rest in Him, we experience the peace that passes human understanding, a supernatural sense of security and safety.

Small groups are a place to grow where iron sharpens iron. God often chooses to heal us through His people.

He aligns before He assigns.

Through Christ, you have everything—and more—you need to do the mission God created you to complete.

As you can see, praying all the names of God found in Psalm 23 carries enormous spiritual weight. Without a doubt, it’s one of the most powerful ways to pray.

It may seem counterintuitive, but our needs are met as we let go of them and focus completely on who God is in all His glorious dimensions.

Jesus didn’t come to build an organization. He came to build a family.

But nothing we do can draw another human being to God like prayer. Incorporating our prayers for the lost into our regular prayer practice keeps them on our minds and hearts.

There may be no better way to love another person than to pray for them to know the Lord!

Satan laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray. —Samuel Chadwick

You’ll recall that prayer is not only communion with God—it is confrontation with the Enemy. Confronting him and accessing God’s power to overcome the devil must be foundational to your prayer times. Spiritual warfare is not an option—it’s an essential part of growing in your faith and living victoriously.

Your ability to fight the devil is only as strong as your relationship with the Lord.

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7 NIV). Don’t miss the sequence here: First you submit to God, and then you resist the devil. And then watch him flee!

Your relationship with God gives you power...

Notice Paul’s warning here: when we fail to forgive, we create an opening for the devil to enter with his schemes.

Jesus used the Word of God as His weapon to fight the Enemy and so should we. When we know the truth, the truth sets us free

The Greek word translated “strongholds” in this passage is ochyroma, which literally refers to a prisoner locked up by deception. When you’re trapped in a stronghold, you’re living life based on something that’s not true.

Prayer does not fit us for the greater works; prayer is the greater work. —Oswald Chambers

Knowing Him is an ongoing process over our lifetimes, not a one-time memorization of facts or theology.

Our relationship with Him anchors us no matter our circumstances or life seasons.