May 25, 2021
Psalms Series
Psalm 119 – Building a Stronger Prayer Life
Episode 56

Four Ways to Build a Stronger Prayer Life based on Psalm 119

1. Learn to pray with a sense of urgency. Develop the ability to pray earnestly, so that your prayer is heartfelt.  Psalm 119:145-147 (NIV)
   145  I call with all my heart; answer me, O LORD, and I will obey your decrees.
   146  I call out to you; save me and I will keep your statutes.
   147  I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. 
2. Develop a regular habit of praying. It needs to be part of our everyday life: 
   Psalm 119:147-148 (NIV)
    147  I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. 
    148  My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises. 
    
3. Couple prayer with reading the Word. This will ground your praying. 
   Psalm 119:145-147 (NIV)
    145  I call with all my heart; answer me, O LORD, and I will obey your decrees.
   146  I call out to you; save me and I will keep your statutes.
   147  I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word.
    
4. Pray with faith. 
   Psalm 119:150 (NIV)
    150  Those who devise wicked schemes are near, but they are far from your law.
   Psalm 119:151 (NIV)
    151  Yet you are near, O LORD, and all your commands are true. 
   
   

Recently I came across an interesting statement about prayer written by Max Lucado.  Notice what he says.

“Our prayers may be awkward.  Our attempts may be feeble.  But since the power of prayer is in the One who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.”