She said, “I am very thankful for your insights. I have so much to learn. Don’t we all, I suppose? I would love for you to teach me more about prayer and how you came to be the prayer warrior you are. It has never come easily to me, and I know having more time in prayer with the Lord would dramatically grow my faith. If you’re willing, maybe we can figure out how you could best teach me?”

That was one email that sat me down hard. I feel as if at age 70 I am just now learning the prayer life. So I thought about her request.

The very first thing that comes to mind is just talk to God. Define a request and then let’s go together to Him and discuss it.

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.

Mark 10:36 NIV

Jesus likes me to be specific. Not to the point of dictating to Him what He SHOULD do in any given situation, but rather, what the desire of my heart is. Good communication is based upon truth. Tell Him honestly what you want.

Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4 NIV

If I take delight in Him, He will put His desires in my heart. When I pray for those desires, how can I go wrong?

I find that so many people are at a loss for words when it comes to speaking to God, or even speaking their heart to anyone. Years ago, one woman told me repeatedly, “You always give me the words.” I do not believe you have to be a “word smith” to pray well, but you do need to be able to express what your heart desires. Otherwise, how will you know when your prayer is answered?

When I pray for others I try to practice my best listening skills. Then say back to the person what I think they said, “Is this how you want me to pray?”

How did I become a prayer warrior? Well it was certainly gradual! I read the New Testament believing the passage that “God is no respecter of persons.” Acts 10:34 various translations say, “He shows no partiality, does not show favoritism.” He gave the Holy Spirit to people in the book of Acts after His resurrection and ascension. He would give it to me for the asking. So I believed and asked. Romans 2:11 reads God does not show favoritism or partiality. If the anointing of the Holy Spirit could be given 2,000 years ago, it can be given today. He gave to me in various ways at various times.

Then the Old Testament passages about giving a word to others in due season.

The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue,
    to know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning,
    wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.

Isaiah 50:4 NIV

I must listen to Him every single day to know the word that sustains. I must yield to Him listening, like on being instructed. Such truth there! This requires my admission that I do not ‘know it all.’ In fact, one of my frequent sayings is, “I know nothing.”

I pray this helps if you,too, are seeking to become a prayer warrior. I do not have the market cornered on how to, but these were my thoughts following that one email.