This is the Truth Network. Encouraging Prayer. God offers an open invitation for His people to talk with Him at any time about anything. On Encouraging Prayer, Dr. James Banks, author of the best-selling Prayers for Prodigals and many other books on prayer, provides weekly biblical insight to help you learn to love to pray.
And now, here's James.
Well, what a great way to start the new year. today on Encouraging Prayer. We're going to talk about finding fresh ways to pray. James? Yeah, it is so easy to get stuck in ruts, and because of the new year is the time when lots of us are trying to make new beginnings.
What could be better than growing closer to God through your prayer life? Yeah, you're so right. I mean, this matters so much because it changes everything. And before we went on the air, you mentioned how much the way we see God affects the way we pray.
So let's start there. Yeah, great idea. I think the first thing we have to understand is that God isn't some disinterested being who's going to think that our prayers are stupid or, you know, well, where have you been or, you know, whatever else the case may be. He just wants us to come to him and he loves it when we do.
So finding fresh ways begins really with how we look at God. You know, understanding that, for example, I think one area where a lot of people get hung up on is if there's a sin that they've been struggling with and they can't get past asking for forgiveness for that sin. And so maybe they need to take a step of faith, you know, and say, Father, I'm going to believe that you have forgiven me, so I'm going to keep praying, you know, about other things. And I'm also going to ask for your strength and grace in that area again now. But, you know, we need to get out of some of those ruts that we're in.
Yeah, I love that. And you know especially when it comes to that whole idea of hanging out you know And one of the fresh ways I learned this year in hanging out was you know I usually go to God with things that I thinking or wanting so to speak or concerns of mine. But I heard a podcast on turning it on God and asking God, you know, how are you feeling? Right. and trying to have a sense of where he's at.
And fascinatingly, as I began to dig into that, it was almost a mirror into how I was really feeling that I didn't know I felt that way. I love that. Yeah. Yeah, that is so good. You know, the thought, again, and we talk about that often, of just being with Jesus, first of all.
But then, yeah, asking him, why not? Abba, Father, how are you? How are you feeling? And plus, just taking the time to tell him that we love him. But just that whole concept of not having an agenda, you know, and just saying, you know, I'm just going to spend time with Abba, Father.
That's what I'm going to do. more than anything else I think is a great fresh place to start and here's another sometimes making a list helps you pray and you might think that just sounds kind of rote and maybe you're a list prayer already so if you are then do this tear it up or save it I keep all of mine in a drawer going back for years and then make a fresh list the beginning of the year is the best time to do that. Ask God to lead you. Because what you'll find is that sometimes you have a list that goes back for years, and maybe it's time to kind of update that a bit.
So that's something that I'm doing this year as well. And I think it's really helpful. Oh I do too In fact it kind of funny you mention it because just this morning I was adjusting Like man you know this needs to be more on this and this needs to be over there on that and I you know it a fresh thing and seasons change Yeah, and we've got to keep it fresh, you know? That's important. I mean, if this is a vital relationship with someone that we love and someone that we know, and it's not just about ritual and it's not just about religion, then I think God wants us to keep it fresh as well.
And I think we'll be blessed because of it. Yeah, I know that, you know, for me, this year is this fresh start because I ask for a new word every year. Last year it was worship. and so I learned new ways to worship through prayer last year. This year, my word is wholehearted, and so I am already deep into, okay, Lord, how does it feel to pray wholehearted?
What am I missing, right? Yeah, I think that's a great thing to do is ask God for a word or just to be especially attentive to where he's directing you in this new year. Like last year, I found that at the beginning of the year, he had really directed me in the area of praying for healing and thinking about what that was like and, you know, kind of growing my understanding in that area. Wow. And then I came to realize, you know, as the year went on, that there were a number of people around me who needed prayer for healing.
And then as the year progressed, I found, wait a minute, I need prayer for healing. Right. And so as I was struggling with some unexpected diagnoses, then I realized God had been there all along and he was leading me.
So it really is important to be attentive, to just be on your toes. Because again, this is about keeping a relationship vital. Here's a challenging idea to make things fresh, and this really will challenge you. And that is turn the news into prayer. Mm That would be a challenge Yeah I following you but I think your listeners would love to hear how you exactly do that Well, you know, I mean, first of all, whatever the news of the world is, pray about it.
Whatever the slant of the particular news, you know, presentation is, ask God to give you wisdom in understanding it, because there's always human bias somewhere, you know. And just, again, it leads us into a biblical perspective of praying for those who are in authority over us, and also praying for those who are in need.
so you know you've really got to focus to do it but you know I think that's a great way to go another quick one is just have a little walk with Jesus you know take a take a walk specifically for the purpose of talking to him get out in nature let his creation help you but just do it you know That's one of my favorite, really is. And a hint along those lines that's really fun is to ask God as you take off, show me something cool or let me hear something cool or let me smell something cool. This would be a good time to close that way. Do it.
So, Lord, we thank you for, oh, the opportunities of prayer and a chance to truly connect with you. Lord, I pray that you would take these ideas and help us to use them to push into our relationship with you. I pray for that very thing that you would teach us. Teach us how it would be good for our hearts to commune with you this year. In 2026, in Jesus' name I pray.
Amen. Amen. You can hear more from Pastor James by visiting his website, jamesbanks.org, or by visiting Peace Church in Durham, North Carolina. May God bless you and encourage you as you pray.
