10/14/2025
I’ll be honest: of all the ways we can connect with God—through the Gospel, through our purpose, through relationships—the one I struggle with the most is prayer. Maybe you do too.
For me, prayer often feels more like a monologue than a conversation. I talk, I pause, I hope God is listening. And while I’ve had moments where I’ve sensed His presence so deeply that I knew He was there, there are many times when it feels like silence on the other end. Can anyone relate?
Over time, though, I’ve realized something freeing: prayer is like a spiritual muscle. It’s either activated or it’s atrophied. The more I use it, the stronger it becomes. The less I use it, the weaker it grows.
I thought about this the other day while considering physical exercise. We all know exercise is good for us—it strengthens our bodies, sharpens our minds, and gives us energy. Yet, even when we know it’s good, we often struggle to make it a habit. Why? We don’t have time. We’re not motivated. We feel insecure. Or we just don’t see results fast enough.
Sound familiar? That’s how prayer can feel too. But unlike physical exercise, prayer doesn’t just benefit our bodies—it transforms our hearts, minds, and lives. Prayer deepens our connection with God, strengthens our community with others, opens the door for God’s coverage through His Spirit, clarifies our calling, and reminds us of our cause—participating in God’s kingdom work.
But here’s the real question: how do we actually strengthen this spiritual muscle? Paul gives us a model in Ephesians 3:14-21. In that passage, he prays that believers would be strengthened with power through the Spirit so that Christ may dwell in our hearts, that we would grasp the depth of His love, and that we would be filled with all the fullness of God.
Here are four truths I’ve personally leaned on as I’ve tried to grow in prayer:
1. Purpose: Paul begins, “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father…” His prayers had intention—they weren’t just words. When I forget why I’m praying, my prayers feel aimless. A simple way I’ve found to focus is using the A.C.T.S. model: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication.
2. Posture: Paul bows his knees. I don’t always have to kneel, but I’ve noticed that a change in posture—standing, sitting quietly, lifting my hands—helps me focus my heart. Just like leaning in to hear a friend more clearly, posture can shift perspective in prayer.
3. Person: Paul prays to the Father, through the Spirit, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts. Sometimes I forget who I’m talking to. Prayer isn’t words into a void—it’s a real conversation with the God of the universe who loves me and invites me into His mission.
4. Power: Paul concludes with this truth: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power at work within us…” (Eph. 3:20). This reminds me that prayer isn’t about mustering my own strength—it’s about connecting to God’s power. Just as my body weakens without exercise, my spirit grows tired when I neglect prayer.
Prayer is not a performance. It’s not a checklist. It’s a relationship—a daily, sometimes messy, often beautiful connection with the God who loves us.
I’ve learned that the only way to grow in prayer is to show up and practice. Start small. Stay consistent. Build over time.
I don’t just talk to God in prayer—I tap into the power of the Gospel itself. The question is: will I activate it, or let it atrophy?
Let's choose to show up, one prayer at a time.
This blog is an excerpt of my sermon preached on October 12, 2025. To hear the full message, click here.
