Are You a Prayer Worrier or a Prayer Warrior?

Have you ever prayed hoping to feel a burden released, but don’t?

Have you ever prayed wanting to believe, but can’t?

Have you ever prayed for something over, and over, and over, but see no change?

Most of us can relate. I know I can.

However, some people know how to pray in a way where anxieties are lifted, faith is full and lives are changed.

Why? How? What do they know the rest of us don’t?

The answer lies in the difference between being a prayer worrier and a prayer warrior.

So, how do we move from being a prayer worrier to being a prayer warrior?

1. Identify the difference

   Candidly, this is personal for me, because recently I’ve realized I can be more of a prayer worrier than prayer warrior.

   And, I thought, perhaps I’m not alone.

   Perhaps you, too, could learn from what God is teaching me.

   I am a prayer worrier when I repeat the same prayers day in and day out, not fully expecting God to act. I’m a prayer worrier when I fail to release my cares and concerns to God, but, instead, rehearse them over and over in my head in the form of something I call “prayer”.

   This isn’t prayer at all.

   It doesn’t take one shred of faith to rehash our concerns; it does, however, take faith to release them.

   Prayer worriers rehash their concerns to God.

   But…

   Prayer warriors release their concerns to God.

   If you wonder, Am I a prayer worrier or warrior? ask, Am I rehashing or releasing?

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   Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

   -1 Peter 5:7

2. Think accurately about God

Look closely at the last four words of 1 Peter 5:7, written above: He. Cares. For. You.

Prayer warriors not only believe in the existence of God–plenty of people pray because they believe in God–but their prayers are grounded in something more: They believe God loves them and cares for them.

Prayer warriors see God accurately.

And because they see God accurately, they experience God abundantly.

Prayer warriors pray mightily because they see rightly.

If we want to move from being prayer worriers to prayer warriors, we must stop focusing on us and our problems and start focusing on God and His character.

God cares.

And God cares for you.

3.  Incorporate thanks

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

-Philippians 4:6

For me, the pivot from being a prayer worrier to prayer warrior occurs when I pray with thankfulness.

When I remember to thank God for what He has done in the past.

When I thank God that He is all-powerful and all-knowing.

When I thank God that He makes all things work together for the good for those who love Him.

Thanking God for who He is, what He has done, what He can do, and what He will do, changes my prayer from being a form of spiritual worry to a form of spiritual worship.

So, how about you? Do you have any thoughts on moving from being a prayer worrier to a prayer warrior? Share your thoughts. We’d love to know!