PRAYERS SPACE
Welcome to Prayer Space!
Prayer Space is the place where you'll learn to joy of prayer!
What is Prayer
Prayer is a way to talk with God; to share our thoughts, feelings, and our needs. It’s powerful, and can bring comfort, guidance, and a deep connection to Him. God isn’t just a sounding board; He actively cares about what we share with Him. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” Knowing that we can pour out our hearts to a loving and powerful God can bring great comfort and hope, even in the darkest times. Prayer also allows us to care for others. We can lift up our friends, family, and even strangers in prayer, asking God to work in their lives.
The ability to pray directly to God is a precious gift that brings us closer to Him, providing us with strength and guidance, and filling our lives with hope and peace. It reminds us of His unconditional love and that He wants to be involved in every part of our lives.
Why Pray
How to Pray
God's Voice
Inner Voice: Strong feelings or a gentle nudge in your heart is often God leading you to do, or not do something.
The Bible: God speaks to us through His word. Verses will hold special meaning at certain times. God is leading you to more of His truth.
Peace and Joy: Feelings of peace and joy are the softness of God’s voice telling you He is near.
God's Answers
Yes: Sometimes God answers our prayers with a clear “yes,” giving us what we’ve asked for.
No: Other times, the answer is “no.” It may be hard to accept and understand, but God always has a purpose for our hardships.
Wait: Sometimes God makes us wait because the timing isn’t right. Waiting teaches us patience and to trust in Him, and His perfect timing.
Different: Sometimes God surprises us, giving us more than we ever thought to ask for.
The Bible and Prayer
Enjoy 2 short clips from the Bible Project: The Story of the Bible, and The Lord’s Prayer. The Story of the Bible will deepen your understanding of the Bible’s rich history and divine inspiration. The Lord’s Prayer explains the meaning behind each line in the prayer that Jesus taught us, helping us to understand what it means in our daily lives.
Verses for everyday challenges
Disappointment
It’s natural to feel disappointed when things don’t turn out as we wanted, especially when we’ve prayed for it. But it’s important to remember that our current situation doesn’t define our future. God has a special plan for you, and His love for you is beyond measure. He is always working behind the scenes, even when we can’t see it. Be hopeful because when God’s answer is no, something better is coming.
Worry
Uncertainty and pressure surround us: work or school pressure, social pressures, and uncertain futures. But as our faith grows, we can stop worrying and trust God to take care of us, even when life feels uncertain. You’re not alone in the world, living apart from God. His Spirit lives in you. God cares for you deeply and wants you to give your worries over to Him. He loves you and will take care of you.
Anger
It’s okay to be angry. It hurts when someone is cruel or disrespects us, and God understands how frustrating and painful that can be. But as believers, He wants more from us. It may not sound fair because paying someone back would feel really satisfying, but God wants us to be slow to anger and quick to forgive. There is nothing that God has given you that can be taken away by another person, especially your value and the plans He has for you. So, let Him fight your battles and make things right.
Shame
God is not surprised when we make mistakes, and there’s nothing you can ever do to make God stop loving you. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done or how deep your shame is; God’s love never ends and is always there to lift you up. It’s like a warm hug that never lets us go. He forgives, heals, and gives us the grace to start fresh every day. God doesn’t want shame to hold you back from forgiving yourself, because it keeps you away from Him and from accepting His love and grace.
suffering
From the Bible Project:
In the Bible, Job is tested with suffering even though he’s innocent – but why? Listen to this story from the Old Testament to understand its main message.
Why Bad Things Happen
It’s not hard to wonder where God is during tragedies and why He doesn’t stop them. If God loves us, how can He allow hate and suffering in the world? Why doesn’t He save our loved ones when we’ve been praying? There are so many questions, and it’s easy to be angry with God and even doubt that He’s real. But He isn’t mad at us when we have those feelings. He feels compassion for us, and the Bible says He collects our tears. When we’re in pain and struggling with our doubts, God is there watching over us, hoping and waiting for us to lean into His promises and find hope in Him. God’s hope is different; it’s believing that His promises are true and trusting that whatever the outcome, He will work all things together for good to show the world His glory – His greatness, goodness and His unconditional love for us.
Verses for the tough stuff
Anxiety
Having anxiety or a constant fear that something bad will happen is terribly uncomfortable, and God doesn’t want that for you. Things won’t always turn out the way we want them to, but God works all things together for good. He wants you to hold onto His hope and trust the promises He’s made to you. God’s hope won’t fail you because He is faithful and cherishes you as His child. He created you, and His spirit lives in you, so He will take care of you.
Alone
Feeling alone, or like you don’t fit in is painful, but know that there is nothing wrong with you! God has a special plan for your life, and sometimes He sets us apart to see things others might not see. God wants you to be different. He knows these lonely feelings are painful for you, and He is near, watching over you. What you are going through is not going to last forever, and you can be hopeful because something good is going to come from it.
Heartbreak
Heartbreak is one of the hardest things we go through as humans. We don’t want it to be true. We want to know why it happened. And we feel alone because no one really knows how we feel. But God is near, and He is watching over you. You are precious to Him, and He hurts when you are hurting. Also, know that people around the world pray for you daily. We pray for the broken-hearted, that they find God’s comfort. Time heals all wounds, and one day the burden you’re carrying will be lifted. Until that day comes, spend time with God. Pray even if you are mad at Him because He will never abandon you, and He will give you comfort.
Hopeless
God’s hope will never fail you. It’s different from hoping for something. When we hope for something, we’re wishing for a specific outcome, and there is a chance it may or may not happen. We can be let down and disappointed. God’s hope is trusting in His promises. His hope doesn’t fail because God is faithful and never lets us down. Things might not turn out how we wished, but we have hope that God will carry us through, and that He will work all things together for good. God has plans to prosper you, not hurt you. You are His beloved child, and He will carry you through your struggles.
Bullying
Bullying is so damaging and widespread that we’re dedicating an entire section to it. Not only does bullying destroy how the person being bullied feels about themselves, but the bully’s self-value has already been destroyed. That’s why they are hurting another person. The self-worth of the by-stander that doesn’t step in is also diminished by watching another human being degraded and hurt, and not doing anything about it. God did not create us to hate or hurt others. We were created to love and take care of one another. If you are being bullied, know that you are never alone. God is always at your side, and there is nothing wrong with you! God, your heavenly Father, loves you deeply and knows your worth. You have infinite value because He created you! This painful time is only temporary. He has special plans for your life and will bring good things to you. If you are the bully or the bystander, God is near you also. He can lift you and draw you nearer to Him, giving you the courage to make wrong things right. God has special plans for your life too but feeling separated from Him because of your feelings of guilt or shame can cause those plans to derail or be delayed.
