Prayer is where I wrestle with the will of God, until all I want is the will of God. It happens when He says, “No.” and I want to hear “Yes.” My heart hesitates when waiting is the best choice and “now” is my choice. If I’m facing what doesn’t make sense or if I’m searching for more significance, my prayer life is Life.

“Hear me as I pray, O Lord . Be merciful and answer me! My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “ Lord , I am coming.” (Psalms 27:7-8 NLT)

Because if I don’t spend time in God’s presence, I’m only partially present for what life brings.

My level of engagement with a task or talk needs to be enriched by His grace. Adapting to change requires His strength. Accomplishing victories is made possible by the victory Christ already won.

Of course, prayer is far more than a time of wrestling. Praise, worship, confession and intercession often weave into words before God’s throne. His Spirit prompts my heart with a welcome. His Son, Jesus, is my Savior, Lord and High Priest. The warmth of His promises molds my resolve. (see Hebrews 4:14-16)

I can ask anything in accordance with His will, as long as I ask in Jesus’s name. (see John 16:22-24)

What are you asking God to do in your life or in the life of someone else?

Perhaps your prayers are powerful, moving mountains at rapid speed. Maybe your conversations with the Almighty are few — or perhaps you don’t pray at all.

My prayer is that these three prompters will deepen your prayer life or awaken it for the first time.

#1. BREATHE with your soul. I used to think prayer was complicated. Preoccupation with saying the right thing or being in the right posture brought pauses to my prayer life. But that was many years ago. Now prayer is like breathing. Hope rushes in. Faith flows out. It’s a conversation with God prompted by the love of God.

“I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!” (Psalm 116:1 and 2 NLT)

#2. HOLD nothing back. No matter how big the dream, how great the fear or failure, or how horrible the sin, give it all to God. In prayer, I sense His holy heart pressing against my human condition. The contents of my soul lay bare.

As I confess my sin, He slathers my soul with forgiveness and washes me clean. (1 John 1:9) He leans in closer and invites me to adjust to the rhythm of His heartbeat.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” (Psalms 139:23-24 NLT)

#3. ANTICIPATE the great. His grace is more than enough for what I lack. The transformation He offers is the change I need. A miracle is being formed by His mercy. But I may not see these truths at first.

I may need to rest upon His faithfulness and simply whisper “Lord help me.” But when I call on Him, He will answer.

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’” (Jeremiah 33:3 NIV)

You may wonder, how will I know His voice? As we meditate upon the Scriptures, we learn His language. It’s Truth.

If you have a praying heart (or you want one), be encouraged. Even if we wrestle with God’s will, He holds us with His grace — until we see His will is all we need.