Anyone else not like to set New Year Resolutions for fear of setting self up for failure? Just me? Lol! I doubt it! I used to always try and make resolutions but I got so tired of feeling like such a failure at the end of the year and even mid year. So in 2023 I decided to not do resolutions anymore but simply work on an area in my life for improvement. I did Not want to call it a resolution anymore that way if I didn’t succeed I wouldn’t feel as guilty. Lol! So I chose a word that covered an area in my life that I wanted to work on and it was way more successful approaching it like that. For 2024 I felt the Lord start dealing with me in December about what 2024’s word should be — Prayer.

I really felt Him calling me to a year of prayer. To increase my prayer time and become more consistent with my daily prayer time. To be honest I never really made it a daily point to physically get down on my knees in prayer. I do pray often while I go about my day but I felt Him calling me to my knees. So I made a special place in my home that was gonna be my area. I even created a vision/prayer board for 2024 to help keep me focused on what I need to do in 2024 with Prayer being the top priority.

Within two weeks of 2024 and daily hitting my knees, I had already been faced with some of the most difficult trials and situations in my life! I felt it so ironic that with me increasing my time with the Lord, it felt like my trials were increasing. It was to the point that I honestly was scared to pray again. One night I even went to bed without doing it for fear of what would happen next in my life but I couldn’t sleep. I slipped out of bed and made myself pray through the fear of what tomorrow would hold. I had came to the realization that it was because of prayer that I felt so attacked by evil and life in general. I knew that I had decided to fight with the most powerful weapon that God has given us — prayer. In turn I had reached a higher level in spiritual warfare and I knew I had made the enemy uncomfortable. Therefore he seemed to be attacking on every level and had created a fear in my mind that the more I pray the harder life is gonna get. Deep down though I knew I must not stop!

I had been telling God in prayer that I wanted to grow in Him in 2024 and become a stronger Christian. Little did I know what I was actually asking of God. Looking back on it now I can see that everything that has already happened this year has come to make me stronger — stronger in Him and in my prayer life. Even though I was ready for 2025 before January had even ended, I knew that I was still doing the right thing. If the devil ain’t fighting then you ain’t trying. If you ain’t upsetting the enemy then you better check yourself. I don’t want to become complaisant and of no effect.

Prayer is so important! Even more so than what I realized before! We pray to get closer to God, we pray for forgiveness of sins, we pray for strength, we pray for peace, for healing, we pray over what bothers us, we pray for guidance; We Pray! We should pray! If we ain’t praying then God help us! Yes, it is a sacrifice at times but it’s well worth it!

Why not fight the worst enemy with the greatest weapon?

Why not unleash the power that God has given us access to when He rent that veil from top to bottom?

My view on prayer has changed so much this year because I see the higher level of importance in it. If I want to grow in Christ then I have to pray. If I wanna make it to heaven then I have to pray. Yes, it’s gonna bring some growing pains but I would much rather have the pains from growing than the pains from no growth. I want to produce fruit! I don’t want to wither away in this life and have no effectiveness for the kingdom! Yes, we have faced some difficult situations this year but because of prayer, I have seen God at work in our lives! I have seen Him work and do things that only He could have done. If I hadn’t have been praying, I may not have had the best possible outcome out of the situations.

It has actually been very encouraging and very faith building to see and realize how God has been hearing my prayers and working behind the scenes on things that I had no idea He was doing. Just because your prayer doesn’t get answered immediately or the day after doesn’t mean that He ain’t gonna do it. God works on his own time schedule which is always best! Don’t stop praying!

Consider yourself to a challenge: take it all to the Lord in prayer. Be prepared for the good and for the fight. It’s well worth it! I promise!

In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.

Psalm 120:1