Do you keep a journal for prayer and for processing what God is doing in your life? I frequently note God’s work in my life, along with my requests to Him, so I can see His hand in my days over time. It can be powerful!
A few years ago, I color-coded my prayer sections and defined each by a key Scripture to pray with those requests. When I prayed for my family, for example, I wrote Isaiah 26:3 and prayed by name for each person to experience God’s perfect peace in that time of uncertainty. I’d list specific requests to pray over, as well.
In the middle of that time, a volunteer opportunity came to my attention and piqued my interest. It meant a lot to me, and I really wanted the opportunity. But knowing how competitive it could be, I was intimidated. This was a dream…could it really happen? Instead of simply including it in my prayer list, I took a purple pen and dedicated a full page to pray over that opportunity. For me, this was a bold move. This showed my dedication and faith in God’s plan. Especially since I reserved that much space to write a prayer about the opportunity, why I wanted it, and how it’d glorify God.
God moved quickly and I soon after joined the volunteer team.
I don’t usually compose these 1-page prayers often. And there’s no guarantee that, by doing them, God will come through in the way I want. (I once had a page dedicated to a broken relationship that I wanted to see restored, and it never was. However, I can now see why God never allowed that to happen…all I can say is that I am thankful God knew better than I did.)
Friend, I don’t know about you, but I want to live my entire life with this type of contending no matter the outcome.
I want to keep a faith that’s not afraid to ask God for big things, that’s not worried about dedicating pages or hours in prayer to a specific topic. I want prayer to be my way of life.
I want my relationship with God to be first in my life, no matter how busy my schedule gets. I don’t want to get offended if things don’t go as I expect. I don’t want to blame God if I don’t get what I want because I know He only gives good gifts. And if I’m upset that things don’t go my way, I know I will be fine. Ultimately, everything else pales in comparison to having a relationship with Him.
If you’re feeling the same way and have these same desires, here are some helpful reminders and tips for having bold prayers:
- Prioritize pausing for prayer. Be intentional to start, continue, and end your day in prayer. It doesn’t have to be formal, scripted, or rehearsed. James 4:8 tells us to draw near to God and He will draw near to us.
- Don’t be afraid to pray big prayers. God wants your honest heart, thoughts, fears, and requests. Psalm 55:22 says to cast our cares on the Lord because He cares for us.
- Pray, even if you don’t have the words. The Holy Spirit will intercede, or step in the middle and give God the words, for you (see Romans 8:26-27).
- Set a timer for silence. This isn’t something found in Scripture, but something that helps me is setting a 10-20 minute timer to give my concerns to God. I’ll tell God something, and remain in silence until my timer goes off. As much as I’d like to have limitless time for silence, it can be hard on a busy day. Be attentive to God as you proceed throughout your day for how He responds.
- Pray Scripture in your prayers. This reminds you of who God is in relation to your concerns and needs. Remember, your prayers are about God’s abilities, not your assumptions. A great resource to grow in this way is the book “Rest for Your Soul” by Wendy Blight. Some examples of this may be:
- Isaiah 41:10 – God, I thank You that you are with me….
- Psalm 34:5 – God, today I look to You because You make me radiant. I look to You and will not be ashamed…
It’s been 4 years since I joined that volunteer team and God has used it to bless me and others immensely.
On occasion, I still pray a bold prayer and record it in my journal with purple ink. Not with the expectation that it will come true, but with the anticipation that God will come through in the best way.
God is faithful to fulfill the dreams He places in our hearts (even if the timing or process isn’t what we thought it’d be). When we pray bold prayers, we can trust that our goals and desires are in the safest place they can be.
So, friend, I have some exciting news:
This August, I have the honor of seeing one of my purple-ink prayers come true! One of my devotions will be published on the Proverbs 31 Ministries website as a part of their daily Encouragement for Today devotions. You can subscribe at their website proverbs31.org and check back here for updates!
As I see this purple-penned prayer become fulfilled, I know it surely will not be the last.
Reflect:
Where in your life are you believing boldly for God to come through? How can I be praying for you during this time? Let me know in the comments, or send me a message!
Consider the Joy 
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