Prayer is essential. A Christian can only be as strong as their prayer life is. Prayer is like a relationship. If I don’t ever talk to God, how can I be close to him or grow closer to him? If I don’t pour into my relationship with him and communicate with him, where will I be?

I have found recently that one of my struggles is prayer. I’m not even sure why, because it’s like the easiest thing somebody could do; talk to God. It’s something I struggle to find time for during the busy ministry life. I could tell God anything I want, but I find it so difficult to share my feelings and wishes and the things I’m angry about with the One who already knows all of that. And I’m not comfortable to pray out loud, to be a leader to everyone who needs to know the importance of prayer.

I recently finished reading the book of Ephesians in my devotions. In all of Paul’s letters, he states that he prays constantly for the people in all of the churches around. He says,

“Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe”   Ephesians 1: 16 – 19a

My mom has told me before that we don’t pray to change God’s mind.  He already has a plan for everything we go through. We pray to change us. Prayer helps us to give ourselves and our lives to God and trust him. Prayer is our way of communication with God. Prayer grows our faith.

-by Jaelin Eulberg, MK to Bolivia