September 10, 2026

Prayer is a Lifeline

I talk to God like He is my friend.  I remember the early days of our conversations when our talks were more stilted, and I was afraid to be totally myself.  The more I pray the better I pray and I believe that is because it has become relational and comfortable.

When our company, Ice Chips Candy, got into trouble, I tried to manage my prayer time and control its direction.  What a silly move that was, like a tantrum throwing child as God picked me up and allowed me to be angry. We lost our building and our paychecks dried up for four years! Had we known it would be four years, we likely would not have made it. But we were tithers, believers. We had faith You would move on our behalf. And we saw miracles.  Four years without any paycheck! A large personal IRS return appropriated for the Ice Chips IRS debt. And yet, God, You never left us. Miracles happened. Our home was refinanced.  We survived.

A consistent prayer life can survive waiting on God’s timing.  It is good to curl up and talk to our Father. We need to feel welcome to sit with Him, delighted to hear His voice, smiling at the familiarity our daily talks provide. I never feel as safe, as loved and as close to Him as I do when I begin to say my prayers.  Once we establish the habit of daily prayer, the conversation becomes two way. We talk to God. He responds.  Write it down. Always pray with a way to take notes.

Praying for others is a precious gift. We're invited to sit with the Lord, discuss ourselves and our friends with Him and ask Him to bless them indeed. It is amazing what power is in prayer. As we observe our world lost in epic levels of sin, we need to view these sinners as God views them. He still sees redemption, repentance and Salvation. Our prayers can change their futures and can heal this land. We should pray, not in desperation, but in deep faith God has all this madness in His capable hands.

Dear Lord, Thank You for the mentors in the Word.  Jesus who taught us how to pray.  For the Old Testament that felt harsher and where You often acted as the Judge, Lord God.  Reading and understanding the old Covenant gave us grateful hearts for the new Covenant and Jesus’ loving heart. Thank You, God, for the power of prayer.  For knowing whatever the answer is, we are better off praying with You than we are trying to fix everything on our own.   

Teaching about Prayer and Fasting

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.  Matthew 6:5