Ephesians 6:18
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Are you ending your conversation without giving God a chance to talk?

There are different types of prayer, but they all accomplish the same thing, talking to God. Your conversations with the Father build your relationship with Him. How many conversations do you have with friends where you do all the talking and then you hang up the phone, or leave? Who would remain your friend if you never let them speak? How would you get to know them? Prayer allows you to have a two-way conversation with the all wise God and Father. You are praying because you need His guidance. You realize you are not sharing information with Him He does not already have. Prayer allows you to let Him know what you think about your current situation AND give Him the opportunity to let you know what He wants you to do. You have the right and the liberty to ask Him anything. You can thank Him for your blessings. If you are going through a tough time, you can request that He change your circumstances, explain why you are going through them, or just give you the strength to endure. The thing often missed is waiting on His response.

Proverbs 19:20-21 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days. 21 There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand. (NKJV)

A conversation is not effective if only one party is talking. We should not convince ourselves that God agrees with our decisions simply because we prayed about them. When you pray, “in the Spirit”, you wait for the Father’s response. How will He respond? He may speak to you directly, through a scripture, a song, by bringing something back to your remembrance, etc. However the Father chooses to speak to you, you need to listen and wait for Him to respond. You also have to be prepared to answer Him by obeying all instruction and guidance He gives. Remaining still to give God the chance to respond strengthens your understanding of Him and you.

Habakkuk 2:1 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved (KJV)

Please agree with me as I pray:

Father, I thank You for leading me to not only pray, but watch, listen, wait and obey. I cannot be effective for You if I don’t wait to hear what You want. I pray not only for me, but You taught me how to pray for others. You taught me when I pray for someone; I am really asking You what you want me to do and how You want me to impact their lives. I have to be open to hearing You and willing to obey You on their behalf. You have given me the mandate to watch for the enemy and recognize his tricks and schemes. I pray You will allow me to see what the enemy is planning, not only in my life but also in the lives of those I care for and the lives of those who You have assigned to me. As you show me what the enemy is doing, I will wait in prayer for Your instructions and I will obey Your commands. As I intercede for others, I know I am standing in the gap between them and the enemy. I will continue to lay down my life for them. Thank You for the desire to stand, the strength to stand and the instruction on how to stand…