More than Motivation: The True Heart of Inspirational Prayer

Posted on May 25, 2023 Topic : Inspirational/Devotional, Women's Christian Living
Posted by : Harvest House

Inspiration:

the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative

a sudden brilliant, creative, or timely idea

the drawing in of breath; inhalation

What does an inspirational prayer look like? Many would think along the lines of the first definition of the Oxford English Dictionary cited above—words that stimulate us to do or feel something. We all find ourselves in seasons where hope feels illusive and we long for the right words to encourage our hearts to feel differently.

As women, we experience these dry seasons in unique ways. We’re often so busy, so worried, so stressed, so interrupted, so burdened, and so unsure. Our attention is demanded, and so we never seem to have a moment to catch our breath, let alone breathe deeply. Either the world outside requires much from us, or our own racing thoughts distract us from filling our lungs deeply with life and exhaling with a sense of peace.

Which brings us back to the idea of inspirational prayer…not in the sense of the first two definitions, but in the sense of the third: the drawing in of breath; inhalation.

So where do we start? Well, the original breath.

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life (Job 33:4).

But He didn’t just breathe life into us and then walk away. He continuously offers it through the Bible.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).

There’s the breath! Catch it! Breathe deeply again and again. God initially breathed life into humanity, and He continues to breathe life into us through His written Word.

In every season, God offers us His life-giving breath to fill us up and push out the brokenness that would attempt to fill the vacuum. In seasons of famine, when I feel no better than a valley of dry bones, I can trust the Lord, who says, “Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live” (Ezekiel 37:5).

In the seasons where I feel God’s presence, love, and grace keenly, I can trust Christ, who offers even more: “[ Jesus] breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’” ( John 20:22).

This is the prayer life of the Christian—the constant breathing in and breathing out of God. It’s inhale, exhale, again and again. It’s repetition. It’s perpetual. A never-ending rhythm. To stop is to deprive us of the oxygen that feeds body and soul.

Breathe deeply and be inspired by the Word of God and then let it guide your prayers back to Him.