PRAY BEFORE THE STORM, NOT JUST DURING IT.

It's been a while, but I'm still here. Life has a way of reminding us that we need Jesus in every season, not just when the storms come. I've learned that we cannot afford to wait until the storms of life come before we build our prayer life. We must learn to seek Him in the comfortable seasons, too, because we never know what tomorrow holds.

Are you building your prayer life before the storm or trying to build it in the middle of one?

Pray sincerely when life is comfortable so that when your stormy seasons come, you are already accustomed to seeking God. Just because things are going well doesn't mean we have any less need for prayer. Sometimes, our season of discomfort is closer than we realize. We must not treat prayer like an ornament we display occasionally, only to reach for when trouble comes. Prayer is not merely a response to the storm; it is preparation for it.

It behooves us not to wait until trouble arrives before bending the knees of our hearts. Everything flows from the heart, so we must pray as David did: “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). Prayer is a muscle we must build before we need the strength to flex it!

Jesus, in all His deity, often withdrew from the crowds to spend time with His Heavenly Father. That communion sustained Him in His humanity. If Jesus made prayer a priority, how much more must you and I? Scripture commands us to pray without ceasing. Some of us are struggling to find peace because we have neglected the very One who offers it. “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

An unguarded mind is vulnerable to whatever we continually entertain. Scripture urges us to let the mind of Christ be in us (Philippians 2:5). So, what occupies your mind: worry, fear, doubt, or confusion? Take it to God in prayer! Daniel didn't wait until he faced the lions' den to develop a prayer life. He was already faithful in prayer.

Bent knees close the mouths of lions, bring down walls, and invite God's peace and restoration into our situations. We must remember that prayer will help us weather the storm. It was in agony in the garden that Jesus prayed as He faced the cross for you and me, and His Heavenly Father sent an angel from heaven to strengthen Him (Luke 22:43). This is why I am convinced that more prayer equals more power! Our Heavenly Father knows our circumstances and provides the help we need, but we must seek Him.

Don't wait until life falls apart to build your prayer life. Pray now. Pray consistently. Pray sincerely. If you don't know where to start, begin with the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9–13 and build from there. And remember, when we kneel before the Father, we never stand alone. Christ Himself is interceding for us at the right hand of [God] (Romans 8:34).

Written in encouragement and love for you, Kamilia Watson