Thursday Thirteen
13 Reasons I Love to Pray

ByJanice Published On: Updated On:
Thursday Thirteen
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Today I was sitting at my laptop, visiting Wordless Wednesday posts, and feeling really stressed. No – I wasn’t stressed about the WW posts, but about some other issues swirling around in my mind.

So I got up and went outside. I sat down on my porch, closed my eyes, and with my face turned to the warm sun, breathed out a deep breath and prayed. Not any specific words, just breathing out the stress and worry and leaving it in God’s hands.

And that made me think of this Thursday Thirteen list.

13 Reasons I Love to Pray

  1. I get to commune with the Almighty Creator! “‘Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 29:12-14
  2. I can unburden my worries and leave them with Him. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6
  3. I become more peaceful. “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7
  4. I can thank Him for all He has done. “You are my God and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you.” Psalm 118:28
  5. I can experience joy. “My lips shout for joy when I sing praise to you – I, whom you have redeemed.” Psalm 71:23
  6. My mere prayers become powerful in His Name. “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive and your joy will be complete.” John 16:24
  7. I can be disciplined and corrected. “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.” Revelation 3:19
  8. I can pray for people I love, and even for those I have never met. I can pray for situations I can’t understand and with words I don’t know. “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” Roman 8:26
  9. I can surrender to God’s will and be released from my imperfect plans. “As for me, I am in your hands; do with me whatever you think is good and right.” Jeremiah 26:14
  10. I can find wisdom and guidance. “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all.” James 1:5
  11. I can ask for forgiveness and receive it. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
  12. I can find comfort. “The Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.” Isaiah 49:13
  13. I can find the strength to go on. “He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:8
Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Janice is co-founder of 5 Minutes For Mom. She's been working online since 2003 and is thankful her days are full of social media, writing and photography.

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24 Comments

  2. This is my favorite TT list ever. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  3. Cindy Swanson says:

    Janice, this is one of the best Thursday Thirteens I’ve ever read! I could actually use it as a devotional! Wow, we as Christians don’t take advantage enough of the wonderful gift of prayer. Thanks for posting that, Janice!

    Reply

  4. Thank you so much for reminding me WHY I SO NEED TO PRAY! It’s sad that I get bogged down in everyday existence and tend to put prayer on the back burner. It’s not that I don’t talk to Him…..I do daily. But a time specifically to Him for prayer, He and I alone, face to face, is what I need to do, and more importantly, what He DESIRES me to do.

    ~~Hugs~~

    Reply

  5. Yeah! Excellent post! Very encouraging!

    Reply

  6. What a great post! Exactly what I needed! I love how you gave scripture with each comment to back it up!

    Reply

  7. Wow Janice! Great post. That was a real encouragement to read.

    Reply

  8. Amen to all of those! Thank God that we can go to Him no matter the need or the situation!

    Reply

  9. Cool idea! Wonderful reminder of the POWER of prayer! And I would add – I know God cares about my small stuff.
    My 13’s up too.
    But more on your list; one reason I believe that prayer does this and God listens and responds is that He is eternal, not in time . . . so he has ETERNITY to spend with/on each one of us, so yeah, I do ask Him if He would help me find my keys and know that He cares – yes – about my keys. It’s wonderful to be loved like that!

    Reply
  10. Stephanie says:

    ps–that’s supposed to be a big ole smile in my first reply!

    Reply
  11. Stephanie says:

    Definitely print-worthy! Thank you for these true and wonderful reminders from the true and wonderful Word! :o)

    Reply
  12. Pink Chihuahua Princess says:

    I’ve actually been thinking about your #9 lately, so its intersting that you listed it.

    Happy Thursday!

    Reply

  13. What a wonderful T13 list. Thank you so much for sharing it. I needed to hear some of the Scripture this morning…
    Okay – I better get ready for work :lol.

    Reply
  14. Stephanie at Adventures in Babywearing says:

    So sweet! I hope this is encouraging to everyone that reads it! Way to go with backing it up with scripture, too! Best T-13 I’ve read yet!

    Reply

  15. i love THIS
    i LOVE IT

    and i *AM* printing it out–and i am sending my friends over to see it! this is the BOMB!

    Reply

  16. I didnt participate today, but thoroughly enjoyed reading your 13! I long to have that passion back, and feel encouraged by your testimony today 🙂

    Thanks for posting these!
    Heather

    Reply

  17. Wonderful list. I am sure you will touch many with that t13!

    Reply
  18. Lazy Daisy says:

    I whole heartedly agree with the entire list. Sounds like your day got started off well.

    Reply

  20. What a great list . . . very inspirational. Thank you for visiting my T13!

    Reply

  21. What an incredible list!! It is worth printing out and hanging by my computer!

    Reply
  22. Lady Jane says:

    What a beautiful list! God is so very great. I am so glad I visited! Numbers 12 & 13 have been often in my life these last 8-9 months!

    Thank you for visiting!

    Reply
  23. Friday's Child says:

    Isn’t it wonderful to know HIM? You can do anything, ask anything as long as you know HIM.
    Thanks for dropping by.

    Reply