I've been pastoring for a little bit over a decade now, and in that short time,

one of the things I've been able to see is that many Christians struggle in their prayer

lives. This is an area of the Christian life where many people feel discouraged.

Many people don't pray with the confidence that they could have, should have as followers of Jesus,

with the consistency that they'd like to see in their prayer lives.

And so it's just one of those things that I don't think I've ever met a Christian who has told me,

oh, that's one area of my walk with the Lord that I just have down.

We need help. We need encouragement in our prayer lives.

So here are three things that you can do to strengthen your prayer life.

So the first thing I want to say is repent or repentance is key to a healthy prayer life.

I don't think we talk about this enough, but sin, especially if we know we're doing something

that's in disobedience to the Lord, we're clinging to some pattern that we're not willing to

offer up to God. That will have an effect on your prayer life.

And throughout the Bible, in the old and in the New Testament, there are so many passages that point to this.

So, for example, consider what the scriptures say in Psalm 66, verse 18.

If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.

He has attended to the voice of my prayer. Or Proverbs chapter 28, verse 9, if one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an

abomination. How about Isaiah chapter 59 verse 2? But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden

his face from you so that he does not hear.

Or in the New Testament, 1 Peter 3, verse 7.

Likewise, husbands live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel,

since they are heirs with you of the grace of life so that your prayers may not be hindered.

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