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Throwing up a Prayer

One of the most exciting plays in all of sports is a game-winning basketball shot at the buzzer. But even more exciting is a buzzer-beating shot that comes from beyond half-court. On such a shot, the announcer might remark that a player is simply “throwing up a prayer.”

As fans, we don’t necessarily think the players will make their desperation heave, but we know that it’s worth a try. Very rarely do we have confidence in those shots or expect them to go in.

When thinking about these types of buzzer-beaters, I wonder how similar our approach to prayer is. Do we really believe God answers prayers or do we simply “throw it up” just to see what happens?

My encouragement for us today is to move past just throwing prayers up like they’re “buzzer-beating threes,” and go to God in prayer with confidence and expectancy.

As followers of Jesus, we aren’t tossing prayers into the air hoping they “make it” to God. Rather, we are communicating with our loving Heavenly Father who deeply cares about us and hears us.

Here are some key verses to remember when considering our approach to prayer:

Jesus says in John 15:7, “If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.”

1 John 5:14-15 tells us, “And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him.”

When we’re abiding in Jesus, our prayers will be heard and answered according to God’s will. Our desires will be aligned with His, and answers to our prayers will be revealed.

So today, let’s pray with expectancy, knowing that God will answer us.

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I ask that my prayer life would become more vibrant as I pray with expectancy and confidence. Help me to have faith and a heart’s desire aligned with Your will. I trust that You will answer my prayers according to Your will. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.