She Yearns: Habits of a Godly Womanनमुना

A natural next step for the woman yearning to grow in godliness is cultivating a lifestyle of prayer. Suzanna Wesley, the mother of John and Charles Wesley, offers encouragement. She had plenty of excuses for not having time to pray. She understood pain and hardship, burying nine of her nineteen children. Her husband was often absent, making her the primary teacher and spiritual advisor for her children. Twice her house burned down, and money was scarce. Amid all that hurt and responsibility, somehow, she found time to pray regularly.

Bible in hand, she would pull her apron over her head, like a tent. Shy of emergency, the children were not to disturb her, and under that canopy, Suzanna prayed. Her discipline made all the difference in her life and the lives of those who followed. Like Suzanna, the woman growing in godliness makes prayer a top priority regardless of circumstances. Although she may have limited time for prayer, she finds a way to make it a habit.

What should intentional prayer look like today?

The woman making prayer a regular habit prays in her neediness, taking it to the only One who can help. Make no mistake, robust prayer warriors have difficulties and problems without solutions. Instead of focusing her attention on the dire situation, she takes the impossibilities to the Lord. Believing Him to be faithful, she trusts God to make a way for the bills to be paid, to bring needed resources, and to help her know what to do when the future isn’t clear.

Today’s intentional prayer warrior also prays beyond her neediness, moving her eyes off her need and onto what moves God’s heart. The best way to do this is to pray Scripture. The Bible houses many written prayers that give words to our common frailties and help us move our eyes from ourselves onto what concerns God.

As you read the Bible in the days ahead, highlight prayers you might pray as you find them. Copy these onto notecards or turn them into digital wallpaper. Save them on your phone so you can pray them often. Get creative. Maybe you won’t make a tent over your head with an apron, but God will be faithful to give you a solution for finding the time you need.