PRAY AND KEEP ON PRAYING

Pastor Donna Peets-Polanco - July 2026 Issue

"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." Matthew 6:6 (KJV)

Prayer is the lifeline of the believer.

In Matthew 6:5–7, each verse begins with Jesus saying expectantly, "When ye pray..." It is evident from this declaration that prayer is expected of us. It conveys the anticipation that we will pray—that we must pray. Jesus knew that we cannot make it without prayer. Just as breath is essential for physical life, prayer is essential for the spiritual life and longevity of the believer.

PRAYER NUGGETS

• A praying Christian is a powerful Christian.

• Prayer changes things.

• When we pray, God delivers.

• Prayer precedes impactful preaching.

• Prayer does not change God; it changes us and aligns us with His will.

• Prayer helps us overcome weaknesses, struggles, and addictions.

• Prayer is man's invitation for God to intervene in earthly affairs.

• Much prayer, much power; little prayer, little power; no prayer, no power.

• Prayer does not have to be eloquent; it simply has to come from the heart.

• Battles are fought and won on our knees through prayer.

SCRIPTURAL INSIGHTS

"Men ought always to pray, and not to faint."

Luke 18:1 (KJV)

"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

James 5:16 (KJV)

"Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."

Jeremiah 33:3 (KJV)

"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds."

2 Corinthians 10:4 (KJV)

"This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles."

Psalm 34:6 (KJV)

GETTING PERSONAL

When my daughter was six years old and in the first grade, she had great difficulty learning to read. Nothing that her teacher or I tried seemed to be working. I remember going into my prayer closet one day, completely frustrated, and pouring my heart out before God.

I prayed against everything that was working against her—every hindering spirit, every spirit of failure, and anything else that sought to impede her progress. I prayed for her capacity to be enlarged and asked God to fill her with wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and the ability to grasp things quickly, in Jesus' name.

Some time later, while driving in Columbus, Ohio, I noticed a sign for a yard sale. I stopped and purchased a set of one hundred little storybooks for ten dollars—the best ten dollars I had ever spent.

She began reading those books, and before long I could hardly get her to put them down. After our bedtime prayers and after everyone was tucked in, I would peek into her room and find the lamp on again. There she was, reading. Sometimes I would find books on the bed, under the pillow, on the floor—everywhere! She was reading constantly, and truthfully, I didn't want her to stop.

God had answered my prayer in such an extravagant way.

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us."

Ephesians 3:20 (KJV)

God still answers prayer.

TAKE AWAY

We must pray.

Jesus Himself often withdrew from the crowds, from the noise, and even from ministry activities to spend time alone with His Father. How much more do you and I need that intimate communion with our Heavenly Father?

Navigating life without that constant fellowship with God is impossible. Prayer is not merely a religious exercise—it is a relationship. It is in prayer that we find strength, direction, comfort, and peace.

LIVING IT OUT

Today, set aside a specific time each day to get alone with God.

During that time, worship Him. Play your favorite worship music, talk to your Father from your heart, tell Him everything, sing, cry out, or simply sit quietly in His presence. Whatever you choose, just make it a daily practice to meet with Him.

Your life will never be the same.