Years later, as I became more and more involved in praying, again I desired for my prayer life to be pragmatic. Not merely high and lofty words, but from a perspective that is mindful of the practical matter for which I am praying. I wanted to be rooted in the faith God gives each person who is willing to believe Him to answer prayer. (Hebrews 11:6)

What about your prayer-life? Is it “faith-based” and practical or is this an oxymoron?

At first, I pondered whether my prayers could be both faith-based and practical, until I began reflecting back--with the help of the Holy Spirit--over my Christian walk. I began recalling just how practical God has been in His dealings with me; sometimes in matters that I have prayed about, and other times in providing answers to things going-on in my life that I had not even prayed about yet (Isaiah 65:24).

For example, when I consider the myriad of biblical names of God--each one reflecting a uniquely different characteristic of Who He is and/or what He does--I always tend to pause as I come to the name: Shepherd (Psalm 23:1, Jehovah-raah).

I have not grown up amid fields of sheep with shepherds leading them. But just reading about that relationship has enabled me to recognize the magnitude of responsibility a shepherd has with a flock of sheep. Their very survival is dependent upon the character and competency of the shepherd they follow.

In my almost forty years now of following Jesus Christ as my Shepherd, I have consistently experienced Him faithfully providing me with the very thing every sheep needs from his shepherd:

1. Direction
2. Protection
3. Provision

As each day ends, I find myself--compelled by love--praising and thanking the Lord for proving the truth of His Word again, through His:

Directing my steps (Proverbs 16:9) through the doors of opportunities that He--not me-- had opened; and to the people that He wanted me to meet, as part of His plan for my life and purpose (Jeremiah 29:11).

Protecting me (Psalms 91:4) from being injured--physically, emotionally, spiritually--due to my own or someone else’s wrong decision (Proverbs 14:12) or via schemes of the devil seeking to hurt me (John 10:10a).

Providing me with everything I have need of (Philippians 4:19); and, often times, even beyond what I had prayed and hoped for (Ephesians 3:20).

Yes, the Lord is my Shepherd, and I will be forever grateful! Not only because of the spiritual rewards that await me in heaven, but also because God has proven over and over how “practical” His Word is, which encourages me continuously to pray more and more for the “spiritual” issues I or someone I am praying for faces. This understanding is especially helpful for me as I face “spiritual warfare” issues and recognize that my weapons for battle are unlike normal war weapons (2 Corinthians 10:3-5), and require even more faith-based and practical “strategic” praying.

I have come to realize that voicing a faith-based and practical prayer is NOT an oxymoron; but rather, the blessing of the Lord. We live for and serve a God who purposely chose to leave heaven and walk among us, in order that His life experiences on earth might relate to our own experiences (Hebrews 4:15); and from His victory over death, our prayers are both spiritual and practical! 

--Dennis Conner, along with his wife, Betty Jo, is the director of member relations for the CPLN. He and Betty Jo are also southwestern regional reps for the CPLN and head up a ministry, Called to Serve.