Learning to Pray like a Child

THIS WEEK’S BOLD STEP DEVOTION

“…The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
(James 5:16)

My two-year-old grandson, Saint, has been learning how to pray before meals. When he’s hungry, he races through it with the quick enthusiasm of a toddler: “I pray for Papa, I pray for Lita, I pray for monster trucks, I pray for food. Amen.” It’s simple and sincere—just the way many of us begin. Prayer isn’t something we master right away; it’s a habit we grow into and a relationship we learn to nurture over time. Our prayer life deepens as we consistently choose to draw near to God.

James 5 reminds us that prayer steadies us in every season of life. When you face trouble, go to God in prayer, relying on Him for strength and intervention. In seasons of joy, praise Him because gratitude keeps the heart humble and reminds us that every good gift comes from God. When you’re sick, call others to pray and trust God as Jehovah Rapha, the Healer who works through both prayer and medicine. And if you’re carrying hidden sin, shame, or emotional wounds, prayer and honest confession can open the door to deep inner healing and forgiveness.

We don’t grow in prayer by accident. Growth comes as we intentionally make space for God in our lives. Just as Saint’s simple mealtime prayers will mature as he keeps practicing, our own prayer life deepens when we choose consistency over convenience. Prayer shapes our character, aligns our hearts with God’s will, and strengthens our faith in ways nothing else can. Even when we feel distracted, dry, or unsure of what to say, God meets us in the seeking. The more we show up, the more our hearts begin to change.

BOLD STEP CHALLENGE:
Identify your current season—whether trouble, joy, or weakness—and bring it intentionally to God in prayer every day this week. Start simple, but start.

PRAYER:
Dear God, teach me to pray with the sincerity and humility of a child. Help me turn to You in trouble, thank You in joy, and trust You in weakness. Heal what is broken, strengthen what is weary, and draw me deeper into Your presence. Make me a person of prayer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Listen to the sermon: The Power of Prayer

Part 1Part 2Part 3

Ministry Update from Mark

Back in the fall, we wrapped up our New Life Community Church Men’s Encounter, and the atmosphere was thick with truth and God’s presence—no faking, no filters, just men getting real. I saw men regain ground the enemy had tried to steal from them, choosing marriage over escape, purity over addiction, and fatherhood over absence. The moment that stopped the room was a son forgiving his father as they collapsed into each other’s arms, and it felt like heaven leaned in. The city tells men to keep a hard edge, but God’s kingdom shows us another way. Real strength shows up in humility, real courage in confession, and real freedom in surrender. That weekend, men stood in the light— unmasked, unashamed, and more whole than before. I’m so encouraged by what God is doing in the lives of men here in Chicago!