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Welcome to the Determined to Dance podcast with your host, Jennifer Hallmark. The world would have us march to its chaotic beat but God invites us to dance in His will and His way. Let’s take a moment to be energized, refreshed, and motivated to face the day, one spin and twirl at a time.

Today’s episode, “The Art of Prayer,” looks at communicating with God and how it affects our ability to dance.

We hear God through the art of prayer. And yes, prayer is an art and at its most basic, it is talking to God.

Show Notes: The Art of Prayer

Hearing and listening to God is vital if we are to dance with Him, following His will and way. How do we hear? Through the art of prayer. Is prayer an art? You might ask. I think so. One definition I found is “a skill at doing a specified thing; typically, one acquired through practice. Knitting is an art. Conversation is an art. Writing is an art. Prayer is an art and at its most basic, it is talking to God. We start with simple prayers as a child or a new believer.

When I was a child, I prayed with my whole heart, pouring out to God, in the best way I knew, all I felt and wondered and loved and hated. Then I became a teenager and—uh I became less honest. I hid things and worried and rebelled at times. Then I reached adulthood and swung back and tried to do it all perfect in the form of a prayer march. I looked at what other Christians did and tried to mimic them, mimic prayers from the Bible, and do what I thought sounded good.

I was practicing, which was okay, except when I started the deadly comparison game. Life became lots of questions. This person prays for an hour. Maybe I should. This person gets up at 4 in the morning and prays. Should I? Some people pray daily for Israel. Others have a specific closet for prayer. On my knees or sitting in a chair? I tried to do it all and only got tired.

And something was lost in the process. That childlike wonder and freedom of expression that I first had as a child. I’ll never forget the day I was in a ladies’ class at church and during the lesson, a major revelation filled my heart. I suddenly realized that I acted like the Pharisees, with long prayers to be seen and heard and so far away from the heart of God. I admitted this to the class and later repented of losing my first love, that intimate relationship I’d once had of a child and her father. I needed it back.

It didn’t come all at once but I began by reading the Psalms. David showed so many emotions throughout this book of the Bible and God called him a man after his own heart. I finally realized that God is big enough and strong enough to handle all my emotions and quirks and fears. I can safely pour out my life to Him and He holds it all.

“You keep track of all my sorrows, you have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” Psalm 56:8 NLT

My struggles are precious to God. So much so that he keeps track, collects, and records them. Not to beat me over the head but to show he cares, to heal each one, and to avenge me of my enemies.

David ends the psalm in verse 13 by saying, “For you have rescued me from death; you have kept my feet from slipping. So now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light.

He loves us so much more than we can ever know. What an encouraging thought. I’m so grateful to God for asking for honesty from me. In myself, I would probably always cover up and hide. But I feel so much freer when I come clean. Prayer has been an essential part of my writing life. Every day there are new decisions to make.

1. Novel writing decisions.
2. Agent decisions
3. Podcast episode direction
4. Website and blog issues

And let’s not even get into everyday life. From my job to housework to family to grandkids to time spent with my husband, I desperately need to hear God. I have perfectionist tendencies which result in me having to fight being driven. A little voice constantly whines in the background: you don’t do enough. You need to do more. More. More.

But God says to slow down, breathe, spend time with the ones I love, and spend time with Him. In the end, it’s the most important thing.

Let’s pray.

Father God, we pause to take a deep breath and move our focus from comparison and drivenness to you. You made us and you alone can order our steps. Thank you for speaking and listening to our hearts. We long to pour them out to you. Heal our deep hurts. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Now. I’m a little calmer and I hope you are too. Next week, we’ll talk more about prayer and perseverance, and distraction.

Until next time. Stay determined to dance.

Future topics include:

1. Prayer and reflection.
2. Procrastination.
3. What will people think?
4. Continue to dance.

Links mentioned in this episode:

My website

Psalm 56:8

Remember: The Art of Prayer

Video of the week:

I absolutely love music and each week, I’d like to share a relevant song we can enjoy together.