Prayer walking with the Blood & Fire Battle Flag at The Salvation Army Kentucky & Tennessee Division’s annual Prayer & Fasting Retreat at Camp Paradise Valley, Kentucky, USA, November 2nd & 3rd, 2012.

Do you ever feel like your prayers “don’t get past the ceiling?”  Well, they don’t have to.

God’s not “past the ceiling;” He’s right here with me and right there with you.  Jesus said that “the Kingdom of God is at hand.”  That means “right here.”  We don’t need our prayers to travel far; we just need them to connect with the ever present God.

Here are three ways to help you connect your prayers with the living God:

1)  Add fasting to praying.  The Bible frequently talks about “prayer and fasting.”  Fasting is going without eating any food so that you can focus on seeking God.  You can fast for one meal, one day, or multiple days.  I just returned from a prayer and fasting retreat led by The Salvation Army.  It was powerful.

However, you can also fast alone.  When you do fast, spend time in prayer and in Bible reading.  Also take time to be still and listen to God.  He will speak to you.

2) Add walking with a Christian flag to praying.  Here’s a Facebook page called Prayer Walking With The Salvation Army Flag:  http://www.facebook.com/PrayerWalkingWithTheSalvationArmyFlag.  When you walk and pray with a Christian Battle Flag, you proclaim that the area you are walking belongs to the living God.  It is bold and powerful.

3) Add  intensity, focus, and passion to your praying.  Pray with your heart on fire.  The New Testament says:  “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16).

Prayer is always important.  In difficult times, prayer is vital!  Why not do all you can to seek God in prayer?