How many decisions do you make in a given day? How do you make them? Which ones do you pray about and which ones do you simply make? These were some questions that came to mind after reading my prayer starter verse this morning.

This morning’s prayer starter is from James 1:5-6

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. James 1:5-6

In the Disney movie “Finding Nemo”, there’s an adorable blue fish whose name is Dory. Dory is a bubbly, happy, but very forgetful fish who delivers perhaps the most memorable and often repeated line of the movie: “Just keep swimming”. I mention her because I have often borrowed the line when facing situations that are difficult as a reminder to keep going. I have also revised it many times to say “Just keep praying”. Someone’s sick … pray. Someone is hurting … pray. Someone is in need … pray. The lost need Jesus … pray. You lack strength … pray. Wisdom is needed … as suggested in our verse this morning … pray. Just keep praying.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Paul said it like this – “Pray continually”. This can be a daunting statement until we understand the meaning behind it, that it is God’s invitation and desire for us to walk and talk with Him throughout the day. Time with God isn’t relegated to a church pew or your ‘closet’, nor is it limited to before meals or bedtime. Prayers do not have to be limited to the “BIG things of life” either – actually, in 1 Peter 5:7, Peter said that we should “cast all our cares on God because He cares for us”. The idea isn’t that we walk around with our heads bowed or stay on our knees all day – the idea is that we have an open line of communication with God throughout every day.

So, my encouragement is this: Pray big prayers, pray long or short prayers, pray whispered prayers or journaled prayers. Pray believing, expecting, and knowing that God hears and cares and answers the prayers of His children. Just keep praying.