Often we take time at the beginning of a new year to assess our lives, including our spiritual lives. How is your prayer life? Are you in God's Word daily? Are you taking time to study God's Word with other Christians? Instead of waiting until January 1, I'd like to suggest we take some time and review our spiritual health right now, specifically our prayer lives.

While prayer is simply talking and listening to God, I find it helpful to use different ways to talk and listen to God. I want to grow spiritually, and I want a vibrant prayer life. In the magazine Just Between Us, Ashley Schmidt shares how we can use the JOY formula to transform our prayers:

J - JESUS, O - OTHERS, AND Y - YOURSELF

Jesus "Pray a specific name or attribute. This side of heaven it is impossible for our human minds to fully comprehend God's infinite and awe-inspiring nature. In the Bible, however, He has shared enough truths about Himself to draw us into faith and worship. Examples: He is the Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8). He is my Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6). He is King of Kings (Revelation 19:16). He is Unchanging (Malachi 3:6). He is Good (Psalm 119:65-72).

Others  "We are all equipped to be prayer warriors for others. We are adopted daughters and therefore possess the same power and access to God that our Savior enjoys. We can whisper, or cry out, and offer our requests to our heavenly Father, and He hears us. Our words do not have to be perfect, only spoken through love and trust in God who hears and answers.

Examples: Pray for someone you love who needs encouragement.

Pray for friends who are struggling.

Pray for someone who does not know Jesus.

Pray for someone in need of physical or spiritual help.

Pray for your senators/politicians to make wise decisions."

Yourself "Pray for yourself to grow spiritually. Self-prayer keeps us aware of our heart and enables us to draw on God as our only source of strength.

Examples: Pray for kindness.

Pray for humility.

Pray for teachability.

Pray for your mind to be renewed day by day.

Pray for the ability to forgive."

I want to encourage YOU to commit five minutes daily during the month of September or for 30 days in a row! Ashley says, "You'll be amazed by how much closer you feel to God by the end - and how your prayer life will have just a little more joy!"

In Christ's ministry together ~ Pastor Caryn