Tammy Carnevale has been a member of Faithful Finish Lines 2.0 since January of 2020 and has lost 125 so far, bringing her starting weight of 349 pounds down to 224 pounds. She also manages her Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia with the tools she has learned in FFL program. Her passion is to use her writing and her own experience to help and support other women on their own weight loss journeys and managing chronic illness.
Transform your faith with prayers for a deeper relationship with God. Discover the power of surrender, gratitude, and intercession in your spiritual journey.
We can delve deeper into a more meaningful relationship with God through prayer.
What we focus on is what we are closest to. Do you focus on worldly things or on God? Prayer helps us to focus on God.
Yes, in daily practice we need to focus on our work, our family, our life; but when God is our main focus, then all the other dailies come under the umbrella of God.
Prayer strengthens our relationship with God, leading us to a strong, protective umbrella.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4: 6-7
The purpose of prayer is for us to draw closer to God.
“Come near to God and He will come near to you.”
James 4: 8.
I could never have made it through my health journey without having God right beside me. I have a set time to pray in the morning and in the evening, but also take time to pray through-out the day.
The prayers in the day sometimes are a “thank you” or a “help”, but He hears and through prayer I know He is always with me.
My health journey began at 349 pounds, morbidly obese, pre-diabetes with blood sugar numbers in the 200s, high blood pressure where medication could not fully control it, and pain whenever I walked or moved.
My health journey also included an autoimmune disease, Hemolytic Anemia. This is where my immune system kills my own red blood cells.
I can link you to all kinds of experts that will tell you that prayer matters, but I can tell you first hand that prayer is essential.
“The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Deuteronomy 31:8
I cling to this verse and pray it often. As long as I have God near me, I do not need to fear or be discouraged.
In this article, we are going to look at 3 categories of prayer, the prayer of surrender, the prayer of gratitude, and the prayer of intercession.
I will mix in my journey story to show you how prayer does bring us closer to God.
The Role of Prayer in Spiritual Development
Prayer is a means of communication with God.
Prayer can be formal or informal, depending on your need and/or circumstance. You can pray to God for adoration and worship, for confession and repentance of sins, for thanksgiving and gratitude, and for help and guidance.
You may pray differently in church then in your private time with God. You may also pray differently when in your private Bible, prayer time with God and when you are on the run.
The most important part of understanding prayer is that prayer is a conversation. It is our connection with God.
Thomas Merton, who was a Trappist monk and writer, viewed prayer as a deep and contemplative experience.
He wrote, “Prayer is an act of love.” He compared prayer to breathing.
We can’t live without breath and we shouldn’t live without God.
Henri Nouwen described prayer as “the place where we can be ourselves before God.”
Have you ever felt that no matter where you are, you always have to present yourself as expected and never as you truly are?
You can go to God without polish and without airs. He wants you the way you are.
Nouwen describes prayer as presenting our thoughts to God.
He also speaks about how to focus on God. It is not about erasing all other thoughts and thinking only of God. It is to make God our main focus and the largest part of our life.
He emphasized that prayer is a space for honesty, vulnerability, and openness to God’s presence and guidance.
St. Teresa of Avila recognized the need to focus on God with our minds, not just our mouths.
I know I have stated prayers because I was supposed to and it was just mouth service and not heart service.
When praying, pray with your heart, your soul, your being.
“Tasting the sweetness of loving conversation with Jesus”
Gina Loehr
At the beginning of my health journey, I was giving lip service to my prayers. I couldn’t even see how God could rescue me. I felt like one of the apostles in the boat during the storm. My storm was huge.
When I started to simply speak to God, I felt peace and hope.
I used the bible verses I received from Faithful Lines, The Holy Mess, and So Very Blessed to start, then as I felt myself grow closer and closer to God, I just began to speak with Him.
When God and I speak, our conversations can be rushed, they can be long, they can be just one word in passing. But I know without any doubt now that every conversation with Him is being heard.
Prayer as Connection
As we have seen in understanding prayer, prayer fosters intimacy with God.
Think of any relationship you have and how good would that relationship be if you never spoke with each other? Probably not very good, and even nonexistent.
What we have with God is a relationship and we have to speak to each other. Spend your time in prayer speaking with God, but also use some of the time in prayer, listening to God.
With God, we don’t have to be surface talkers, we can express our innermost thoughts, feelings and struggles. The more honest we are, the closer we become.
“Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.”
Psalm 62: 8
Remember, prayer is not just about speaking; it involves listening for God’s voice and guidance. Sometimes this will come through as a feeling and sometimes you will be led to a scripture or even a thought that will be from God.
“After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”
1 Kings 9:12
This verse shows us that God’s voice can be a gentle whisper and we have to listen carefully, with our soul, to hear Him.
It took me a long time to hear from God. I heard right away, but didn’t want to believe it was God and so didn’t follow His lead.
When I finally followed I was able to go from 349 pounds to 205 pounds, from 200 blood sugar numbers to 80s blood sugar numbers, from high blood pressure not controlled with medication to no high blood pressure and no need for medication, and from pain with movement to no pain and able to walk long distances.
You can read more about my journey, if you wish.
Through prayer and finally listening to God, I was able to better understand God’s will for my life. The first step was to gain health.
As I grew closer to God I began to transform. Not just in size and health but in my heart and soul. I started to analyze if every step I took in life aligned with God and His Word.
Have you ever wondered if you are on the right path, financially, physically, spiritually?
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Romans 12:2
I found that my mind needed to be renewed to focus on God as the umbrella of life.
I was so focused on diet and exercise and my own internal and external pain that I wasn’t letting God all the way in. Once I let Him all the way in through prayer and renewing my mind, the healing began.
God is here to help us, and we need to show Him gratitude for all He does.
This may sound silly to some, but I even thank God when I go to the restroom and find no line to wait in. I thank Him when I see a blue sky and green grass and changing colors of leaves.
I thank Him every morning that I can wake and get dressed in clothes that feel good and fit well. I thank Him that I can bend over and tie my shoes.
God is the reason for every good thing.
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18
Prayer is powerful. It is our connection to God.
We can also use prayer to bless others.
One of my goals, and I am working toward it, is to write down the prayer requests from the Free Christian Weight Loss support group that I belong to and pray for each request daily.
We need to support and uphold each other with prayers.
“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” – Matthew 18:20.
Importance of Prayers
We have discussed understanding what prayer is and the connection that happens with prayer.
What is the importance of prayers?
I am sure many of you have already gleaned that prayer is important to draw us close to God, to show us His purpose for our lives, and to support others that believe in Christ.
There are many important factors of prayer, but the most important is to know God and listen to His guidance and lead.
3 Prayers for a Deeper Relationship with God
Prayer #1: The Prayer of Surrender
I am a person who needs to be in control. I hold on to everything for dear life. At least, this was me.
Are you a person who needs control? Can you let go in the midst of a crisis?
I had to learn to let go and let God. God can do so much better than I can in any circumstance. It is still difficult for me, but I am learning.
Embracing the act of surrendering our heart and each decision to God marks a significant moment of faith and reliance on His supreme wisdom.
Letting God be in control reflects a deep-seated trust in God’s omniscience and a willingness to be guided by His hand in every part of our life.
I tried to control everything at the beginning of my health journey. I wrote out meal plans for a month at a time, didn’t follow them, but they were written. I planned extensive exercises, again didn’t follow it, but it was written out.
Every Time I heard God’s quiet voice tell me that for me surgery was the answer, I ignored HIm. Surgery was not the answer, I could not be in control if I did surgery.
I couldn’t control what happened when I was under anesthesia. I couldn’t control all the food I wouldn’t be able to eat after surgery. No, surgery wasn’t for me.
God kept speaking with me and had other people speak to me. He wouldn’t give up. He never gave up on me.
He won’t give up on you either.
Finally, I gave in. Sadly, I had to hit the proverbial rock bottom, before I gave in. There was no reason for me to go through such struggles. God was always there and if I had listened, the journey would have been smoother.
Then I believe I was tested. On my first blood work to prepare for surgery, I was found to have Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia and surgery could not be done at that time.
I needed to go through extensive IV treatment. Being very scared of needles and already being on the edge by accepting surgery, this was a fall off a large cliff for me.
I prayed nonstop. I begged God to be in control, because I knew I could do nothing. I had no control.
God saw me through my treatments and surgery was rescheduled. I still didn’t want to go through surgery.
There is no cure for Hemolytic Anemia, so what if it came back? Trusting God and giving Him control was my only way.
I had to fully trust that God had me. He wasn’t going to let me fall. He was going to carry me if need be, but He would see me through, no matter what.
I came through surgery with no complications and healed well. At 4 months post-surgery, the Hemolytic Anemia returned.
God was there.
There was an experimental treatment available, that was basically cancer treatments with a needle in my stomach each week. I was so scared, but God held my hand.
I have been in remission now for over a year and we are hoping that this experimental procedure has cured the Anemia.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11: 28-30
God stood by His Word. He helped ease my burden.
When I look back, I thank God for each thing I went through. I couldn’t be writing these articles without having His help through all the trials and tribulations. He put me here with a purpose and thank God I am starting to fulfill His purpose.
Here is a sample prayer of surrender to start you off, but all God wants is for your heart to truly trust Him and surrender your every decision and circumstance onto Him.
Heavenly Father, I surrender all my decisions and circumstances into Your hands.
Grant me wisdom to seek Your guidance, strength to trust in Your plan, and peace in knowing that You are in control.
Help me to embrace each moment with faith, trusting that You are leading me on the right path.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Prayer #2: The Prayer of Gratitude
As you are praying to surrender yourself to God, don’t forget to thank Him for all He is and will do.
Every time you wake up, God is there.
“The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.”
Psalm 118: 24
Every time you make it to work safely, you see your child smile at you, you feel warmth on your skin, you feel joy; this is all Him.
4Him has a song, “The Voice of God” that speaks to all we take for granted and how that is God.
We all need to remember to thank God for everything He has made possible.
The difficult lesson is thanking Him, even in the midst of our circumstances. He is still with us.
I remember when I lost my twins in Germany.
I lived in Germany for two years and within the first year my husband and I were expecting twins.
3 months into the pregnancy I was rushed to the German hospital, my husband was away on army business, and my then 2 year old son had to be left at a clinic where my new friend was to pick him up as I was whisked away in a screaming ambulance.
As they prepared me for emergency surgery, they could not get an IV in. I was lying on a gurney with no clothes and no covers, my legs in stirrups and parts of me being shaved that had never been.
I was so worried about my 2 year old. I was in such pain for being stabbed with needles and in such embarrassment for being laid naked before so many eyes (their culture was one very different from mine).
I remember turning my head to the left, as they worked on the right arm to insert this IV that didn’t want to go in.
I prayed, I hadn’t in a long time.
I told God that I was relying on His Word that He would not give me more than I could handle. I told Him that I needed Him here with me. No one spoke English, I did not speak much German and my life felt over.
The IV was finally put in and a blanket thrown over me. I was wheeled to surgery wondering where God was. I knew I hadn’t prayed much, but I had been told He would always be with me.
As I lay on the operating table, the anesthesiologist tried to speak to me. I thought he meant they were doing more needles. I didn’t even care, I was done.
Then God showed up in human form. That anesthesiologist rested behind my head and told me “no more needles”. He slowly hummed to me as he rubbed my hair and led me to sleep.
I still to this day, thank God for showing me how everything can seem so bleak, but then He is there.
Do I now turn immediately to thankfulness when I start to go through difficult times? No, I wish I did and I am learning to.
Every single thing I have ever experienced, God has turned to good in one way or another.
Think back to a time when you were having difficulties. When it was all done, did God turn it into something good? I imagine most if not all of you will say yes, He did.
As we go through tough times, let’s remember to thank God that He is with us and that He will use the tough times to bring about a blessing.
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18
If you are just beginning on this path to praying with gratitude, I encourage you to review this source that provides Scriptures to Cultivate a Thankful Heart by the National House of Hope.
Here is a sample prayer of gratitude to start you on your journey. The most important part of praying with gratitude is to be joyfully thankful, knowing that God is blessing you.
Dear God, in the midst of challenges, I pray with gratitude.
Thank you for Your presence, strength, and love that carry me through.
Help me to find joy and lessons even in hardship, knowing that You are with me every step of the way.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Prayer #3: The Prayer of Intercession
God is always with us and loves for us to thank Him and pray for our needs. He also wants us to pray for others, not just ourselves.
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
James 5: 16
As I briefly discussed earlier, I am now writing down the prayer needs of those in the free Facebook Christian Women’s Weight Loss group and in my prayer time with God I am praying for those women.
I pray first that God will lead me and then I read the posts, writing down the ones I feel God is leading me to pray for.
During my evening prayer time, I reach out to God for each of the prayer requests that I have written down.
I also did this when I was in a support group for those who had weight loss surgery. I would write a list I felt God led me to pray for and I would pray for those on my list.
When praying for others, I like to use their names and be as specific as I can about their needs. God knows each of our needs, so He will know whether I do or not.
Here is a very generic prayer to start you off. Starting by praying for loved ones is a great way to begin prayer of intercession.
Dear God, I lift up my loved ones to You.
Please keep them safe and surround them with Your protection.
Meet their needs, both seen and unseen, and fill their hearts with Your peace.
I trust in Your care for them.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Cultivating a Consistent Prayer Life
Consistency is important in any part of our life. It is the same with our prayer life.
Tips To Be Consistent in Your Prayer Life
To stay consistent you can begin with a schedule.
In the morning, as I wake I thank God for the day He has made, I thank Him for His blessings, and I pray for guidance, strength, and endurance for the day ahead.
At meal times, I thank Him for providing me food and I pray that the food He has blessed me with will nourish my body and not harm it.
In the evening, I pray for safety and a good night’s sleep. I pray for those on my list. I pray for my family. I thank Him for everything He has done that day.
Throughout the day I say short bouts of prayer over mundane items, such as having no one in the work bathroom when I need to get in there or having no calls to interrupt me as I am working on a project.
If I pass an accident or hear of one, I do a quick intercession prayer for all those involved, that they will be safe and that they know Him.
Once you begin to schedule prayer and start the routine, you will find you crave that time with God.
Imagine your best friend and how much time you want to spend with them. God is even closer than your best friend. He is closer than your spouse. He is a part of you.
The Importance of Faithfulness
Perseverance in prayer is a critical aspect of growing closer to God. As we grow closer to God our faithfulness grows as well.
This concept is echoed throughout scripture, highlighting its importance for an intimate relationship with God.
“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”
And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
Luke 18: 1-8
Jesus tells this story to encourage His followers to pray continually and not lose heart.
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Romans 12:12
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
James 1: 2-4
FAQs about Prayers for a Deeper Relationship with God
How can prayer deepen my relationship with God?
Prayer deepens your relationship with God by creating a genuine connection. It creates a space for honest dialogue, allowing you to express your thoughts, feelings, and struggles.
This intimacy encourages you to listen for God’s guidance and presence, helping you feel more connected to His will and love.
Regular communication strengthens your understanding of who He is. Ultimately, prayer becomes a path to a deeper, more personal relationship with God.
Can anyone pray these prayers?
Yes, anyone can pray. Prayer is a personal and open conversation with God, and it doesn’t require any special training or conditions.
Whether you’re expressing gratitude, seeking guidance, simply sharing your thoughts, or praying for others, prayer is accessible to everyone. It’s about your heart and intention, not specific words or rituals.
How often should I pray to strengthen my relationship with God?
Start by making a plan that fits your schedule. Once in the morning, once at night. Start to thank God for your meals and for His blessings throughout the day.
You will find that you want to be in His presence more than ever and your routine will grow.
Heavenly Father,
I come before You with a grateful heart, lifting up every woman who reads these words. Jesus, I ask that You pour out Your blessings upon them, guiding them into a deeper and more intimate relationship with You.
May they feel Your presence in their lives, providing comfort, strength, and wisdom. Help them to seek You in every moment and to trust in Your plans for them. Surround them with Your love and grace, and may their hearts be open to Your teachings.
Lead them into the depths of Your truth, so they may grow in faith and reflect Your light to the world.
In Your holy name, I pray.
Amen.
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