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Writer's pictureBryce Johnson

Tossing Up a Prayer

Updated: 2 days ago

It was wild in the NBA last night as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the New York Knicks 112-106 in overtime. The Knicks still lead the series 3-2, but they let one slip away at Madison Square Garden in the closing seconds of regulation. The Sixers were down by six points with only 28 seconds on the clock, and according to ESPN, they only had a 4.6% chance of winning at that point. However, Tyrese Maxey took over and hit a basket with the foul for a 3-point play. Then, with 10 seconds remaining and his team down three points, he tossed up a 3-pointer from the Knicks logo in-between mid-court and the 3-point line. With the series on the line, he threw up a prayer from deep beyond the arc, and his desperation shot went in! The Sixers tied the game with this long shot that was a long shot to go in, and they ended up beating the Knicks in overtime. As fans, when we watch players toss it up and heave it from deep at the end of games, we don’t necessarily think they’ll make it, but we know it’s worth a try to see what happens. We rarely have confidence in those shots or expect them to go in, but it’s thrilling when they do. While thinking about how Maxey “threw up a prayer” in desperation, I wonder about our faith journeys and how similar our approach to actual prayer is. Do we “toss-up” or “throw up a prayer” to God in desperation? Do we honestly believe God answers our prayer, or do we “heave it up” to see what happens and not think it works? Do we think it’s worth a try as we hope God answers our prayers, but we're not sure He will? The truth is that prayer can be challenging as we try to understand how to talk to God. My encouragement for us today is to move past just throwing up prayers like they’re “buzzer beater 3’s” with mostly doubt and a little hope, but instead, go to God in prayer with confidence and expectancy. As followers of Jesus, we aren’t tossing prayers into the air, hoping they “make it” to God, but instead, we're communicating with our loving Heavenly Father, who deeply cares about and hears us. Here are some key verses to remember when considering our approach to prayer: Jesus tells us in Mark 11:23-24 (AMP), “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea!’ and does not doubt in his heart , but believes that what he says is going to take place, it will be done for him . For this reason, I am telling you, whatever things you ask for in prayer , believe that you have received them, and they will be given to you.” Jesus also says in John 15:7 (AMP), “If you remain in Me and My words remain in you , ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.” 1 John 5:14-15 (ESV) tells us, “And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him.” When our lives are in sync with Jesus, and we’re abiding in Him, our prayers will be heard and answered according to God’s will...and our desires will be aligned with His, and answers to our prayers will be revealed. Prayer is a beautiful gift, and as our faith grows, our understanding of its power will be strengthened. So today, let’s pray with expectancy, knowing that God will answer us. Like shooters who know they'll make a clutch 3-pointer when it leaves the tip of their fingers, we can also know “it’s going in”! I’m Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I ask that my prayer life becomes more vibrant as I pray with expectancy and confidence. Help me to have faith when I approach You with requests and a heart that’s aligned with You so my desires are aligned with Your will. I trust that You'll answer my prayers according to Your will. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

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