"I Guess All We Can Do Is Pray…"

What if Prayer Was the Plan, Not the Backup?

“I guess all we can do is just pray.”

That sentence hit me wrong the moment it left her lips. I could tell it felt off to her too, as she immediately began to backpedal. This wasn’t the first time I’d heard this statement. In fact, it’s a common confession I’ve come across. Maybe you have too.

Our words often reveal our underlying beliefs, and in this case, they expose a limitation we sometimes place on the practice and power of prayer.

We treat prayer as a last resort. As if to say, “I’ve done everything I can—now I’ll hand it off to God.”

Here’s a thought: prayer isn’t a last resort, it’s the first line of action.

It’s an invitation to leave the shallow end of the pool and dive into the depths of a transformative practice. A surface-level approach to prayer sounds like a wish list: “God, here’s what I want. Please make it happen.” But that’s only one small facet of what prayer was meant to be.

Prayer, as a transformational spiritual discipline, is a practice of posture. It’s about positioning ourselves before the Lord with open hands and an open heart.

And here’s what I’ve found. More often than not, when we bring our prayers to God about a situation, He uses that very moment to begin working on the first person He wants to change: the one staring back at you in the mirror.

Prayer as the first line of defense is an invitation for God to work in your heart. When we treat prayer as the last option, we’re not just in the shallow end of the pool—we’re sitting on the edge, only dipping our toes and convincing ourselves that this is all there is to the experience of swimming.

Instead, I invite you to begin making your way to the deep end.

Here’s a simple exercise to try.

Figuratively speaking, slide your wish list to the other side of the table and ask God to speak to your heart about His wish for you. Sit with Him in silence for as long as you need—or as long as you have time for. Ask a question, and allow the Holy Spirit to stir your heart.

Embrace silence as a form of prayer. You don’t have to talk all the time. In fact, you don’t have to talk at all. Sitting with God is enough. This is where the formational practice of posture begins. It’s a posture that says, I will create space for you to capture my attention.

If you try just one or two of these shifts, it’s a great start. But here’s one last idea—a deeper investment of time, but definitely a plunge into the deep end.

Create space to simply be overwhelmed by the revelation of God.

God reveals Himself through His Word. He is the subject and the hero of every story. Take your Bible into your time of prayer, and read it as prayer. Ask God to reveal Himself to you. And when you sense even just a glimpse of who He is, pause. Ponder what you are sensing. Give space for the Holy Spirit to stir your heart, and stay in that space long enough to truly be overwhelmed.

Yes, this might take a little more time. But it’s worth it. It’s an investment that will serve you well because it brings clarity, perspective, and purpose to everything that follows.

Things that once seemed outrageously important may suddenly lose their priority.
Small, faint nudges from the Holy Spirit may begin to sound like roars in your spirit.

So let prayer be more than the last thing you do. Let it be the first breath, the first move, the first posture of your heart. God is inviting you to be with Him. So bring your list if you need to—but don’t forget to listen. What if the breakthrough you’re longing for isn’t on the other side of striving, but on the other side of stillness? God is already present. The deep end is ready. Come on in.

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Epilogue

Here are some selected scriptures to center your thoughts around-

Luke 5:16 – “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”

• This highlights prayer as a rhythm, not a last resort—even for Jesus.

Romans 12:2 – “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...”

• Prayer is a transformational posture that renews our thinking.

Psalm 46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God.”

• Here’s your call to sit in silence and allow God to speak first.

Philippians 4:6–7 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God...”

• We are invited to bring our requests, but we’re also invited into deeper trust and peace.

Jeremiah 33:3 – “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

• We are encouraged and given permission to listen in prayer and expect God to speak. Remember, if you feel God impressing something on your heart, test it in the Word. His Spirit and His Word always go hand in hand.