Favor Fridays with Tony: The Favor of a Praying Life
- Tyrone Tony Reed Jr.
- Jul 18
- 5 min read
Today on Favor Fridays with Tony™, I want to talk about something that has shaped every season of my life—especially the hardest ones. It’s not a secret weapon. It’s not a performance. It’s not a backup plan. It’s prayer. Not just prayer as a moment, but as a way of life.
I call it the favor of a praying life.
We talk a lot about God’s favor—open doors, divine protection, supernatural provision—and rightly so. But the deepest, richest form of favor is access. The ability to talk directly to the Creator of heaven and earth. To whisper your fears, your dreams, your sins, your needs—and to know He hears. That’s favor.
The Gift of Access
Think about it: the God who created galaxies is never too busy to hear from you. The King of kings bends His ear when you speak. You don’t need an appointment. You don’t need fancy words. All you need is a heart that reaches for Him.
Hebrews 4:16 (NIV): “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
This is one of the greatest honors of our faith—we can come boldly. Not timidly. Not shamefully. Not through a priest or prophet. Boldly. Because of Jesus.
That’s favor.
A Lifestyle, Not a Lifeline
Too often, we treat prayer like a flare gun—something we shoot off in moments of emergency. But a praying life isn’t just a panic button. It’s a posture. A rhythm. A way of walking with God through every high and every valley.
Prayer isn’t just what I do before meals or when I’m preaching or writing. It’s the way I breathe through the day.
I pray while I drive.
I pray while I walk.
I pray while I write.
I pray while I listen to others.
I pray when I’m hurting.
I pray when I’m rejoicing.
Why? Because I know I’m favored to carry the presence of God everywhere I go. And He meets me in that prayer.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 (ESV): “Pray without ceasing.”
Prayer Grows You
Here’s the truth: a praying life will change you before it changes your situation. You’ll start seeing people differently. Responding differently. Living more slowly. Loving more deeply.
Prayer isn’t about getting God to do what you want. It’s about aligning yourself with what He wants. It’s transformation over transaction.
Have you ever gone into prayer to complain and left with peace? That’s not because the problem changed. It’s because you did.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV): “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.”
From Crisis to Communion
I remember years ago, when I lost my job and couldn’t see what was next. I was praying out of desperation. But God used that crisis to birth communion—not just conversation, but closeness. He became my daily bread, not just my emergency contact.
Even now, when things are going well, I talk to Him just as much. Because favor isn’t just the outcome of prayer—it’s found in prayer. It’s in the fellowship. The nearness. The whispered moments where God reminds you, “I’ve got you.”
Prayer Teaches Trust
Sometimes God answers immediately. Other times He says, “Wait.” And there are moments He answers differently than I expected—but always better than I imagined.
That’s what a praying life does. It teaches you to trust the hand of the One you cannot always trace. You learn to walk by faith, not by sight. You stop measuring favor by outcomes and start seeing it in intimacy.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV): “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Praying in Layers
There’s the quick “arrow” prayers: “Lord, help me say the right thing in this meeting.”
There’s the deep intercession: praying for your family, your nation, your assignment, your children’s future.
There’s the quiet sitting: not even saying anything, just being still and aware that He’s near.
There’s the warfare prayer: breaking strongholds, declaring God’s Word, rebuking darkness.
And there’s the worship prayer: singing your prayers, crying your prayers, journaling your prayers.
All of them are valid. All of them are favored.
Practical Ways to Build a Praying Life
Here are a few tools and rhythms that have helped me:
Schedule prayer like a meeting. Make time for uninterrupted conversation with God—morning, midday, or night.
Set prayer reminders. Alarms on your phone to pause and connect.
Journal your prayers. Write letters to God. Track your requests and watch how He responds.
Use Scripture as a springboard. Pray God’s Word back to Him. It strengthens faith.
Create a prayer space. A physical space reminds your heart to be still.
Pray with others. Join a prayer group, call a friend to agree in faith.
A Praying Life is a Powerful Life
The more I pray, the less I worry. The more I pray, the more I forgive. The more I pray, the more I love. The more I pray, the more I trust. The more I pray, the more I see favor in unexpected places.
Because prayer invites God into everything.
James 5:16 (AMP): “The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].”
A Word of Encouragement
If prayer has felt hard, dry, or distant—don’t give up. Keep showing up. He’s listening. He hasn’t forgotten. You don’t have to sound perfect. You just have to be honest.
Favor isn’t about polished prayers—it’s about persistent ones.
And don’t let anyone shame you for praying differently than they do. Your relationship with God is personal. He’s not grading your technique. He’s moved by your heart.
A Prayer for a Praying Life
Lord, thank You for the gift of prayer. Thank You that I can talk to You about everything—big or small. Help me to live a life that breathes prayer. Not just moments of it, but a mindset of it. Let prayer be my first instinct, not my last resort. Teach me to listen as much as I speak. Fill me with Your Spirit so that I pray according to Your will. Let my life be marked by communion with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Want more fuel for your faith? Visit my blog for past Favor Fridays, order my superhero-themed books (S.O.L.A.D.™: Soldiers of Light Against Darkness™), and grab a dose of inspiration for your journey.
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