Prayer, The Costly Pursuit

Scripture

Then He turned to the crowd, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me." -Luke 9:23

The ability for humanity to approach the throne of grace was purchased at the immense price of Jesus Christ’s suffering and death. Because of this, prayer is a costly pursuit—not in money, but in time, effort, and surrender. Entering the secret place with the Lord means moving beyond transactional requests. It means letting go of control, releasing comfort, and pursuing His presence above all else.

Pause and reflect: Where have you been approaching prayer as a task instead of a relationship? You can explore this more through reflecting on surrender.

So why is prayer a costly pursuit? Because it demands something from us. Christ gave His life so we could have access to the secret place. It is not a place we approach casually, because it was not a cheap gift. Prayer requires the surrender of our control. We must release our agendas and plans to align our hearts with His greater purpose. Remember Jesus in Gethsemane saying, “Nevertheless, not my will, but Thy will be done.”

Journaling moment: What area of your life is God inviting you to release into His will? If helpful, try journaling about areas of surrender.

This surrender often means forgoing convenience, immediate gratification, and distractions. Sometimes the cost feels painful or inconvenient—giving up an extra hour of sleep, carving out sacred time in a busy day, or saying no to an invitation so you can keep your promise to seek His face. But what we gain is far greater: true intimacy and a transforming relationship with God. The more we sacrifice to enter the secret place, the more of Him we receive. Scripture reminds us, “He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6) Prayer also requires abandoning self in pursuit of His presence—laying down pride, fears, and struggles before Him. This kind of vulnerability only grows through cultivated relationship.

Reflection prompt: What fear or struggle do you need to lay before God today? You can go deeper by reflecting on vulnerability with God.

Beloved, do you desire to dwell in the secret place with the Lord? It is a beautiful pursuit, but it demands personal sacrifice from every believer who wants Psalm 91:1 to become their lived testimony. Ultimately, prayer costs us because we give up all of who we are for all of who God is. This can be difficult for those who find identity in things rather than in the Creator. Prayer is a free gift—but it is also a costly pursuit.

Prayer moment: “Lord, draw me into the secret place. Teach me to surrender what I cling to, so I may receive more of You. Help me value Your presence above convenience, comfort, or distraction.” If you’d like, you can rewrite this prayer in your own words to make it personal.