I read a story that I had completely forgot about regarding Jonathan and his armourbearer. The similarities to what David went through with Goliath were there. I sometimes think about what would I do and I would say if I were in a similar situation today, I would find myself in prayer instead of engaging in battle but I assume that is because these days, the battle is not in the physical world but in the spiritual.

So they let the Philistines see them, and the Philistines said, “Look! Some Hebrews are coming out of the holes they have been hiding in!” ¹² Then they called out to Jonathan and the young man, “Come on up here! We have something to tell^[b] you!”

Jonathan said to the young man, “Follow me. The Lord has given Israel victory over them.” ¹³ Jonathan climbed up out of the pass on his hands and knees, and the young man followed him. Jonathan attacked the Philistines and knocked them down, and the young man killed them. ¹⁴ In that first slaughter Jonathan and the young man killed about twenty men in an area of about half an acre. 1 Samuel 14:11-14 GNT

I believe that Jonathan saw the invitation as indicating that the battle was in God’s hand and that God would use him to fight. He trusted God and moved forward, up a difficult climb, and God sustained him until the battle was completely won. He was looking for God to give the sign and he was prepared. Prayer does that.

Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times. – Romans 12:12 GNT

I can be sharp, prepared, joying in hope and patient no matter the circumstances because of prayer. It does not matter what my circumstances are – I can pray because my hope is in Jesus. Prayer is a precious gift that God has given – it enables me to have hope and patience – especially when my eyes do not see things going well.

Many have found the traditional evangelical Quiet Time—with its emphasis on interpretive Bible study and petitionary prayer—to be too rationalistic an exercise. In response, and with desire for greater experience of God, many Protestants have turned to more Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions, including lectio divina, contemplative prayer, and fixed hours of liturgical prayer. – Timothy Keller