Psalm
55:16-17, Luke 7:7-8 Matthew 11:1, Mark 11: 24, James 5:16
The world can be changed
through prayer. When we pray, the power, the revelation and the strength of God
is ours. We should set prayer as a priority in our life. This is something only
you can do. A person who does not have an understanding of the importance of
prayer and does not have a successful prayer life is always weak in their
spiritual life.
Since prayer is so essential to
the spiritual life, it is imperative that we devote a lot of time and effort to
make sure we know how to pray effectively. Although prayer can come
instinctively, to pray effectively must be learned. Mankind has prayed from the
beginning, but it was not until God Himself came to live with us on this planet
that we begin to learn the meaning of prayer and how to pray effectively.
When you pray, do you have
confidence that God will answer? Are your prayers specific or in general? Is
your prayer life as a casual response to your needs and desires, or is it food
for your spiritual life?
There is a reason why many are
not experiencing results in their spiritual lives and this lack of results in
large has to do with prayer. There is an alarming reality within the people of
God and that there are a large number of believers who have neglected this
fundamental practice and some have distorted the effectiveness and purpose of
it.
Prayer is not an incessant
repetition of words and phrases, as if it were a formula, nor is it to
negotiate with God for Him to work in our favor. We must be clear that neither
our eloquent or long prayers nor the emotional outbursts of screaming and
crying move God in our favor.
Prayer is talking to God with
our heart, without frills, not out of obligation or routine, it is to talk to
God in faith, fully believing in our hearts that He is there to attend to our
supplications. It goes beyond simply opening your mouth and saying words, is
more than just a simple communication (John
14:14).
Prayer should give us
tranquility and peace, as we believe by faith that what we have asked has been
granted. You cannot pray with fear and doubt in your hearts, we cannot expect
to hear from God unless we are totally convinced of what we have asked in
prayer. The word of God in the book of James warns us that whoever asks in this
manner (doubtful) cannot expect anything from God (James 1:6-7).
Many of us truthfully have at
one time asked ourselves, how then are we to pray? The disciples asked Jesus
the same question and the Lord gave the example of “The Lord’s prayer",
which is the basis and prayer guide how effective prayer is made. Based on the
principles taught in this prayer we can develop our communication with the Lord
with deeper and more intimate prayers.
Prayer is not only asking and
receiving, but also involves thanksgiving, worship, and praise to God. There
are two responsibilities in prayer, God's responsibility and our
responsibility. Prayer is both human and divine.
One of the most simples and
deepest passages regarding prayer in the Bible is found in Matthew 7:7-11: "Ask and you shall receive, seek and
you shall find, knock and it shall be opened. For everyone who asks receives,
and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. "
Note the intensity of
progression of the Lord in this passage: "ask ... seek ... knock."
Clearly, Jesus had in mind that we should be actively engaged in the process of
prayer. Prayer is not a spectator sport!
There is a vital element in
prayer that many overlook; constancy in prayer. Maybe we see that nothing
happens, but a delay between what we ask for and when we receive it does not
mean that God is not answering our prayers. God wants to answer our prayers. He
did not give us prayer with the purpose to frustrate us or with the intent of
leaving our prayers unanswered.
PRAYER
IS A LABORIOUS TASK
Prayer is laborious because the
enemy of our souls recognize the spiritual power that can be achieved through
prayer and opposes us to pray as we should pray (Eph. 6:12-18, Col. 4:12, Heb. 5:7, Luke 22:44; Dan. 10:8-14).
There will be times that we
will have a great struggle when we pray (Dan.
10:8-14) we may not feel the presence of the Lord, but we must not lose
heart, it is oppression of the enemy and it is better not to get up from prayer
until you feel the presence and victory from the Lord.
IT
IS A SIN TO BE NEGLIGENT IN PRAYER (I Sam. 12:23, I Thess. 5:17)
Without prayer, sooner or later
the child of God will fall into sin. Prayer is the Christian's spiritual
resource (Eph. 6:13-18).
In many cases the lack of
prayer occurs due to the lack of knowledge of the Bible and of the promises of
the Word of God for us through the privilege of going before His presence (Heb. 10:19-22).
If there is sin in our lives,
there is no such freedom to approach Him in prayer and being in that sinful
condition, God will not hear our prayers (I
Jn. 3:19-24, Psalms 66:18).
THAT
WHICH WILL HELP US SO OUR PRAYERS WILL BE ANSWERED
The rule for receiving the
answer to our prayers is in Matthew 7:7-11. Biblical truths well guarantee
response: 1) Ask, 2) Seek 3) Knock, 4) Persistence.
Don’t be discouraged be patient
(Luke 18:1-7); don’t let doubt, fear,
disbelief and discouragement overcome you as you expect the divine answer.
Rebuke, resists all opposition from the enemy with suggestions that you will
not receive an answer.
Request insistently, be
tenacious in your purposes, be stubborn, continue in your prayers, refuse the
thought "give an inch" demand persistently (Luke 11:5-8, Heb. 10:19-23-36).
Believe, have faith and trust
that God will answer your prayers. Come to God in prayer with the right
attitude and clean motives (Heb. 11:6,
Matt. 6:5, 7:7-11).
Praying (asking) according to
His will. The Lord has promised us definite promises (II Cor. 1:20). But still we must ask that it be according to His
will because we do not know if God wants to give us what we are asking, because
of His holy purposes in our lives. And even if He wants to grant us what we are
asking, we do not know if it is the proper time for Him to grant us what we are
asking. This is why we should ask that it be done according to His will (I John 5:14-15, II Cor. 12:8-9, Luke
22:41-42).
POSITION
OR POSTURE OF THE BODY IN PRAYER
The Bible does not give
specific instructions on body position during prayer. According to Scripture
people prayed in different body positions (Matt.
26:39, I Kings 8:54; Mark 11:25, Acts 2:2, I Tim. 2:8). We suggest that in
your private prayers you should kneel when possible, because even this
demonstrates the humiliation we must have before the presence of God.
WHAT
IS THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO PRAY?
You should select a time that
is most convenient for you to pray according to your personal circumstances.
The Bible does not specify a specific time to pray. When possible it is best and
recommended to pray in the morning, before starting the day's activities. Your
mind and heart are fresh and clean in the morning.
IMPEDIMENT
IN PRAYER
A.
Having an unforgiving spirit: Mat.
6:23-24, Mark 11:25
B.
Living in sin: Proverbs 15:8, 29; Isa.
1:15; Lam. 3:42-43
C.
A spirit of pride: Luke 18:9-14
D.
Doubt. You can never fully understand what it is to pray, or how, but do not
let that prevent you from praying.
E.
Slothfulness. Resist the temptation to put aside prayer because you are tired
or bored.
F.
Do not listen to the Word of God: Proverbs
28:9
G.
Hypocrisy in our lives: Matthew 6:5-6;
23:14
H.
Vane repeating: Matthew 6:7
I.
Failure to confess our faults to one another.
J.
Lack of mutual respect and subjection in marriage: I Peter 3:1-7
K.
Trusting feelings. Do not wait to have an emotional siege before praying. Pray
even when you do not feel it.
L.
Disbelief. When one invokes the name of the Lord, it is because he believes.
Praying to a god in whom you do not believe in is a waste of time.
SYSTEMATIC
PRAYER
Success lies in starting.
However, there are some guidelines to follow. If you want to have the ability
to maintain an active prayer life, two things are essential: Prayer must be
systematic and comprehensive.
A.
Find a time to pray: An organized time free of interruptions, would be very
advantageous for prayer.
B.
Find a location: You should find a place in your home for prayer where you can
be alone with God.
C.
Find a goal: Your prayers should not only be systematic with respect to time
and place, but also they must be specific. Praying with a purpose is one of the
keys to receiving answers to your prayers (Isaiah
41:21).
Learning to pray specifically
produces a difference in your feelings about prayer and it will bring results
when you pray. Vague prayers usually never achieve results, but specific
requests, expressed clearly invite the power of God.
PARTS
OF A SENTENCE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT
Equally important is to be
complete in prayer. Praying completely covers all aspects of prayer. That is, understands what you should do. Once
you know what to do, praying well never seem difficult.
PRAISE
1.
It is good to begin our prayer with praise, using the Psalms (Psalms 145-150).
2.
Give the Lord all the honor and glory for all things. Worship, glorify, and
praise His name wholeheartedly.
3.
It is good to pray, expressing the Word of God stored in our mind.
CONFESSION (I John 1:6-10, 2:1-2)
When you pray, do not forget
this. Confess your sins and spiritual weaknesses to the Lord. Do not use general
terms in your confession to the Lord, but be specified in this. Un-confessed
sin is the greatest hindrance to prayer.
GIVING
THANKS (Philippians 4:6)
There is so much to thank God
for. For the small and large things that He gives us in this life. Thank Him
for the breath of life, the privilege of prayer, salvation, the gift of the
Holy Spirit, health, and spiritual blessings and much more (I Thess. 5:18).
INTERCESSION:
Intercession is God's love flowing through us.
1. It will be a help to you and
to others that you intercede through prayer (I Tim. 2:1-3)
2. Intercede for whom or why?
a.
Your Family, for spiritual and material needs. For all the brethren of the
church, special requests submitted. For the brothers who are weak spiritually,
for people who are not saved, relatives and friends, and for the sick.
b.
For your pastor and other ministers.
c.
Pray for yourself. To be faithful in all, so you can devote your life every
day.
MEDITATION (Psalm 1:1-2; 77:12)
In meditation, reflect on
sacred themes of the Word of God and His goodness. When meditating, you will
experience a greater understanding of the wonderful and profound of the divine
promises. This understanding will magnify your prayer and your life.
LISTENING (I Kings 19:11-12)
Prayer is not only talking to
God. We must also listen. Listening is different from meditation. When we
listen, we received direct orders from God.
Praise
and Worship
It is essential to finish our
prayer in this manner, thanking Him for answering the requests that we have made.
As our first thoughts to begin the day should be on Him, in the same manner it
should also be at the end of the day.
We should cultivate the habit
of prayer in our Christian life, as a habit is not formed in a day, it takes
time. It takes discipline to cultivate well.
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