How To PRAY......Just Be YOU! - Worthy Christian Forums

Quite often when we Christians believe that we have a basic knowledge of the fundamental Christian doctrines (it's in our nature), we become overconfident, self-satisfied, and then suffer from "doctrinal egotism". As a result, we don't recognize the need for the practicalities of the Christian life, such as prayer AND Bible study on a regular basis for spiritual well-being, and NOT just for THEOLOGICAL or doctrinal study.

Regardless of how much a Believer knows about the Bible or its doctrinal truths, he/she MUST PRAY if he/she is to grow and be of service to GOD. Probably the best analogy of the importance of prayer is that of breathing. Prayer should be as natural to the child of GOD as breathing is to the human body, for prayer is the Believer's spiritual breath. The reason why so many Believers are always spiritually tired and weary is that they have been holding their spiritual breath.

If YOU are a Christian who says, "I simply can't find time for prayer", you're like the person who says, "I just cannot find time to breathe!" Consequently, the child of GOD who does not pray regularly will spiritually suffocate. What causes this to happen with so many Christians? UNCONFESSED SIN! When we are not willing to confess and forsake sin, we DO NOT want to pray because prayer brings us into the very presence of our FATHER in a conversational way, and we do not feel comfortable there.

Moreover, if we do try to pray with sin in our lives, we will quickly become discouraged because we can sense the truth of Psalm 66:18!!

However, using a broad word like "sin" leaves many Believers in the dark so far as confession is concerned, because they cannot think of any sin they should confess and forsake. So, we should take time to identify some specific sins our FATHER's Word says WILL BE a hinderance to prayer.......SELFISHNESS (James 4:3); An UNFORGIVING SPIRIT (Mark 11:25); AN IMPROPER HUSBAND-WIFE RELATIONSHIP (1 Peter 3:7). Any of them sound familiar to you about YOU??!!! Hmmmmmmmm.....

There were things I wrote in my thread, "The PRIVILEGE Of PRAYER" concerning "effective prayer", but here I want to expound on it a little bit more.

First, BE AWARE of WHOM you are talking to when you pray! We DO NOT pray to the HOLY SPIRIT, any Apostle, or even to JESUS. Our prayers should be directed to our FATHER in Heaven (Matthew 6:9....Philippians 4:6). ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS: the phrase in Matthew 6:9 calling GOD, "FATHER", is quite a revelation in relation to prayer. GOD is OMNIPRESENT, OMNISCIENT, OMNIPOTENT, HOLY and RIGHTEOUS, to name just a few of HIS attributes. When we begin to conceptualize WHO HE really is we could become apprehensive about talking to HIM in prayer.

Our GOD is INFINITE, INCOMPREHENSIBLE, and truthfully speaking, just plain AWESOME. However, HE is ALSO a GOD of LOVE, GRACE, and MERCY, which makes it possible for us to have a special relationship with HIM. That special relationship is always assumed in the Bible when we are encouraged to pray.

Second...as I said previously in the other thread, BE YOURSELF when YOU pray. Praying should be as natural for a disciple of JESUS CHRIST as talking to one's earthly father! Many of my brothers/sisters in the Body of CHRIST have the mistaken idea that our FATHER does not listen UNLESS YOU USE a lot of the language of the King James Version of the Bible. This causes problems because most of us are not comfortable using "wilts", "werts", "thee's", and "thou's". Some people do use these words as an expression of reverance, but nonetheless, prayer should be natural. So, if "thou" naturally "talkest" with "thee's" and "thou's", then pray that way. BUT....if that IS NOT the way YOU usually talk, DON'T pray that way. Be REVERENT, but BE NATURAL!!! KEEP IT REAL...(IMG:http://www.worthyboards.com/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Third, ALWAYS pray in CHRIST NAME. Some people think that to ask in JESUS NAME is to add some "magical formula" at the end of their prayers which will guarantee an answer. Others think that praying without "in CHRIST's NAME" at the end of their prayers is like sending a letter to GOD without a postage stamp! Listen....when JESUS said that we should pray in HIS NAME in John 14:13, HE did not mean to simply put those words at the end of the prayer. To pray in HIS NAME is to pray a prayer that we believe JESUS would pray if HE were wording the petition. It is voicing a prayer that is CONSISTENT with the life and teachings of our LORD/SAVIOUR.

YOU have to have faith that GOD will answer YOUR prayer(s). As Christians we must believe in the present to receive in the future. To the world, SEEING is BELIEVING; to YOU and I, BELIEVING is SEEING. BIG difference!! (Matthew 21:22....James 1:6) Be persistent in your praying. YOU should not become discouraged if the answer IS NOT immediate. KEEP ON PRAYING!

It is a widespread mistake for Believers today to enter their prayer closets with little or no forethought about their prayers. Many of us pray as though our FATHER is some kind of "divine discerner", WHO has the ability to decipher sloppy and confused petitions. Therefore, they give little (if any) consideration to what they will say BEFORE they pray. It is true that the Bible says in Romans 8:26 that the HOLY SPIRIT makes intercession for us, but that Bible promise refers to those times when we have problems (the Bible calls them "infirmities") and do not know what solution to ask for, or even where to begin asking GOD to help us.

Many Believers have abused that promise by being very careless in their prayer habits and by using blanket words like "bless" and "remember", which have no specific meaning. To have our prayers answered demands consideration and forethought. When the hinderances to prayer are taken care of and the proper ingredients are employed, our FATHER indeed ANSWERS our prayers. However, HE may answer in four different ways.... "YES" (Matthew 8:5-13)......."NO" (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)......."WAIT".......(Psalm 27:14; 40:1)......."HE answers with MORE than we can ask" (Jeremiah 33:3; Ephesians 3:20). Our FATHER always answers prayer, but we need to be careful NOT to tell HIM how to reply!

Some people put HIM on the spot by what they call "putting out the fleece" (Judges 6:36-40). However, we should NOT force the issue, the method, or the timing of HIS answer. That's what Satan tried to do with JESUS in the wilderness. DON'T ever try to force GOD into a corner by asking HIM to do a specific thing by a SPECIFIC TIME, such as, "if my headache goes away by 6PM tonight", or "if so and so reacts a certain way". We must ALWAYS give GOD the freedom to answer in HIS own way at HIS own time.

Now....what do we pray for????

After praying for family, friends, needs, etc, in five minutes or less we run out of subject matter, and at the same time our prayer time has not been a real spiritual experience (YOU kind of know what I'm talking about, right?!). The real problem is not a lack of things to pray about, but instead, a lack of understanding the "elements" of prayer. CONFESSION should always be the first order in prayer. Many of us Christians rush into our FATHER's Holy presence ASKING, when in fact we should be confessing (Remember what I said about Psalm 66:18).

Receiving our FATHER's forgiveness and HIS salvation occurs when we accept CHRIST as our SAVIOUR and LORD. It is at that point that our eternal relationship with HIM is established. That relationship will NEVER change, BUT our FELLOWSHIP with HIM can be broken. Prayer is the ONLY WAY our fellowship with GOD can be maintained or restored IF it has been broken. Regardless of the severity or longevity of our sins, the unconditional promise of 1 John 1:9 is, "If we CONFESS our sins, HE is faithful and just to FORGIVE us our sins, and cleanse us from ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS". Confessing simply means that we admit to GOD that what we have done is wrong and that we are TRULY SORRY for it. It is designed to maintain our fellowship with GOD. Confession that is based upon TRUE REPENTANCE will result in a changed disposition, attitude, and actions. Some of the greatest spiritual victories in a Christian's life come as the result of HONEST CONFESSION. That is the reason Satan will work OVERTIME to keep YOU and I from confessing our sins.

One of the most important parts of our prayer should be our ADORATION for our FATHER, but unfortunately it is one of the most neglected. We should express our deep feelings toward HIM in response to knowing HIS attributes. We should also express our GRATITUDE to HIM for what HE has done. Most of us spend too much time asking and too little time THANKING our FATHER for what HE's already done in our lives. If YOUR heart is right in your prayer time, YOU will be overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude. A good place to begin is thanking HIM for the things in life YOU take for granted - family, job(s), home/shelter, transportation, special people in YOUR life, material blessings, monetary blessings, good health, ANSWERED prayer, adversities from which YOU have spiritually grown, for giving YOU eternal life, etc. (Psalm 103:1-5)

Many of us do not truly understand what INTERCESSORY Prayer is. Basically, we know it is praying for the needs of others. However, it is NOT begging GOD, but rather praying with boldness and assurance for those needs. YOU should never ask our FATHER or anyone else to do for someone what we can do ourselves. Someone is hungry for food and comes to you asking for some. DON'T tell them you'll pray for them! That's NOT going to fill their empty stomach when you can provide at that time what they need!!! DON'T be hypocritical like that!! That is, not while you have a full refrigerator and cupboard!!

Sometimes it nice to write a note to people for whom you have prayed. Intercessory prayer is always a concern with the needs of others. It is unselfish and seeks to meet the needs of others even at the expense of PERSONAL SACRIFICE! (IMG:http://www.worthyboards.com/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) We can pray intelligently for the LOST. They are spirtually blind (2 Corinthians 4:3-4....2 Timothy 2:26). They are spiritually bound as slaves to sin. A lost person is not what he/she wants to be. They are what they must be because of that spiritual bondage and AREN'T EVEN AWARE OF IT! This is the deepest passion of my prayer life personally concerning intercessory prayer. I pray for their souls, and that their spiritual eyes will be opened, and that they will be freed from the snare of the Enemy. And that our FATHER will use me in some way to touch their lives in a positive way, showing forth HIS LIGHT through me to them. It's ALWAYS about HIM!

When you PETITION our FATHER you are asking HIM to meet certain needs in your own life. Though some of us NEVER progress beyond the "gimme" stage, there is nothing wrong with asking GOD to meet the needs in your life. Just remember, it has to be in GOD's Will for YOU (1 John 5:14-15). Be careful NOT to confuse YOUR needs with YOUR wants. Always praise HIM for answering YOUR petitions, because HE will always give YOU the answer that is BEST in HIS eternal plan for YOU! Finally, always listen to our FATHER. MEDITATE upon HIS Word. Honestly.....I've found that until we have exhausted ourselves of what we want to say, MEDITATION will be rushed, and we will NOT LISTEN CAREFULLY to our FATHER.

My suggestion?

At the end of YOUR prayer time you might simply say, "FATHER, speak to me". Do not try to confine HIM to any specific area or subject. Just be open to anything the LORD may have to say...and then,........ LISTEN!! (IMG:http://www.worthyboards.com/style_emoticons/default/thumbup2.gif)

Thank you so much Wisdom. This has given me alot to meditate on. I firmly believe that a Christian should "Pray without Ceasing", as the Word says. I am printing this one out! God Bless! (IMG:http://www.worthyboards.com/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Thanks very much for those words WISDOM. That will give us all something to chew on a while and take into consideration. One thing for sure that I know, when I pray, I AM ME and God knows it and that's all that matters.

Thanks again for your words of wisdom.

Many blessings to you.

Kat

What does it mean to "pray in the name of Jesus?" This is a
fundamentally important question, for it stands at the center of our
relationship with God.

(1) It means to pray with the authority of Jesus. In other
words, if I pray "in Jesus' name," I am speaking the will of
Jesus.

This is not overstepping the promises of Christ. If we are coming
in the name of another -- namely Jesus -- or making a request in
their name, we are speaking in their place. We are saying what
they would say -- that is -- asking according to THEIR will. So, in
effect, to pray "in the name of Jesus" is to pray what Jesus would
pray in the situation.

This shows that to pray "in the name of Jesus" means more
than to merely say the words, "in the name of Jesus." The words
are important, but not the issue. Praying "in the name of Jesus" is
a matter of the heart -- I desire to ask God only for that which Jesus
would ask.

Ok. But let's suppose I'm mistaken about the will of God? Let's
suppose I pray "in Jesus' name," and it is NOT something for which
Jesus would pray? What then?

Well, then thankfully, God won't grant my request! God is
faithful even if all of us are off the track! If I am not praying what
Jesus would pray, then I am not speaking for Christ -- for I'm not
praying according to His will. Thus, God won't do what I ask.

Now ask: Would you want Him to? If you prayed for something
which was NOT the will of God, would you want God to grant your
request? The answer should be obvious.

Being honestly mistaken about the will of God isn't sin. Neither
should I refuse to pray unless I think I'm sure about God's will. That
is nonsense, for it is through prayer that we discern God's will to
begin with. We should always pray -- but do it with the knowledge
that there is more to God and His purpose than our perception can
grasp. We should always be of the attitude, "Nevertheless, not MY
will, but THINE."

That is surrender to the will of God. That is praying according
to God's will. And that is praying in the name of Jesus. Surrender
in prayer means that included in my request is the desire that God
look past MY words and MY desires and do HIS will, instead of
mine. This is the way Jesus prayed, and if I am praying "in His
name," it is the way I will pray. It will be my attitude in prayer

) To pray "Jesus' name," I must pray according to the
will of God. What this reallly means is quite simple: I
must ask God to do what He already wants to do.

I do not feel that there is anything "MAGICAL" about praying In Jesus Name..It is int he scripture to pray in this manner.... (IMG:http://www.worthyboards.com/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

CALLED: TYVM for your kind words Sis. It is my prayer that our FATHER will use your printout to bless others as well as yourself! (IMG:http://www.worthyboards.com/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

KITKAT: Thank you Sis so much. The wise words are those of our LORD & KING. All the glory and honor is to our FATHER! (IMG:http://www.worthyboards.com/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

KOPPEN: TYVM for your post! I enjoyed reading it....(IMG:http://www.worthyboards.com/style_emoticons/default/thumbup2.gif)

Awesome post Wisdom. You don't know how much I needed it! :hug:

Wonderful Post Wisdom! (IMG:http://www.worthyboards.com/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) .. Going To The Throne Room of our Father Almighty the Creator of the Universe! That Loves us so much .. that He always has time to Listen....Thank You Lord!

What a wonderful post Wisdom...The words that the Lord has given You have Blessed me indeed! Thank you!!

Love in Christ .... Bro Chuck

Thanks KMB.....BUT our FATHER did!!.... (IMG:http://www.worthyboards.com/style_emoticons/default/thumbup2.gif) (IMG:http://www.worthyboards.com/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Love ya Sis!! (IMG:http://www.worthyboards.com/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Bro Chuck......HE is AWESOME, isn't HE? Now bruh, YOU go out and continue to bless others as your posts have done for me!

**When YOU receive praise of men, return it to our FATHER, the Blesser of the action!**

Wisdom,
What a great post. I thank our Heavenly Father that He has used you and many of your postings to speak to me. This is truly something I needed and it is much appreciated, dear brother!

Ron:

It has been my privilege to fellowship with you, bruh. To our FATHER goes ALL the Honor, Praise and Glory!

I am so thankful for you. Nothing costs so little and goes so far as the oil of Christian courtesy; the kind YOU oftentimes reflect. (IMG:http://www.worthyboards.com/style_emoticons/default/thumbup2.gif) It always saves a lot of friction! (IMG:http://www.worthyboards.com/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)