PRAYER

[WISDOM]

One of the major problems that we as Believers encounter in our prayer lives is WHAT to pray for.

After praying for family, friends, needs, etc., in five (5) minutes or less we run out of subject matter, and at the same time our prayer time has not been a real spiritual experience. The REAL PROBLEM is NOT a lack of things to pray about but a lack of understanding the elements of an effective prayer life. There is no mystical secrets or any certain body posture.

Instead, I believe there are certain elements that every follower of JESUS CHRIST should use at one time or another. The first order of business should ALWAYS be CONFESSION. Many brothers/sisters rush into our FATHER's presence asking, when in fact they should be confessing! (Psalm 66:18) Our FATHER deserves that individual respect from each and every one of HIS children.

Receiving HIS forgiveness and HIS salvation occurs when YOU accept CHRIST as SAVIOUR and LORD of your life. It is at that point that YOUR eternal relationship with GOD is established. That relationship will NEVER change, BUT YOUR FELLOWSHIP with HIM can be broken (reread and get a clear understanding of what I just wrote). Prayer is the ONLY way our fellowship with GOD can be maintained or restored IF it is broken. When we are unwilling to confess and forsake sin, we DO NOT want to pray because prayer brings us into the very presence of GOD 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 that "If I regard INIQUITY in my heart, the LORD will not hear me"......Psalm 66:18.

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 (Justified) to FORGIVE us our sins, and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness". The word CONFESS simply means that we admit to our FATHER that what we have done is wrong and that we are truly sorry for it. Confession is designed to maintain our fellowship with our LORD. What are the consequences of neglecting confession?? Psalm 51:8, 12 and 32:3-4.

What are its benefits?? Psalm 32:1-2 and 51:13-15! Confession that is based upon true repentance will result in a changed disposition, attitude, and actions. If you'll be honest with yourself and look back over your Christian life to date you will find that some of the greatest spiritual victories in your life came (or come) as the result of HONEST CONFESSION. That is the reason Satan will work OVERTIME to keep YOU and ME from confessing our sins!

ADORATION should be one of the most important parts of prayer, but unfortunately it is one of the most neglected. In adoration you express your deep feelings toward GOD in response to knowing HIS attributes. One of the added benefits of adoration is that it makes us keenly aware of to WHOM we are talking and gives us confidence with the rest of our prayer. We DO NOT pray to the HOLY SPIRIT. We pray to our FATHER (Matthew 6:9....Philippians 4:6). YOU and I should express gratitude to HIM for what HE has done in our lives and the lives of others. This is called THANKSGIVING. Most of us spend too much time asking and too little time thanking GOD for what HE has ALREADY done!!

If our hearts are right in our prayer time, we will OFTEN be overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude. As YOU begin to grow in YOUR prayer life, seek to express YOUR deepest feelings concerning YOUR gratitude toward our LORD/SAVIOUR/FATHER. A good place to begin is thanking HIM for the things in life we all take for granted....families, jobs, homes, special people in our lives, material blessings, good health, ANSWERED PRAYER, adversities FROM WHICH we have spiritually grown, etc. Most important....thank HIM for forgiving our sins AND saving us from ETERNAL DAMNATION!

Do YOU ever think about INTERCESSION?! All it is is simply praying for the needs of others. It is NOT begging GOD, but rather praying with boldness and assurance for those needs. We should NEVER ask our FATHER or anyone else to do for someone what we CAN DO ourselves! Therefore, the intercessory part of our prayer life will usually focus on the spiritual needs of other Christians. (Ephesians 1:15-19.....John 17) Sometimes it is nice to write a note to people for whom you have prayed. Intercessory prayer is ALWAYS concerned with the needs of others. It is UNSELFISH and seeks to meet the needs of others EVEN AT THE EXPENSE of personal sacrifice.

We MUST also interceed for the UNSAVED (2 Corinthians 4:3-4....2 Timothy 2:26). Knowing these spiritual truths we can pray intelligently for the lost. A lost person is not what he or she wants to be. They are what they must be because they are in spiritual bondage and aren't even aware of it. Ask our FATHER in prayer to use YOU to do what ever is in HIS will to help win the lost to HIS kingdom. Be available. Be Yourself. Don't get caught up in the "wilts", "werts", "thee's" and "thou's". Some people use these words as an expression of reverence, 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!

Another element of effective prayer is PETITION. All this is is asking our FATHER to meet certain needs in our own lives. My wife and I try to do this together. Though some of us in the Body of CHRIST never progress beyond the "gimme" stage, there is nothing wrong with asking GOD to meet the needs in YOUR life. As a matter of fact, our SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST encouraged us to do just that in the "Model Prayer" when HE said to ask our Heavenly FATHER for daily bread and deliverance from evil (the Evil One). The only limitation HE puts on answering our petitions is they have to be in HIS will (1 John 5:14-15).

YOU and I must also be careful NOT to confuse our NEEDS with our WANTS, and we must be prepared to praise HIM for a "YES", "NO", or "WAIT" when HE answers our petitions, because HE will always give us the answer that is best in HIS eternal plan. Don't just settle for HIS "good"...wait patiently for HIS "best"!! (Jeremiah 33:3....Ephesians 3:20) Our FATHER always answers prayer, BUT we need to be careful NOT to tell HIM how to reply. We should not force the issue, the method, or the timing of our FATHER's answer. We must ALWAYS give HIM the freedom to answer in HIS own way at HIS own time.

Finally, let's talk about MEDITATION. Up to this point we have been doing ALL THE TALKING (or should I say I have...hee hee) in our prayers. Now it is time to listen to what GOD has to say to us. I've listed this element of prayer last because until we have exhausted ourselves of what we want to say, meditation will be rushed, and we will not listen carefully to our FATHER. 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 LISTEN!! Prayers usually end with "amen", which is a Hebrew word that has been transliterated into Greek, English, Latin, and German. It is probably the most universal word in the world. What does it mean? "So Be It"....."May It Be"....."Let It Be". Regardless of how much a Believer knows about the Bible or its doctrinal truths, he/she MUST PRAY if they are to grow and be of service to our FATHER!

[WISDOM]

It is my prayer today that each and every one of you will talk to our FATHER daily concerning ALL of your endeavors, no matter how BIG or small they are.

Keep in mind that HE wants to be a part of everything we do daily, regardless of how trivial it may seem to us. HIS ways are HIGHER than ours...so are HIS thoughts.

Ask for HIS guidance and depend on HIM to take you through the course of your day and all of its encounters.....talk to HIM about it all! HE loves us MORE than you and I could ever imagine!!

[Guest shadow2b]

--If our hearts are right in our prayer time, we will OFTEN be overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude. As YOU begin to grow in YOUR prayer life, seek to express YOUR deepest feelings concerning YOUR gratitude toward our LORD/SAVIOUR/FATHER. A good place to begin is thanking HIM for the things in life we all take for granted....families, jobs, homes, special people in our lives, material blessings, good health, ANSWERED PRAYER, adversities FROM WHICH we have spiritually grown, etc. Most important....thank HIM for forgiving our sins AND saving us from ETERNAL DAMNATION!

I really don't know "how" you do it but i'm gettin just a LiLL-bit suspicious!!!!!

"IF" i wasn't home just about 24hrs. a day I'd be real suspicious about "bugs"{NOT the kind that

creepy crawly around all over everwhere}but the ones that folks{usually men in black suites}

"plant"{behind pictures on the wall or inside lamps} to listen to what other folkses are asayin in

their own homes But since"that"is kind-a-unlikely{not impossible mind ya} just unlikely i'm really at

a loss fer understanding JUST "how"it is you seem ta"know"exactly when & what words of WISDOM

to bestow upon alla us neophytes??????? NOT that i'ma gripin ya know just that ima sooooooooo

mystified & somewhat dis-com-bob-u-lat-ed as to HOW these miraculous words seem to just

kind-a-materialize at these most auspicious times....IT'S gettin just downright spooky,so i reckon

i'ma gonna haff ta pay a lots better attention to what words of wisdom you imbue upon weuns from

now on--------your bewildered & somewhat suspicious but gratefull brother-----------Gary--

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings S2b,

Yes, you had better watch it! WISDOM cometh from on high!

Greetings WISDOM,

Thank you for a very good post.

Proverbs 1:20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:

Proverbs 2:1-5 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 3:13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

We are fortunate on this forum to have such WISDOM.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

[traveller]

Amen Dad Ernie. We are fortunate indeed.

[Guest shadow2b]

AMEN & AMEN--

[WISDOM]

Gary (Shadow):

I busted out laughing right from the start when I was reading your post. Bruh, you ALWAYS make me laugh! And what makes it so good is that you're so genuine!! Our FATHER has blessed you with a sincere gift of humor, and you do work it well!!! We are more than bless on this Board to have you and your comical personality. It is my hope that it adds to each and every person's day who reads your writings. Behind that "ranting" is a brilliant mind! We're gonna have fun in Heaven!!

DE:

I thank you my brother for some of the most undeserved complimentary words I've received. I have gained more "wisdom" from you bruh than you will ever know. I read your posts/threads and come away fascinated at your insight. You almost always line up well with Scripture, and for me that is very important since I am one of a "Berean" mind *smile*. You have brought much knowledge to this Board, and it is my hope and prayer that you will CONTINUE to do so. We are all to bring encouragement and edification to one another, and you have done so for me more times than not. The HOLY SPIRIT uses my limited knowledge to give clear/simple insight, and I pray HE will continue to do so. All the credit and honor goes to our FATHER, and I am forever grateful for HIS love, mercy, and usage of one such as I, who is so undeserving.

Trav (Sis): You just had to get in "the show", didn't ya??!! *lol* (For those of you who don't know it, the two of us are as close as a blood brother/sister can be without being so). Thanks for your kind words Sis! Love ya to death!! :il:

[Guest dove2]

Great post Wisdom. Thanks for the lesson on prayer. I must say there are times I do need these lessons and tonight was one of those times.

[Guest shadow2b]

--Behind that "ranting" is a brilliant mind! We're gonna have fun in Heaven!! 

RANTING?????-BRILLIANT?????MIND??????MY BRILLIANT RANTING MIND?????

UHHHHHHH????Brother Wisdom----somewharr between yo last post & this one-----uhhhh?????

I shorely do hates ta say this specially since you do know just how much i have respected,

admired & been overwhelmed with the timeliness & purely amazing words of Wisdom you have

blessed all worthy-board members with....UNTILL NOW, with this last post where GOD in HIS

limitless infinate knowledge has allowed you,one of HIS most blessed sons,one with the ability to

impart pure Godly wisdom to suddenly & without prior hints or warning signs to just absolutely

LOSE YORE EVERLOVIN COTTON-PICKIN FROG DIPPIN MIND

-

yupp da pore LiLL feller is in dire need of immediate psy-chi-at-ric help--please be gentle with him-

[RGR]

Behind that "ranting" is a brilliant mind!

Uho, better get out the wading boots! Dove said on another post that he had been declared a pain in the rear!!!!

Great post, brother. I, too, often get fed up with my prayer life and wonder what else there is to it that I'm missing. This should lead me in the right direction! Thanks!!!