Preach the Gospel! Reach the Lost! Inspire Believers to Live All-Out for Christ!
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First of all, Why Pray?
God intends prayer to be the means of obtaining His solutions in a number of situations. We pray in preparation for major decisions (Luke 6:12-13); to overcome demonic barriers (Matthew 17:14-21); to gather workers for the spiritual harvest (Luke 10:2); to gain strength to overcome temptation (Matthew 26:41); and to obtain the means of strengthening others spiritually (Ephesians 6:18-19).
We pray to demonstrate our faith in God, that He will do as He has promised in His Word and bless our lives abundantly more than we could ask or hope for (Ephesians 3:20). Prayer is our primary means of seeing God work in others' lives. Because it is our means of “plugging into” God’s power, it is our means of defeating Satan and his army that we are powerless to overcome by ourselves. Therefore, may God find us often before His throne, for we have a high priest in heaven who can identify with all that we go through (Hebrews 4:15-16). We have His promise that the fervent prayer of a righteous man accomplishes much (James 5:16-18). May God glorify His name in our lives as we believe in Him enough to come to Him often in prayer.
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Ok, Now That we Know why to Pray... How do you pray?
Let me first say that about a year after my conversion I learned a way to pray, which I then began to do every morning, which then TOTALLY changed my life! There isn't only one way to pray, but we want to show you some ways that might work for you.
WHAT IS PRAYER? Prayer is an act of conveying a message to God. Simply put, it's just talking to God, the God who loves you and wants to hear what you have to say.
Here are 3 important points to remember:
1. Start Praying!
If you feel like you have no idea how to “just begin” or that you’re uncomfortable with talking to God, you’re in the right place. The Bible is a great resource for learning how to pray. The entire book of Psalms is comprised of all types of prayers—prayers of praise, petition, and lamentation. Jana and I love to pray the Psalms (and particular Psalms which we will show you).
2. Know that when you do begin to pray, you will face opposition, and I can testify to this!
Yes, you will surely find resistance to prayer when you begin. Any number of distractions may hinder your efforts—from phone calls to sleepiness to self-consciousness. But begin anyway!
3. But once you begin to pray, don’t stop.
The apostle Paul instructed believers in the church at Thessalonica to “pray continually [and] give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
Praying continually doesn’t mean kneeling all day or reciting prayer after prayer after prayer. It is rather a continual turning of the heart toward God; a submission; an eagerness to be near him, to hear him, and to share life with him. It is a continual recognition of God’s presence in your life.
And any ordinary moment can be an opportune time to communicate with God. You might pray on the move as you walk, jog, or commute. You might incorporate music into your prayers, too, by singing along to hymns or songs of praise.
You can also pray as you work! For example, you can thank God for providing a job for you. Ask him for wisdom in dealing with colleagues, clients, superiors, and subordinates. You may ask him for creativity in problem solving or for the courage to act ethically. I pray all the time at my workplace that God will give me creativity and wisdom to do my job above and beyond.
But I do believe that it will benefit you greatly if you will set time aside each morning before you go out for your day, to pray and bring your requests to God, and cover your day in prayer. Early morning prayer was what changed my life. I got up earlier than I would normally, and then went to a quiet place to spend time with God, and I did it daily, consistently. I was determined to see my journey with God be as effective as it could possibly be!
If you are determined to get closer to God, have a more intimate relationship with Him, and move in the power of the Holy Spirit YOU are in a great place! Now it's time to get it done!
