PRAYER IS SIMPLY CONVERSATION WITH GOD. OUR PRAYERS MAY BE SHORT – EVEN ONE WORD (HELP)! OR, OUR PRAYERS MAY BE LONGER, SUCH AS THE ONE I WILL SHARE WITH YOU LATER IN THIS ARTICLE. Remember, that in a conversation, we may need to listen more than we speak. God will speak to us and with us! Generally, HE speaks to us through HIS WRITTREN WORD! REMEMBER, ALL SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED BY GOD! OUR PRAYERS NEED TO BE SINCERE, GENUINE, BOLD, DIRECTLY FROM OUR HEART, AND TO GOD ALONE! THERE IS NO DIRECTION GIVEN IN SCRIPTURE FOR US TO PRAY TO ANYONE ELSE!
As Children of GOD OUR FATHER, we can (and should) pray EFFECTIVE PRAYERS. (The Bible states in, James 5:16-18, 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit. (NASU)
Ok! I can hear you saying, “but I am not a “RIGHTEOUS PERSON!” Dear one, if you are indeed a “Child of GOD,” If you have placed your Faith in THE PERSON OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM, then you are a RIGHTEOUS PERSON!! NOT BECAUSE YOU “DESERVE IT" BUT, BECAUSE GOD HAS PLACED HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IN YOUAND STATES THAT YOU ARE “THE VERY RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD”!! You may not “feel righteous” but you are!! If you call yourself “UNRIGHTEOUS” or “NOT A RIGHTEOUS PERSON,” YOU ARE MAKING A STATEMENT THAT IS UNTRUE. Be careful that you do not call GOD a liar!! I know you don’t want to do that!!
And, I can hear some say, “But, my Faith is weak" or even some may say "I have no faith." Again, don't call GOD a liar. God has given to every person a “measure of Faith". In Romans 12:3 we read, “For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith". (NASU) Note that the scripture says, "a measure of Faith". This means that GOD has given you all the faith you need! You simply must put that “Faith into ACTION.” Remember, James states that "Faith without works is dead”. This means that we must put our Faith TO WORK! We need to note also that the Scripture states that it is impossible to please GOD without Faith! In Hebrews 11:6 we read, "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him". (NASU) So, dear friend, decide to "PUT YOUR FAITH TO WORK."
REMEMBER, ALWAYS PRAY FROM “YOUR POSITION IN JESUS CHRIST” INSTEAD OF PRAYING FROM YOUR FEELINGS!! GET HOLD OF THIS TRUTH AND STAND ON IT!! The devil and his demons will do everything they can to GET YOU TO LIVE AND OPERATE BASED ON YOUR FEELINGS. INSTEAD, OPERATE AND LIVE EACH DAY BASED ON GOD’S WORD AND HIS PROMISES. CHOOSE TO BELIEVE SCRIPTURE INSTEAD OF LETTING YOUR FEELINGS AND THE DEVIL’S LIES DOMINATE YOUR LIFE!! REMEMBER; PRAY FROM “YOUR POSITION IN JESUS CHRIST”!!
IMPORTANT NOTE: REMEMBER THAT “OUR FEELINGS" ARE NOT TO BE TRUSTED. THEY CHANGE IN A MOMENT'S NOTICE. INSTEAD, LEARN TO OPERATE FROM YOUR WILL. YOUR WERE CREATED BY GOD WITH A "FREE WILL” – USE IT TO GUIDE YOUR LIFE. IF YOU EXERCISE YOUR WILL, YOUR FEELINGS WILL “FALL-IN-LINE" BEHIND YOUR WILL! YOUR “WILL" MUST BE BASED ON GOD'S WORD!
WITH ALL OF THIS SAID, allow me to now be so bold as to share with you the manner in which I pray! So, I am sharing with you what I have learned about praying to GOD in the hope that this will be helpful to you in your prayer life.
MY DAILY PRAYER TO GOD, MY FATHER!
I begin my prayer with confession and repentance of my sin. I BEGIN WITH CONFESSION BECAUSE I WANT TO CONTINUE MY PRAYER FORGIVEN, CLEANSED AND “RIGHTEOUS" BEFORE GOD. I try to confess and repent of sin I have committed and also my sins of “Omission.” Remember that JESUS commanded us to LOVE GOD WITH ALL OUR HEART, SOUL, AND MIND. And then to love our "neighbor" as we love ourselves. I am concerned that we all fail to keep these two commandments fully. Therefore, I usually confess my failure to fully keep these two NEW COMMANDMENTS that JESUS CHRIST GAVE US!! REMEMBER, JESUS STATED THAT THESE TWO NEW COMMANDMENTS FULFILL ALLTHE LAW AND THE PROPHETS!! IN OTHER WORDS, JESUS FULFILLED ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW. THE LAW IS FULFILLED! WE ARE NO LONGER UNDER THE LAW!! WE ARE NOW UNDER GRACE!!
In Matthew 22:34-40, we read, 34 But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered themselves together. 35 One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, 36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" 37 And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' 38 "This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' 40 " On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." (NASU)
Upon confession of my sin, I am ready to PRAISE and WORSHIP GOD. I REMEMBER THE MODEL PRAYER THAT JESUS GAVE US!!
In Matthew 6:9-15 JESUS taught us how to pray to GOD, OUR FATHER. HE said, "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 ' Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. 11 'Give us this day our daily bread. 12 'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.'] 14 " For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 "But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions." (NASU) Please take careful note of the last verse, " For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 "But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” The WE MUST (YES, WE MUST) FORGIVE OTHERS IN ORDER TO BE FORGIVEN OF OUR SINS BY GOD, OUR FATHER!
Then, I continue with my recognition of just who GOD IS! IN MY WORSHIP
I GIVE HIM THE PRAISE, HONOR, AND RESPECT THAT IS DUE HIM!!
1. HE IS HOLY AND DESERVING OF ALL HONOR, ALL WORSHIP, AND ALL PRAISE!
2. HE IS OMNIPOTENT (ALL-POWERFUL),
3. HE IS OMNICIENT (ALL KNOWING),
4. HE IS OMNI-PRESENT – (PRESENT EVERYWHERE)
5. HE IS FULL OF UNCONDITIONAL (AGAPE) LOVE,
6. HE IS FULL OF KINDNESS, GOODNESS, AND MERCY.
7. HE IS ALWAYS COMPLETELY FORGIVING, AND CLEANSING OF ALL
UNRIGHTEOUSNESS! (WHEN WE SINCERELY CONFESS OUR SIN TO HIM!)
8. HE IS EVER MERCIFUL. (FROM EVERLASTING TO
EVERLASTING AND IT IS NEW EVERY MORNING)
9. HE IS ALWAYS FULL OF AMAZING GRACE.
HIS GRACE IS ALWAYS SUFFICIENT IN EVERY CASE!
10. HE HAS PROVIDED FOR OUR SALVATION. HE GAVE US
JESUS CHRISTAS OUR SAVIOR AND LORD.
11. JESUS PAID FOR ALL SIN, FOR ALL MANKIND, FOR ALL
TIME, WITH HIS “SUPREME SACRIFICE” ON THE CROSS!
12. GOD INVITES US TO BELIEVE IN HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST
AND THEREBY BE “BORN AGAIN” INTO HIS FAMILY
THUS BECOMING HIS CHILD.
13. HE ALSO ADOPTS US AS HIS CHILD AND MAKES US "JOINT
HEIRS" WITH JESUS CHRIST.
14. HE DELIGHTS IN HIS CHILDREN, AND DESIRES TO SEE US GROW AND
MATURE, MAKING US JUST LIKE JESUS CHRIST – PERFECT IN EVERY WAY!
15. HE DESIRES THAT WE SPEND ALL ETERNITY IN HEAVEN WITH HIM.
16. HE PREPARES A “HOME IN HEAVEN” JUST FOR US!
17. JESUS, IS RETURNING TO “CATCH US UP” TO HEAVEN!
18. THEN, I THANK HIM FOR HIS ABUNDANT BLESSINGS!
19. I THANK HIM FOR HIS CARE AND PROTECTION!
20. NOW, I AM READY TO MAKE MY REQUESTS TO GOD,
ALWAYS WITH SINCERE THANKSGIVING !!
MY REQUESTS OF GOD, MY FATHER!
First, I pray for the whole earth and all 7 Billion “souls” currently living on it.
I ask for GOD’S MERCY UPON US ALL! I then ask that The Holy Spirit convict each one of their sin, giving each one the opportunity to accept (or reject) JESUS CHRIST as their personal Savior and Lord!
Second, I pray for GOD’S GUIDANCE for our leaders at all levels of our government, for Peace in America, for The Peace of Jerusalem and Israel, and for Peace in our world. I pray for our leaders at the Local, State, and National level. I ask for GOD to give them the WISDOM that is hidden in JESUS CHRIST THAT THEY MAY GOVERN IN LOVE, MERCY, RIGHTOUSNESS AND WISDOM.
I then pray for our enemies, national and personal (as commanded by JESUS) asking for The Holy Spirit to move on their hearts to “Convict them” and instill in them a spirit of forgiveness, mercy, and love!! (This is not always easy to pray for our enemies. However, I exercise my WILL to obey this command of JESUS!) I then pray for our circle of friends and relatives, asking for GOD’S Mercy, Forgiveness, and Blessings upon each one!
I then pray for all 28 members of our immediate family on at least a daily basis naming each one by their given name. I ask for The Holy Spirit to Convict each one as needed and help each one to confess any sin and thereby receive GOD’S Forgiveness and Cleansing of all unrighteousness! I ask The Holy Spirit to help each one to Surrender to The Lordship of Jesus Christ in each life so that GOD’S WILL can be accomplished in and through each one! Then, I ask GOD to protect each one and give HIS GRACE – HIS BLESSINGS to each one!
And, last of all, I pray for my own needs. Generally, I ask for Wisdom from JESUS, feral WISDOM IS HIDDEN IN HIM! Then, I ask for THE HOLY SPIRIT to be my Strength and for THE HOLY SPIRIT to help me to surrender to HIS LEADING and to THE LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST, so that THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN DO HIS WORK OF ACCOMPLISHING GOD’S WILL in me and through me for GOD’S GLORY and for my good!
GOD KNOWS THE NEEDS OF EACH ONE MUCH MORE THAN I DO. So, I ask HIM to meet the needs of each person according to HIS PURPOSE AND HIS WILL. I recognize that GOD'S WILL IS ALWAYS FOR OUR GOOD (ACTUALLY, ALWAYS FOR OUR BEST)!! MAY HIS PERFECT WILL ALWAYS BE DONE IN EACH LIFE AND IN EVERY SITUATION, PERFECTLY, JUST AS IT IS DONE IN HEAVEN!!
I REALIZE THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE POWER OF GOD AND THAT HE ACTIVATES (BRINGS INTO OUR REALITY) THE WILL OF GOD, OUR FATHER. AND, I REALIZE THAT “NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD”! ACTUALLY, MANY YEARS AGO, I WAS IN THE MIDDLEOF PRAYING WHEN GOD STATED TO ME, “WHY ARE YOU PRAYING SUCH SMALL PRAYERS, REMEMBER, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH ME”! THIS REMINDED ME TO BE BOLD IN MY PRAYERS!! SINCE THEN, I HAVE TRIED TO PRAY BOLD PRAYERS!! AND, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PRAY FROM YOUR POSITION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TO PRAY BOLD PRAYERS !!
LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, REMEMBER TOTHANK GOD FOR HIS MANY KINDNESSES AND BLESSINGS TOWARD YOUAND YOUR LOVED ONES. REMEMBER TOO, THAT HE IS ABLE TO CAUSE EVEN THAT WHICH THE DEVIL MEANT FOR EVIL TO TURN OUT FOR OUR GOOD (Romans 8:28). AND, ALSO REMEMBER THAT GOD ASSURES US THAT THE WORK HE HAS STARTED WHITIN US AND THROUGH US, HE IS WELL ABLE TO FINISH !! AND, BE ASSURED THAT HE WILL !!
REMEMBER, YOU ARE PRAYING FROM YOUR POSITION AS A CHILD OF GOD! YOU ARE PRAYING FROM A POSITION AS A CHILD FILLED WITH THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD, YOUR FATHER! SO IN FAITH, PRAY THE PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS PERSON!
REMEMBER, GOD’S WORD STATES, “THE PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS PERSON AVAILATH MUCH”! PRAY BOLD PRAYERS! GOD WILL ANSWER YOU AND HIS ANSWER WILL BE THAT WHICH IS BEST FOR YOU AND FOR HIS GLORY! MAY GOD GIVE YOU THE DESIRE OF YOUR HEART AND MAY HE BLESS YOU RICHLY !!
GIL HAMMOND, PASTOR
HOW TO PRAY EFFECTIVELY TO GOD!! PRAY BOLD PRAYERS,
(GIL HAMMOND)