There is power in prayer; it has no boundaries or borders, but
many of us aren't sure how to get started or what to say. Prayer is
simply having a conversation with God. This sounds intimidating, but it
doesn't have to be. Having the right ingredients or elements in your
prayers are much more important than whether they sound fancy or
elegant. In fact, you can talk to God just like you would talk to a
parent or best friend. So forget about how you say it, and focus on what
you want and need to say.
The Bible talks about "petitioning" God
in prayer - this means to earnestly plea or implore. To "present your
requests" to God is simply to tell Him specifically what you need.
Praying about each worry or need in your life shuts out worry because it
invites God to be involved in every area of your life, and when He is
engaged in each aspect of your life, there is nothing to fear.
Here are seven steps that can help you pray more effectively and deepen the relationship you have with your Lord:
1.
Acknowledge your personal relationship with God as His child. Recognize
that God is holy and powerful and give Him the reverence that He
deserves. Having a loving relationship with God is like that between a
parent and child.
2. Acknowledge your respect for who God is.
Commit your life to God each day, promising to live according to His
will. Praise God during prayer and throughout your day, becoming
absorbed in Him.
"If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." - John 15:7
3.
Confess your sins. It is so important to ask God to forgive your sins
and ask Him to continue to love and care for you. Repentance is a sign
of your understanding that you have - like all of us have - broken God's
commands, and are sorry for what you have done. By acknowledging that
our sins have separated us temporarily from God, we are once again
brought closer to Him.
4. Ask God in prayer. Many of us feel
guilty if we ask God for anything, fearing that we aren't worthy and
that we are being demanding, or that we might anger God. It is just the
opposite - by asking God, we are acknowledging that we can't do it
alone; we are recognizing our need for His divine intervention and
showing that we trust in Him to help us. Nothing could make God happier!
5.
Be Specific. Prayers can be quite general, asking for blessings from
the Lord, but it is okay to be specific, too. When we ask the Lord to
help us find a better job, resolve a problem with our spouse or anything
else that is personal to us, we are opening our innermost hearts to
Him. This personal, private kind of prayer asking for specific help
tells God that we have faith in Him to watch over us in small ways as
well as big ones. He wants to be the Lord of our lives in all things
large and small, so it is fine to pray to find a way to get a new dryer
if yours breaks down!
6. Have an attitude of Expectancy and Faith.
Trust that God can answer any prayer. Have faith that god will hear you
when you pray according to His will. Do not pray in fear or out of
desperation because "nothing else has worked." Pray confidently, with
the faith that God will fulfill your expectations in the best way
possible for you, born out of His divine wisdom.
"Listen to me! You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you will have it." - Mark 11:24
7.
Pray in Jesus' name. When we pray in Jesus' name, we enter into a
relationship with Jesus Christ, God's own son. We are able to take full
advantage of Jesus' death on the cross as a payment for our sins by
acknowledging His sacrifice in our prayers. It also ties us to the new
life of Christ's resurrection. The secret of our Christian life is also
the secret of praying - doing all in Jesus' name.
"Whatever you ask in my name, that I will do." - John 14:13
Every
prayer is important. Every prayer counts. Our prayers exalts Him for
who He is. There is power in prayer. In His presence is where we will
find our greatest blessings.
No comments:
Post a Comment