No matter what the issue is? “pray continually” 1 Thessalonian 5:17
"Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they”? Matthew 6:25-26
I use to want all my prayers to be “effective”, so much that I focused on the results and lose sight of the incredible privilege it is to pray. Some of the questions I use to frequently asked myself, "Why doesn't God answer my prayers?" ..."Doesn't He see my needs?" ..."Doesn't He care about all the violence?" You see, I felt like God didn’t answer prayers. It took me a long time to realize, that was a lie from the enemy and I/we need to remember what God says... then believe it and trust that His word is true;We have the assurance that God hears every prayer…In my weakness the Spirit had to help me!The answer was “Wait”? Because of that sinful nature, I was left with the question of prolong hurt in my heart, and anger in my mind. Are you turning away from the promise of scripture? How is your spiritual battle with Satan without prayer?
“But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him” Psalm 4:3The better we understand God’s Word, the better we will know what to pray for (John 15:7). The better we know what to pray for, the more often God will answer “yes” to our requests. Understanding that people like us can speak to the Creator of the universe is itself an amazing thing.
Many people believe answered prayer, is God granting a prayer request that is offered to Him. If a prayer request is not granted, it is understood as an “unanswered” prayer. However, this is an incorrect understanding of prayer. God answers every prayer that is lifted to Him. Sometimes God answers “no” or “wait.” God only promises to grant our prayers when we ask according to His will; if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him” (1John 5:14-15).
God’s will? Praying according to God’s will is praying for things that honor and glorify God and/or praying for what the Bible clearly reveals God’s will to be. If we pray for something that is not honoring to God or not God’s will for our lives, God will not give what we ask for. How can we know what God’s will is? God promises to give us wisdom when we ask for it. James 1:5 proclaims, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”
God’s will? Praying according to God’s will is praying for things that honor and glorify God and/or praying for what the Bible clearly reveals God’s will to be. If we pray for something that is not honoring to God or not God’s will for our lives, God will not give what we ask for. How can we know what God’s will is? God promises to give us wisdom when we ask for it. James 1:5 proclaims, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”
Man's highest aim should be to bring glory to God (1 Corinthians 10:31) and this includes praying according to His will. First, we must ask for wisdom. (James 1:5). In asking for wisdom, we must also trust that God is gracious and willing to answer our prayers: “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt” (James 1:6; Mark 11:24).
Prayer is a conversation with our God; not a formula. Yet sometimes we might need an easy bake oven, “method” to fasten up our prayer spiritual process.
Here are seven biblical instructions that will guide the believer in praying according to God’s will:
1) Pray for the things for which the Bible commands prayer. We are told to pray for our enemies (Matthew 5:44) for ministers of the Word (Colossians 4:3; 2 Thessalonians 3:1); (for government authorities (1 Timothy2:1-3) for relief from affliction (James 5:13); and for the healing of fellow believers (James 5:16). Where God commands prayer, we can pray with confidence that we are praying according to His will.
2) Follow the example of godly characters in Scripture. Paul prayed for the salvation of Israel (Romans 10:1). David prayed for mercy and forgiveness when he sinned (Psalm 51:1-2). As with Paul and the early church, we should always be praying for the salvation of others. For ourselves, we should pray as David prayed, always aware of our sin and bringing it before God before it hinders our relationship with Him and thwarts our prayers.
3) Pray with the right motivation. Selfish motives will not be blessed by God. “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” (James 4:3).
Here are seven biblical instructions that will guide the believer in praying according to God’s will:
1) Pray for the things for which the Bible commands prayer. We are told to pray for our enemies (Matthew 5:44) for ministers of the Word (Colossians 4:3; 2 Thessalonians 3:1); (for government authorities (1 Timothy2:1-3) for relief from affliction (James 5:13); and for the healing of fellow believers (James 5:16). Where God commands prayer, we can pray with confidence that we are praying according to His will.
2) Follow the example of godly characters in Scripture. Paul prayed for the salvation of Israel (Romans 10:1). David prayed for mercy and forgiveness when he sinned (Psalm 51:1-2). As with Paul and the early church, we should always be praying for the salvation of others. For ourselves, we should pray as David prayed, always aware of our sin and bringing it before God before it hinders our relationship with Him and thwarts our prayers.
3) Pray with the right motivation. Selfish motives will not be blessed by God. “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” (James 4:3).
4) Pray with a spirit of forgiveness toward others (Mark 11:25). A spirit of bitterness, anger, revenge or hatred toward others will prevent our hearts from praying in total submission to God.
5) Pray with thanksgiving (Colossians 4:2; Philippians 4:6-7) We can always find something to be thankful for, no matter how burdened we are by our wants or needs.
6) Pray with persistence (Luke 18:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). We should persevere in prayer and not quit or be dejected because we have not received an immediate answer.
7) Rely on the Spirit of God in prayer. This is a wonderful truth: “We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. (Romans 8:26-27).
We seek to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh! So whatever method you use, just talk with our father. It’s not the words we pray that matter; it’s the condition of our heart of hearts. He is working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28).
Calling all “Prayer warriors” to have a heart for God, a heart for prayer, a heart for people, and a heart for Christ's church. Therefore, pray continually and trust that God answers each prayer according to His perfect will and in His perfect timing.
God Bless You and This Ministry!
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