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How to Pray Successfully
I once saw a cartoon that showed a man sitting in church with a rather
disgruntled look on his face. His "thought cloud" read, “Oh
great, here comes Bob. I told him I would pray for him.
‘Dear God, help Bob. Amen.'" Then when he greeted
Bob, he said, "Hey, Bob, I’ve been praying for you.”
The message here is sad but it's too often true. We like for
people to believe that we're prayer warriors, but we really don't spend
much time in prayer. Perhaps the man in the cartoon wasn't
technically lying, but he wasn't telling the whole truth either.
He had prayed, but he had prayed a very shallow prayer.
What Is Prayer (and Does God Answer)?
On the other hand, you may have heard of a man of prayer named George
Mueller who once ran an orphanage. Though accustomed to lacking
material things, one evening there was no food whatsoever available for
dinner. When the children asked Mr. Mueller what to do, he said,
"Prepare the table. God will provide."
They set the table, prayed for food, and then heard a knock at the
door. It was a bread delivery man whose cart had broken down. He said
he would be unable to deliver the bread to his usual customers, and he
wondered if Mr. Mueller could use it free of charge.
Prayer is a powerful tool. We cannot expect God to always answer as
timely and as powerfully as He did for Mr. Mueller. However, the Bible
commands us to pray.
In the midst of instructing the Philippians on how to be happy, Paul
told them, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by
prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God"
(Philippians 4:6). As Christians, we are charged to pray, and we are
assured of God's blessings through prayer. We have access to God
through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:18), the Spirit intercedes for us
(Romans 8:26), and we are to draw near to the throne of God (Hebrews
4:16).
Supplication
Prayer is simply letting our requests be made known unto God. It is
telling God your needs, and asking Him to grant your requests to
address those needs. James 5:13-14 says, "Is any one of you in trouble?
He should pray ... Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders
of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of
the Lord." Suffering and sickness are obvious reasons to pray, but as
we shall see, we should pray for the general well-being of ourselves
and others, by addressing specific situations or individuals.
Sustenance
We should pray for sustenance, and even prosperity. Proverbs
3:1-2 says, "My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in
your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you
prosperity."
Romans 8:32 says, "He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up
for us all--how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us
all things?"
2 Corinthians 9:10 says, "Now he who supplies seed to the sower and
bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and
will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
Asking
Overcoming Evil Desires by Claiming God’s Promises -- GOD HAS
GIVEN US HIS VERY GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES, so that through them you
may participate in the divine nature and ESCAPE THE CORRUPTION IN THE
WORLD CAUSED BY EVIL DESIRES. 2 Peter 1:4
Promises
Here are some promises to claim as we pray:
Strength to Endure
HE WILL KEEP YOU STRONG TO THE END, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:8
Wisdom and Understanding
My son, if you ACCEPT MY WORDS AND STORE UP MY COMMANDS WITHIN YOU,
turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,
and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if
you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,
THEN YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THE FEAR OF THE LORD AND FIND THE KNOWLEDGE OF
GOD. Proverbs 2:1-5
Peace
REJOICE in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. DO NOT
BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING, but in everything, BY PRAYER AND PETITION,
WITH THANKSGIVING, PRESENT YOUR REQUESTS TO GOD. AND THE PEACE OF
GOD, WHICH TRANSCENDS ALL UNDERSTANDING WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND YOUR
MINDS IN CHRIST JESUS. Finally, brothers, whatever is true,
whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is
lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or
praiseworthy--THINK ABOUT SUCH THINGS. Whatever you have learned or
received or heard from me, or seen in me--PUT IT INTO PRACTICE.
AND THE GOD OF PEACE WILL BE WITH YOU. Philippians 4:4-9
Wisdom and Understanding--My son, if you accept my words and store up
my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your
heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud
for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for
it as for hidden treasure, THEN YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THE FEAR OF THE
LORD AND FIND THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. Proverbs 2:1-5
Prosperity
We need to avoid greed and a lust for money, but we can pray for financial security.
My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years and bring you
PROSPERITY. Proverbs 3:1-2
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will
he not also, along with him, GRACIOUSLY GIVE US ALL THINGS?
Romans 8:32
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also
supply and INCREASE YOUR STORE OF SEED and WILL ENLARGE THE HARVEST OF
YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. 2 Corinthians 9:10
Success
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that IN ALL THINGS
AT ALL TIMES, HAVING ALL THAT YOU NEED, YOU WILL ABOUT IN EVERY GOOD
WORK. 2 Corinthians 9:8
Effectiveness --Make every effort to add to your FAITH: GOODNESS;
KNOWLEDGE; SELF-CONTROL; PERSEVERANCE; GODLINESS; BROTHERLY KINDNESS;
AND, LOVE. For if you possess these qualities in
increasing measure, they will KEEP YOU FROM BEING INEFFECTIVE AND
UNPRODUCTIVE in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if
anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has
forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and
election sure. For if you do these things, YOU WILL NEVER FALL, and you
will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:5-11
Overcoming Temptation
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is
faithful; HE WILL NOT LET YOU BE TEMPTED BEYOND WHAT YOU CAN BEAR. But
when you are tempted, he will also PROVIDE A WAY OUT so that you can
stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
Turning Bad into Good
And we know that God causes ALL THINGS TO WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD to
those who love God, to those who are called according to His
purpose. Romans 8:28
Knowing God’s Will
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TEST
AND APPROVE WHAT GOD'S WILL IS--his good, pleasing and perfect
will. Romans 12:2Thanksgiving
As we saw in Philippians, thanksgiving is an essential aspect of
prayer. We should thank God for previous answers to prayer, as well as
his unsolicited blessings of grace which he showers upon us even when
we neglect prayer. We should express thanksgiving for others as well as
ourselves (1 Timothy 2:1-2). We are always to maintain an attitude of
thankfulness (Colossians 4:2).Confession
As we speak to God in prayer, we are to confess all of our known sins
to Him (1 John 1:9). This just means identifying and naming our sins to
God. We simply need to recognize our sins, and remember God's
forgiveness and the need for it. This restores our temporal fellowship
with God, and it reminds us of our dependence on God as well as the
areas where we need improvement. It wouldn't be a bad idea to follow-up
our confession with a request for power over that sin in the future.
Also, confession includes completely forgetting about that sin.Who to Pray For
We should pray for all people, but especially "all those in authority"
(1 Timothy 2:1-2). Obviously our leaders need prayers so that they will
be able to properly exercise their God-given authority in making
important decisions on the behalf of many other people. The higher the
position of leadership, the more difficult the decision-making process
is, the more people are available for prayer, and the more prayers are
needed. James 5:16 says we should pray for each other, and Ephesians
6:18 says to pray for all the saints. There is no better source of
strength for a Christian than to know that his name is included in the
prayers of the other members of the body of Christ (Hebrews 4:16)
through the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26).When and How to Pray
Ephesians 6:18 says, "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all
kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always
keep on praying for all the saints." We are to be in a constant
attitude of prayer. We are to remain alert and sober for the purpose of
prayer (1 Peter 4:7), especially in times of trouble. Colossians 4:2
says, "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful."
Prayer will take time, effort, and energy, but we are charged to pray,
even though God already knows our needs (Luke 12:7), and we are to pray
in faith and expect God to respond (Luke 11:9, John 15:7). Jesus taught
that prayers are to be made with an attitude of quietness and humility,
which corresponds exactly to the whole attitude of the Christian
mentality. Jesus condemned prayer by memorization (Matthew 6:7), and He
suggested that a solitary place is a good location for praying (Matthew
6:6). This is not to say that we should not practice corporate prayer,
but even when praying with others, we should approach God with a quiet
and humble spirit.
Sick (Physical ailments--Hands/arms)
James 5:13-16: Is any one of you in trouble? He should
pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.
Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray
over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord ... pray for
each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is
powerful and effective.
We should pray when we're happy, and pray when we're sick. If we
are righteous, then our prayers will be answered.
Acts 4:24-31: They raised their voices together in prayer to God.
"... Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to
speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to
heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your
holy servant Jesus."
We should pray for courage, as well as for healing and miracles.
Answers to Prayer
When we do obey God by praying, he does promise to answer our prayers.
John said in 1 John 5:14-15 that we can be sure that "if we ask
anything according to His will, He hears us, and if we know that he
hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of Him."
James 5:15-16 says, "And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick
person well; the Lord will raise him up... The prayer of a righteous
man is powerful and effective."
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask
anything according to His will, he hears us. And if we know that
He hears us--WHATEVER WE ASK--WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE WHAT WE ASKED OF
HIM. 1 John 5:14-15
Husbands, ... BE CONSIDERATE AS YOU LIVE WITH YOUR LIVES, and treat
them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the
gracious gift of life, so that NOTHING WILL HINDER YOUR PRAYERS.
1 Peter 3:7
Asking Amiss
James 4:3 says that when our prayers are not answered, it's because we
"ask with wrong motives," and we're not praying in God's will and in
submission to the Holy Spirit. We can't guess about God's will for
things such as the size of a church budget or the membership growth of
a church. We must be sure that any goal-setting we do is truly inspired
by the Holy Spirit. We sometimes have to be less specific and simply
pray for discernment.
We must be careful what we ask in prayer. For example, if we have a
fear or a burden, we shouldn't necessarily pray that it be removed. God
may have a purpose for us which we can only realize through that
situation. Maybe He is trying to teach us endurance, patience, or
simply not to worry. Furthermore, prayer should never be used lightly
as a token to pacify a demanding congregation, or as an excuse for
fellowship.
Many of us have had one or more experiences when it seemed like our
prayers were unanswered, in spite of making sure that we weren't asking
amiss. Perhaps we have prayed for healing for someone who was sick, but
that person died of their illness. It makes us want to ask, "What is
the point in praying for someone if God already knows what He is going
to do?" I'm not completely at ease about my own understanding of this,
but I'll share some thoughts, although I may not be able to provide a
definitive answer.
In 1978, my mother was diagnosed with inoperable heart disease when she
was only 55 years old. She had been a strong Christian all of her life,
and we prayed for four years for her healing. Instead of being healed,
her condition continually worsened until she was completely confined to
her bed and an oxygen bottle.
During the four years of praying for her healing, I claimed John
14:13-14, which says, "that the Father may be glorified, you may ask
anything in my name, and I will do it." Seeing that my prayers were
unanswered, I decided that it must be God's will for my mother to die,
so I reluctantly changed my prayer and asked God to end her suffering,
thinking that maybe that was God's will. It was, and He answered, quite
quickly, and she died in 1983.
Here's what I learned: I was asking with wrong motives, as James 4:3
explains. When I was praying for her healing, I was asking according to
my own will; i.e., what was selfishly best for me. When I considered
what was best for her, and what God's will might be, I essentially
asked for her death, and God answered that prayer. Not my will but
thine be done.
Believers are charged by God to pray, although God already knows our
thoughts and needs. We are to boldly approach His throne with specific
requests, in an attitude of thanksgiving, confession, and reverence.
This doctrine of prayer is widely taught, but greatly overlooked in
practice. There have actually been occasions when Bible churches have
canceled prayer meetings due to the telecast of the Super Bowl! How
much of your day is devoted to quiet, fervent prayer?
How to Get Your Prayers Answered
You’ve probably had the same frustrations in your prayer life
that I have. I know that prayer is a powerful tool, but
I’ve never been able to master it. I’ve claimed
Christ’s promises in Matthew 7:7-8 and Matthew 21:22, and still
my prayers haven’t been answered. Years ago I began a
prayer journal where I record the things I’ve prayed about, as
well as how the prayers were answered. After years and years of
prayer records, I believe that I’ve finally figured out the key
to prayer.
Selfless Prayer
You’re probably like me, in that most of the things that I have
asked for in my prayers relate to my family, my friends, my job, my
church, my daily walk with God, etc. Well, look at the number of
times that I used the word “my” in the previous
sentence. Most of my prayers have been about me.
That’s the problem. The Christian life is about grace,
humility, and love; and, love implies a willingness for
self-sacrifice for others. My prayers should probably be more
about others than myself (Philippians 2:3).
Furthermore, my prayer records bear this out. Here’s a
profound reality: The further that I am removed from a situation,
the more effective my prayers are. When my mother was deathly
ill, I spent countless hours in praying for her healing, only to see
her die after five years of suffering. On the other hand, I have
had the experience of praying for the health of someone that I hardly
knew, and my prayer was immediately answered with healing.
In other words, when I have had a personal stake in a prayer, and I was
going to personally benefit from an answer to that prayer, then the
prayer has generally not been too effective. However, when I take
myself out of the situation, my prayers have been much more effective.
As another example, when I’ve prayed about financial situations
for myself, my prayers haven’t been answered as well as when
I’ve prayed about someone else’s financial needs.
Unfortunately, this also means that sometimes, when I am indeed very
far removed from the situation, I may not even know how the prayer was
answered. I’ve taken international trips where I’ve
met people and prayed for them, then I’ve come home and never
seen them again. I will never know how those prayers were
answered. However, according to this principle of removing myself
from my supplications, I have to believe in faith that God indeed
answered those prayers.
So, I believe that the most effective prayer is selfless (intercessory)
prayer. If I can stop being so selfish, I can have much more
success in having my prayers answered.
Genesis 25:21: Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, ...
In Genesis 24, Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac.
Genesis 24:12-15: Then he (Abraham's servant) prayed, "O LORD,
God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to
my master Abraham. See, I am standing beside this spring, and the
daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. May it
be that when I say to a girl, 'Please let down your jar that I may have
a drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too'-let her
be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know
that you have shown kindness to my master." Before he had
finished praying, Rebekah came out ...
1 Kings 18:36-37: ... the prophet Elijah stepped forward and
prayed: "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known
today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have
done all these things at your command. Answer me, O LORD, answer
me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, ...
Pray so that others may know the truth.
2 Kings 19:15-19: And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: "O LORD,
God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over
all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 16 Give
ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; listen to the
words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God... Now, O LORD
our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may
know that you alone, O LORD, are God."
Acts 9:40-42: Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got
down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he
said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter
she sat up... This became known all over Joppa, and many people
believed in the Lord.
1 Kings 18:36-37: ... the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: "O LORD, God of Abraham,
Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and
that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command.
Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O
LORD, are God, ...
2 Kings 19:15-19: And Hezekiah prayed
to the LORD: "O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim,
you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made
heaven and earth. 16 Give ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O
LORD, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the
living God ... Now, O LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that
all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O LORD, are God."
2 Chronicles 33:12-13: In his distress he sought the favor of the LORD
his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. And
when he prayed to him, the LORD was moved by his entreaty and listened
to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom.
Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.
We should pray privately and submissively.
2 Kings 6:17: And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may
see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw
the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
We should unselfishly pray for others--when we have nothing to gain by it personally.
Again, James 5:13-16: Is any one of you in trouble? He
should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of
praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the
church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the
Lord ... pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of
a righteous man is powerful and effective.
We should pray when we're; pray when we're happy; pray when sick;
anoint the sick with oil; pray for others—be unselfish; Be
righteous.
Honor God
Genesis 24:12-15: Then he (Abraham's servant) prayed, "O LORD,
God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to
my master Abraham. See, I am standing beside this spring, and the
daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. May it
be that when I say to a girl, 'Please let down your jar that I may have
a drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too'-let her
be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know
that you have shown kindness to my master." Before he had
finished praying, Rebekah came out ...
We should ask for success and kindness, and put out fleece.
In Genesis 32, Jacob was on his way to meet his brother Esau.
Genesis 32: 9-12: Then Jacob prayed, "O God of my father Abraham,
God of my father Isaac, O LORD, ... I am unworthy of all the
kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only
my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two
groups. Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, ...
But you have said, 'I will surely make you prosper and will
make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be
counted.'"
Tell God about your relationship with Him, and be honest; and, Claim His promises.
2 Kings 19:15-19: And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: "O LORD,
God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over
all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 16 Give
ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; listen to the
words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God ... Now, O LORD
our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may
know that you alone, O LORD, are God."
Nehemiah 1:4-11: When I heard these things, I sat down and
wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the
God of heaven. Then I said: "O LORD, God of heaven, the great and
awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love. I confess the sins
we Israelites, including myself and my father's house, have committed
against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not
obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave ... O Lord, let
your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the
prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give
your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of
this man."
We should fast; honor God; confess; and, ask for success.
Daniel 9:4-23: I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: O
Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with
all who love him and obey his commands, we have sinned and done
wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away
from your commands and laws. We have not listened ...
Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame ...
because we have sinned against you. The Lord our God is merciful
and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; we have not
obeyed the LORD our God or kept the laws he gave us ... all this
disaster has come upon us, yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD
our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your
truth. The LORD did not hesitate to bring the disaster upon us,
for the LORD our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have
not obeyed him ... O Lord, in keeping with all your righteous
acts, turn away your anger and your wrath ... Now, our God,
hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lord,
look with favor on your desolate sanctuary ... We do not make
requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great
mercy. O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and
act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, ... As soon
as you began to pray, an answer was given, ...
Confess your sins to God (1 John 1:9). Call upon God’s mercy—for His sake, not ours.
Pray for God's Glory, Not Our Benefit
Matthew 6:5-13: But when you pray, go into your room, close the
door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father,
who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you
pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be
heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your
Father knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how
you should pray: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also
have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from the evil one.”
We shouldn't babble in our prayers, with repetitive, meaningless,
excessive words. We should pray for sustenance—-not
excess.
Matthew 26:39: Going a little farther, he (Jesus) fell with his
face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this
cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
Acts 4:24-31: They raised their voices together in prayer to God.
"... Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to
speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to
heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your
holy servant Jesus."
We should pray corporately; pray specifically; pray for courage; and, pray for healing and miracles.
Acts 9:40-42: Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got
down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he
said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter
she sat up ... This became known all over Joppa, and many people
believed in the Lord.
We should pray submissively.
Daniel 9:4-23: I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: O
Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with
all who love him and obey his commands, we have sinned and done
wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away
from your commands and laws. We have not listened ...
Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame ...
because we have sinned against you. The Lord our God is merciful
and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; we have not
obeyed the LORD our God or kept the laws he gave us ... all this
disaster has come upon us, yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD
our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your
truth. The LORD did not hesitate to bring the disaster upon us,
for the LORD our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have
not obeyed him ... O Lord, in keeping with all your righteous
acts, turn away your anger and your wrath ... Now, our God,
hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lord,
look with favor on your desolate sanctuary ... We do not make
requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great
mercy. O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and
act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, ... As soon
as you began to pray, an answer was given, ...
Again, call upon God’s mercy—for His sake, not ours.
Confess
Recognize and confess all known sins (1 John 1:9).
Ezra 9:5-15: I rose from my self-abasement, with my tunic and
cloak torn, and fell on my knees with my hands spread out to the LORD
my God and prayed: "O my God, I am too ashamed and disgraced to
lift up my face to you, my God, because our sins are higher than our
heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens. From the days of
our forefathers until now, our guilt has been great ... But now,
for a brief moment, the LORD our God has been gracious in leaving us a
remnant ... But now, O our God, what can we say after
this? For we have disregarded the commands you gave ...
What has happened to us is a result of our evil deeds and our great
guilt, and yet, our God, you have punished us less than our sins have
deserved and have given us a remnant like this ... O LORD, God
of Israel, you are righteous! ... Here we are before you in our
guilt, though because of it not one of us can stand in your
presence."
Be humble, and be thankful.
Nehemiah 1:4-11: When I heard these things, I sat down and
wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the
God of heaven. Then I said: "O LORD, God of heaven, the great and
awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love. I confess the sins
we Israelites, including myself and my father's house, have committed
against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not
obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave ... O Lord, let
your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the
prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give
your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of
this man."
Fast; confess; and, ask for success.
Daniel 9:4-23: I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: O
Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with
all who love him and obey his commands, we have sinned and done
wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away
from your commands and laws. We have not listened ...
Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame ...
because we have sinned against you. The Lord our God is merciful
and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; we have not
obeyed the LORD our God or kept the laws he gave us ... all this
disaster has come upon us, yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD
our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your
truth. The LORD did not hesitate to bring the disaster upon us,
for the LORD our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have
not obeyed him ... O Lord, in keeping with all your righteous
acts, turn away your anger and your wrath ... Now, our God,
hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lord,
look with favor on your desolate sanctuary ... We do not make
requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great
mercy. O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and
act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, ... As soon
as you began to pray, an answer was given, ...
Confess; and, Call upon God’s mercy—for His sake, not ours.
We should confess our individual sins to God. If we can't think
of anything, we would do well to make sure that we haven't been guilty
of any of the sins of immorality according to Romans 2:
1) PRIDE--arrogant attitude, parading self with a haughty attitude,
esteeming your own merit above that of other people;
2) Insolence--rude, a quality of violence triggered by arrogance, insulting;
3) Boastful--quack or impostor, verbal pride expressed with arrogance;
4) Temper--Fits of rage (outbursts of anger); impatience
5) Hate--intimidation;
6) Heartless--without natural affection, lack of love of kindred,
lack of family affection;
7) Unmerciful--ruthless, without pity on the sufferings of other people;
8) VINDICTIVE--unforgiving spirit
9) JEALOUSY--Demanding complete devotion, suspicious of a rival;
10) Coveting--covetousness (greed)--desire to have more though you don't
need more, don't have a noble purpose for having more, frantic
search for happiness, taking advantage of a simpleton;
11) ENVY--feeling of displeasure which is produced by witnessing or
hearing of the advantage or prosperity of others, greed,
inability to be happy in the face of someone else's prospering
and commendation;
12) Shameful lusts--PRAISE / MONEY, greed, stealing, selfish ambition
13) Malice--malignity, evil disposition, puts an evil interpretation
or construction on something that someone says, disposition to
cause mischief, maligning, law breaking, depravity;
14) Maliciousness (depravity)--badness in quality or character,
innate depravity or malice;
15) Unrighteousness--doing what ought not to be done, wrongdoing to
others, oppression;
16) Sexual immorality (thoughts)
17) Deceit--lies
18) Foolishness (foolish hearts)--senseless, futile thoughts, faithless
19) Idolatry--not glorifying/thanking God, not retaining God's knowledge
20) Strife--discord, dissension, quarreling, factions, contention
and wrangling, snarling conversation;
21) EVIL--maligning, law breaking, DOING WHAT OUGHT NOT TO BE DONE
22) SEXUAL immorality (thoughts)
23) DECEIT--lies--deceit--guile, bait in a trap, to trap, to lure by
deception into some loss or injury;
24) FOOLISHNESS--senseless--without understanding (senseless)--senseless,
lacking in discernment, stupid, darkened mind, blind to what is
right and wrong, confusing right and wrong, no grasp of any
reality toward life in any area, have rejected God's viewpoint
(government);
25) Futile thoughts / deeds
26) Faithless--covenant breakers, not put together, not agreeing,
not a covenant keeper;
27) IDOLATRY--not glorify/thank God, not retaining God's knowledge
28) Wickedness (evil)--bad effects caused by evil, pain /sorrow
from evil, pernicious evil--destructive in character,
malignant thing in itself;
29) Whisperers--gossips, secret slanderers, being judgmental;
30) Back-biter--speak ill of others in open slander
31) Murder--homicide, illegal killing of a human being;
32) Haters of God--despising divine authority;
33) Inventors of evil--one who devises things which are
inherently evil, devises new ways of expressing evil;
34) Disobedient to parents--unwilling to be persuaded, spurning
35) your parents, an obstinate rejection of parental authority;
36) Violate the weaker brother scenario
37) Showing favoritism
38) Eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner
Pray Privately
Matthew 6:5-13: But when you pray, go into your room, close the
door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father,
who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you
pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be
heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your
Father knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how
you should pray: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also
have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from the evil one.”
Don’t babble with repetitive, meaningless, excessive words. Pray for sustenance—not excess;
Acts 9:40-42: Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got
down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he
said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter
she sat up ... This became known all over Joppa, and many people
believed in the Lord.
Mark 1:35: Very early in the morning, while it was still dark,
Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he
prayed.
Pray submissively.
Luke 5:16: But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Pray Corporately
Acts 4:24-31: They raised their voices together in prayer to God.
"... Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to
speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to
heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your
holy servant Jesus."
Involve Yourself (Physically)
2 Kings 4: 32-35: When Elisha reached the house, there was the
boy lying dead on his couch. He went in, shut the door on the two
of them and prayed to the LORD. Then he got on the bed and lay
upon the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. As he
stretched himself out upon him, the boy's body grew warm ...
2 Kings 20:1-7: 1 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was
at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and
said, “This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order,
because you are going to die; you will not recover.”
2 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3
“Remember, LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with
wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.”
And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4 Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the LORD
came to him: 5 “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my
people, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of your father David,
says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On
the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD. 6 I
will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this
city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for
my sake and for the sake of my servant David.’”
Involve yourself emotionally (be honest); and, take action.
Acts 6:6: They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
I once heard a man pray for a certain thing, and he said, "I don't care how much it costs."
Now, that is the ultimate example of involving oneself
in his prayers. Have you ever had the nerve to pray like this?
Lay on hands
Acts 13:3: So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
Fast (first)
James 5:13-16: Is any one of you in trouble? He should
pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.
Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray
over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord ... pray for
each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is
powerful and effective.
Anoint the sick with oil; pray for healing
Put Out Fleece
Judges 6:36-40: Gideon said to God, "... look, I will place a
wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece
and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel
by my hand, as you said." And that is what happened ...
Then Gideon said to God, "Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one
more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece. This time
make the fleece dry and the ground covered with dew." That night
God did so.
Cast Lots
1 Samuel 14: 41: Then Saul prayed to the LORD, the God of Israel,
"Give me the right answer." And Jonathan and Saul were taken by
lot, and the men were cleared. Saul said, "Cast the lot between
me and Jonathan my son." And Jonathan was taken.
Acts 1:24-25: Then they prayed, "... Show us which of these two
you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry ..." Then
they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the
eleven apostles.
Be Humble
Luke 18: The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector:
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down
on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to
the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11
The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that
I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers,
adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a
week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax
collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but
beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a
sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the
other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt
themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be
exalted.”
2 Kings 20:1-7: 1 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at
the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and
said, “This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order,
because you are going to die; you will not recover.”
2 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3
“Remember, LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with
wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.”
And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4 Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the LORD
came to him: 5 “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my
people, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of your father David,
says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On
the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD. 6 I
will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this
city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for
my sake and for the sake of my servant David.’” They
did so and applied it to the boil, and he recovered.
2 Chronicles 33:12-13: In his distress he sought the favor of the
LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his
fathers. And when he prayed to him, the LORD was moved by his
entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem
and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is
God.
Ezra 9:5-15: I rose from my self-abasement, with my tunic and
cloak torn, and fell on my knees with my hands spread out to the LORD
my God and prayed: "O my God, I am too ashamed and disgraced to
lift up my face to you, my God, because our sins are higher than our
heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens. From the days of
our forefathers until now, our guilt has been great ... But now,
for a brief moment, the LORD our God has been gracious in leaving us a
remnant ... But now, O our God, what can we say after
this? For we have disregarded the commands you gave ...
What has happened to us is a result of our evil deeds and our great
guilt, and yet, our God, you have punished us less than our sins have
deserved and have given us a remnant like this ... O LORD, God
of Israel, you are righteous! ... Here we are before you in our
guilt, though because of it not one of us can stand in your
presence."
Be Thankful
2 Chronicles 33:12-13: In his distress he sought the favor of the
LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his
fathers. And when he prayed to him, the LORD was moved by his
entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem
and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.
Ezra 9:5-15: I rose from my self-abasement, with my tunic and
cloak torn, and fell on my knees with my hands spread out to the LORD
my God and prayed: "O my God, I am too ashamed and disgraced to
lift up my face to you, my God, because our sins are higher than our
heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens. From the days of
our forefathers until now, our guilt has been great ... But now,
for a brief moment, the LORD our God has been gracious in leaving us a
remnant ... But now, O our God, what can we say after
this? For we have disregarded the commands you gave ...
What has happened to us is a result of our evil deeds and our great
guilt, and yet, our God, you have punished us less than our sins have
deserved and have given us a remnant like this ... O LORD, God
of Israel, you are righteous! ... Here we are before you in our
guilt, though because of it not one of us can stand in your presence."
Phil. 4:4-7: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Don’t be anxious.
Peace--REJOICE in the Lord always. I will say it again:
Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is
near. DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING, but in everything, BY
PRAYER AND PETITION, WITH THANKSGIVING, PRESENT YOUR REQUESTS TO
GOD. AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH TRANSCENDS ALL UNDERSTANDING
WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND YOUR MINDS IN CHRIST JESUS. Finally,
brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if
anything is excellent or praiseworthy--THINK ABOUT SUCH THINGS.
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in
me--PUT IT INTO PRACTICE. AND THE GOD OF PEACE WILL BE WITH YOU. Philippians 4:4-9
Take Action
2 Kings 20:1-7: 1 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was
at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and
said, “This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order,
because you are going to die; you will not recover.”
2 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3
“Remember, LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with
wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4 Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the LORD
came to him: 5 “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my
people, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of your father David,
says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On
the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD. 6 I
will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this
city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for
my sake and for the sake of my servant David.’”
Be humble; involve yourself emotionally (be honest), and take action.
Nehemiah 4:9: But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.
Fast (Involvement)
Nehemiah 1:4-11: When I heard these things, I sat down and
wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the
God of heaven. Then I said: "O LORD, God of heaven, the great and
awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love. I confess the sins
we Israelites, including myself and my father's house, have committed
against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not
obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave ... O Lord, let
your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the
prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give
your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man."
Acts 13:3: So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
Fast (first).
Ask for Success
Nehemiah 1:4-11: When I heard these things, I sat down and
wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the
God of heaven. Then I said: "O LORD, God of heaven, the great and
awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love. I confess the sins
we Israelites, including myself and my father's house, have committed
against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not
obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave ... O Lord, let
your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the
prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give
your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man."
Pray When In Distress
Jonah 2:1-2: From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his
God. 2 He said: "In my distress I called to the LORD, and he
answered me.”
James 5:13-16: Is any one of you in trouble? He should
pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.
Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray
over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord ... pray for
each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
Pray when in distress; pray when happy; pray when sick; anoint the sick with oil; and, be righteous.
Pray Specifically
Acts 4:24-31: They raised their voices together in prayer to God.
"... Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to
speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to
heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."
Don’t babble (repetitive / meaningless / excessive words)
Matthew 6:5-13: But when you pray, go into your room, close the
door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father,
who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you
pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be
heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your
Father knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how
you should pray: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also
have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from the evil one.”
Pray For Sustenance--Not Excess
Matthew 6:5-13: But when you pray, go into your room, close the
door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father,
who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you
pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be
heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your
Father knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how
you should pray: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also
have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from the evil one.”
Be Blameless
James 5:13-16: Is any one of you in trouble? He should
pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.
Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray
over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord ... pray for
each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
Be righteous, and your prayers will be answered.
Pray In Death
2 Kings 20:1-7: 1 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was
at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and
said, “This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order,
because you are going to die; you will not recover.” 2
Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD,
Acts 7:59-60: While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord
Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he fell on his knees and cried
out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this,
he fell asleep.
The last prayer; at the point of death, pray for God to receive your spirit;
Owen Weber 2011
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