Here's 10 of those things.
1) It takes practice. (Thanks for teaching me this Mrs. Elinor, and for modeling it)
Practice makes better. Our flesh can find MANY excuses NOT to come into the presence of God. Prayer, in our imperfection, is not natural.
Practice Prayer.
2) It takes time.
"seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
Rejoice always,
pray without ceasing,
give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
1 Thessalonians 5:15b-18
We can throw up a prayers anytime. But to really . . . get "on the line" with the Father . . . SIT STILL! (or knell***). Take your time. Just be still and talk to God.
3) It's not
Plus, there's this obedience thing. Easy to read. Hard to do/be consistently.
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments."
John 14:15
4) It matters who you think your talking to.
If you've not excepted Jesus as your personal Savior, if your just praying to some deity, any deity, than your just throwing words at the ceiling. They don't stick up there. They don't go any higher. Your just speaking into the air.
"'The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”'
(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and
believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved.
For with the heart one believes and is justified,
and with the mouth one confesses
and is saved. "
Romans 10:8-10
5) Prayer makes a difference - BUT it's not the prayers that works, but God. He gets all the glory. Not anything that I've said. I'm just making a request. I'm requesting from/petitioning to the King of all kings, the Lord of all lords, the Creator of the universe, the Great I Am, the only Holy, omnipotent, omnipresence, just and righteous, God only wise.
"do not be anxious about anything,
but in everything by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God."
Philippians 4:6
6) If you aren't in the Word of God you've got a VERY one sided conversation.
Get in the Word. Read the Word. Meditate/think about the Word you've read. Obey the Word. Share the Word with others. Pray the Word. Read more.
7) Prepare to be amazed.
Answered prayer, it's pretty Fantastic!
Let the Holy Spirit do what He does - through you, in you, for you, around you.
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name,
He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance
all that I have said to you."
John 14:26
Really BIG - He's got the whole world in His hands.
"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think,
according to the power at work within us,
to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus
throughout all generations, forever and ever.
Amen."
Ephesians 3:20-21
8) Sometimes the answer is "no."
Deal with it. God knows best.
9) The Holy Spirit intercedes on my behalf - so we should earnestly intercede for others. Even if it takes all night. Even if it cost us.
"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness.
For we do not know what to pray for as we ought,
but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
And He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit,
because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."
Romans 8:26-27
I'm forgetful. I'm lazy. I'm full of excuses.
I'm still learning. This list is not exhaustive.
Keep practicing.
"Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation.
The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Matthew 26:41
Recently, I heard about a poll* that was done about how much people pray. I was astounded. Not because of how much "regular people" DON'T pray but by how much Pastors DON'T pray.
On average pastors only pray 15 MINUTES a week.
WHAT?!?!? Are you kidding?
I know there have to be some that pray a LOT. But seems there are many more that pray WAY less or not at all in order to make the average only 15 minutes. Mere minutes.
No wonder churches suffer, their shepherd isn't praying for them. Isn't praying for their trials, their joys . . . not even praying for the words to speak to them.
I've been teaching this year**. I've been called a shepherd over a lovely group of ladies.
I've prayed more. For words. For those who will hear those words. For God to use me as His vessel - that I'm just a willing open mouth.
On my knees.*** Praying for the sweet ladies looking at me to hear what God says, to be an encouragement. To teach so that their lives are being transformed as they study God's Word, the Bible.
It's a big deal. It's weighty. It's hard. It takes time.
And I'm having a ball. - I am amazed!
I've learned to pray harder for those who teach me.
There's a method to my madness (usually).
One in-particular way that helps in keeping me focused in prayers is to pray ACTS.
A.C.T.S
Adoration
call on God and glorify His name. Lift Him up. Praise.
Think "God, You are . . . " and speak all those things He is.
Sometimes I wind up singing.
Confession
He is SO HOLY. You are not.
Confess your sins. All of them. Ask for forgiveness. "Get right with God."
"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,
and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
1 John 1:8-9
Thanksgiving
Thank Him. For everything. For little things. For forgiveness. For who He is. For what He has done. For what He will do. (sometimes I pray thanksgiving before Confession - God is so good!)
"Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his presence continually!
Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
his miracles and the judgments he uttered"
1 Chronicles 16:8-12
Supplication
This is where you make your petition know to God.
(See #5 & Philippians 4:6 above)
What/who should we pray for? Look at your hand.
Here's the 5 finger prayer:
Thumb
Pray for those closest to us.
(family & friends)
Pointer Finger
Pray for those who lead us or teach us about God
(pastor, church leaders, Bible teachers)
Parents, would you be on your child's pointer finger?
Husbands, would you be on your wife's pointer finger?
Middle Finger
Pray for those in authority over us.
(police, political leaders - they sure need it)
Parents & Husbands, would you be here?
Ring Finger
Pray for those who are weak.
The hurting, the sick, the lonely, the poor, the orphan, the widow,
those being persecuted, those who cannot speak for themselves, the least of these.
(Ring Finger is the weakest finger)
Parents, husbands, are we sharing our weaknesses with our family?
Are we teaching them to pray for and serve others in need?
Little Finger
Pray for yourself.
When you've prayed for everyone else your own needs will be put in perspective.
Don't neglect to pray for YOU - He loves you.
He knows you. He wants to make His will, your will.
Pray for you.
(Just had a thought. We, wives, could be praying for our Husbands on every finger. My relationship him, his leadership, his authority in our home, his struggles, and how I respond to him).
Just keep practicing. Practice Prayer.
(right now - practice right now, while your thinking about it.)
The greatest battle stance kneeling in prayer.
* I don't know where this poll came from. I think Gene told me about it.
** toccoalavonia.cbsclass.org
*** I don't always pray on my knees. Sometimes I just sit. Sitting with my Father. But sometimes I feel I need to kneel before the King.
+ AllBible quotes taken from the English Standard Version (ESV)
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