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Tuesday, September 19, 2017

How do I Pray?

One of my Facebook friends asked people in her friends list how they pray. I shared this on her post. Not that my prayer patterns need to be exactly the same for you, but still I thought it might help someone else who's struggling in prayer to encounter God more fully, so here it is:

I pray randomly as I go through my day... about everything.
1 Thes. 5:16-18 16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

That isn't personal enough for me though so I also try to spend time alone with God as I can, and I like to pray uninterrupted for more than an hour because it seems that is when my breakthrough comes. I'm not sure, but this is perhaps because it takes me that long to get my mind on more spiritual things and off the distractions of everyday life.
Matthew 6:6-8 "6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him."
Matthew 26:40-41 "40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak."

I also try to pray according to the "pattern" (not a repetition of words, but according to the method) that Jesus gave His Disciples, because this is HOW He said to pray: Addressed to the Father, with Praise, seeking His will over my own, then with petition (requests), asking in a repentant spirit, asking for deliverance from the plan of Satan, and finally more praise.
Matthew 6:9-13 "9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."

I pray in faith and under the authority of Christ. Faith is based upon the word of God not upon my wishes or my hopes. Hope is like the soil, but faith is the seed. If my prayers are based on what He has promised in His word, I can be confident that they are His will. (I usually have my bible right with me for reference.) "In His NAME" is not just a proper ending for a prayer, but a statement of authority... I am asking IN his authority, as He has given me His name and His authority comes with it..
Mark 11:24 "24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them."
John 16:23 "And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you."
1 John 5:14-15 "14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him."

I also like to have some paper and a pen close by, in case the Lord speaks something to me I want to remember. This also comes in handy if I want to make a list of requests or promises that I want to continue to bring before God later. Satan will steal your God given thoughts if given the opportunity, so I do my best to combat that by writing down what I want to retain.



There's much more I could add, but this is a good start. Hope this helps someone!
Pastor Jerry