PRAY LIKE THIS
Prayer is communication with God. Prayer is having an audience with Him, actually coming into His presence and asking and getting things from Him. Its purpose is to praise God, to express our trust, our faith, our thanksgiving, our expectations, and our heart's desire to God. If we would learn to pray, we must follow Jesus' teaching when He said, "Pray like this." Matthew 6:9-13.
1. OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN:
Our prayers are addressed to "Our Father in heaven." This name "Father" is a new way to address God. Formerly men called Him, "the Almighty God," "the Most High God," "the Everlasting God," or "Jehovah God." none dared call him "Father." Only those who are born again of God, are the children of God and can call Him "Father." How sweet and comforting to come to God and declare: "Our Father in heaven."
"Behold, how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn't know us, because it didn't know him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not yet revealed what we will be. But we know that, when he is revealed, we will be like him; for we will see him just as he is. Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure." 1 John 3:1-3.
2. MAY YOUR NAME BE KEPT HOLY:
God glorifies His name through us. We must first hold His name in high honor and reverence. For only after we give God the glory, honor, and praise due His perfection, can we approach Him with our requests. The motive of our prayers must be to bring glory to God.
"He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." Psalm 23:3b.
"Help us, God of our salvation, for the glory of your name. Deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name's sake." Psalm 79:9.
3. LET YOUR KINGDOM COME:
On the earth there are two kingdoms, each with its own king; the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan. There are two brotherhoods, each with its father, and these two are in mortal combat. It is important that we acknowledge that God's kingdom, power, and glory are His forever. In praying this way, I am acknowledging a truth that most of the world does not accept. My desire and prayer must be that God will not only rule my own life, but also the life of my family, and that He will become ruler of all. See John 8:42-47.
Someday Jesus is returning as King of kings and Lord of lords. We should pray that this will happen soon. Paul's prayer was "Come, O Lord!" and John's reply to Jesus' statement that He was coming soon was; "Amen, Come, Lord Jesus." 1 Corinthians 16:22; Rev. 22:20.
4. LET YOUR WILL BE DONE, AS IN HEAVEN, SO ON EARTH:
To pray correctly requires knowing God's will. To discover His will we must look for it, seek it out, and search for it. The promise is that those who seek God, will be allowed to find Him. Those not desiring His will not have their prayers answered.
God's will is that you use the spiritual gift in the ministry He has assigned to you. (Romans 12:1-8). You have a job to do, a function to perform, a ministry to execute. God never intended His assembly to be a group of spectators with only a few doing the work. All members are servants of one another.
To pray "Your will be done," means I will do what God wants me to do. If it means I must do without something I would like to have, I will be content with what God supplies. If it means talking on a responsibility I would rather not have, I will perform that task knowing that God is my help and strength. God's will can be discovered from:
* Bible study,
* The doors He opens and closes,
* The concerns He puts in our hearts,
* The prompting of the Holy Spirit,
* Having God's peace concerning the matter.
We should pray the same prayer Paul prayed for the Christians at Colosse that:
* we will be filled with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
* we will live a life worthy of the Lord,
* we will please Him in every way,
* we will grow in the knowledge of God,
* we will be strengthened with all power according to His glorious might,
* we will have great endurance and patience,
* we will joyfully give thanks to the Father,
* See Colossians 1:9-12; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; Ephesians 5:17.
Watchman Nee states that there are four steps in knowing and doing God's will. "The first step is that God conceives a thought, which is His will: The second step is that God reveals this will to His children through the Holy Spirit, causing them to know that He has a will, a plan, a demand, and expectation: The third step is that God's children return His will by praying to Him, for prayer is responding to God's will - if our heart is wholly one with His heart, we will naturally voice in our prayer what He intends to do: And the fourth step is that God will accomplish this very thing." Let Us Pray, page 24.
5. GIVE US TODAY OUR DAILY BREAD:
God promises to supply all our needs. There is no need so small that He will not be concerned about, or any so large that He is unable to supply it. "My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19. God is very wealthy. He has the resources for any need you have. He is able to supply all the tools, materials, money, and personnel for any task He requests of you. All you need to do is request them. Ask and you will receive is the requirement God has placed on you. Psalm 50:9-15; Matthew 7:7-11; Luke 11:9-13.
Christians should not go into debt. Indebtedness is an indication we do not have faith in God's ability to supply our needs. I am God’s child, so it is His responsibility to provide my food, shelter, and clothing. I am God’s servant. He is my employer, so He is responsible to supply the tools to work with, the place in which to work, and wages for the work done. My part is to do the work! I must not beg for funds or for help from anyone other then from God. God is my supplier and He delights in supplying my needs in supernatural ways so that His name will be glorified.
6. FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, AS WE ALSO FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS:
Every time we sin we must ask God for forgiveness. This is a great privilege, so we must not misuse it. For forgiveness of sins I must;
* Acknowledge I am a sinner,
* Confess my sins to God, (be specific).
* Believe that all my confessed sins are forgiven,
* Believe I am purified from all unrighteousness,
* Be an overcomer over habitual sins, taking back the "ground" that Satan controls.
* Believe that Jesus' sacrifice, not good works, is all I need,
* And I must forgive others the same way God has forgiven me
* See 1 John 1:8-2:2; 5:18; Matthew 6:14,15; 18:21-35; Mark 11:25.
Also, we have the privilege to ask God to forgive the sins of others. A beautiful example of this is Daniel's prayer requesting God to forgive the sins of the national of Israel. (See Daniel 9:4-19)
If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life for those who sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death. I don't say that he should make a request concerning this. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death. 1 John 5:16,17.
7. BRING US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM THE EVIL ONE:
When we pray for God's kingdom to come and His will be done, we attract the attention of Satan and he will attack us. Jesus "has delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love; in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins." Colossians 1:13,14. This will make Satan very angry and he will do everything possible to prevent us from knowing and doing God's will. In ourselves we are not strong enough to resist this assault. We must have God's help, encouragement, and strength to be an overcomer. Therefore, we must put on the armor of God, use His weapons, and take back the "ground" we are allowing Satan to control in our lives.
Satan has been defeated by Christ, therefore we must never allow Satan to defeat us or prevent us from doing God's will. Jesus' message to us is the same as that to His sleeping disciple when He said, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation." Luke 22:46. We must constantly be alert and pray for God's protection against the devil's temptations. Satan will not give up and he will trick us, causing us to stumble when we are not looking. See Romans 8:37-39; Ephesians 6:10-20.
8. FOR YOURS IS THE KINGDOM, THE POWER, AND THE GLORY FOREVER. AMEN:
Praising God is bragging on Him. It is telling God and others of all the good and wonderful things He is doing, and of His great and mighty deeds He has done.
I will bless Yahweh at all times.
His praise will always be in my mouth.
My soul shall boast in Yahweh.
The humble shall hear of it, and be glad.
Oh magnify Yahweh with me.
Let us exalt his name together.
I sought Yahweh, and he answered me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
Psalm 34:1-4.
9. IN THE NAME OF JESUS:
We do not possess the right, or privilege, or authority to approach God. Who are we, with our wicked sinful nature, to approach the throne of a Righteous Holy God? But, because we are in Him and He is us we become children of God and the right to call Him Father.
Most assuredly I tell you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these will he do; because I am going to my Father. Whatever you will ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you will ask anything in my name, I will do it. John 14:12-14.
This statement gives us the authority to approach our heavenly Father with our requests. But we must always remember that He is our Lord, which means He is BOSS.
Yahweh is near to all those who call on him,
To all who call on him in truth.
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear him.
He also will hear their cry, and will save them.
Yahweh preserves all those who love him,
But all the wicked he will destroy.
My mouth will speak the praise of Yahweh.
Let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
Psalm 145:18-21
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Revised June 2000. Scriptures changed to The World English Bille.
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