Influencing God: Prayer

Part 2:

4. How to Pray: Getting Answers

Repentance, humility and joyfully yielding to God, (2 Chronicles 7:14; Luke 18:9-14; ) “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The righteous cry, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of ALL their troubles" (Psalm 34:15-17); Righteousness means right standing before God. The only way we can be in right standing before God is through repentance, (turning away), from our sins and confessing them before God. Through the blood of Jesus, we are then sanctified or washed clean. Real repentance then, is necessary for us to have this right standing to expect God to deliver us from “all our troubles.” "No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly" (Psalm 84:11). Jesus tells us to repent in His example of the model prayer that we will look at in the next section. The Word tells us to “Come boldly to the throne of grace, “ (Hebrews 4:16). The only way you can do this is to know with confidence that you have repented and are made clean through the blood of Jesus. Being humble and seeking understanding will make your prayers heard, (Daniel 10:12).

Getting answers to prayer is dependent upon faith, (Mark 11:21-24). Asking is receiving according to Jesus; “… every one that asks receives…” (Matthew 7:7-8). Act and believe as though you have received your answer. See yourself with it, meditate on this in your mind. Believe that you have got it already, whether you see it in this reality yet or not. This is how people got answers in the past, (Hebrews 11:1-40). This is also the way men way men will get answers today. Since faith is a very in-depth topic, a later lesson will focus entirely on it. Always remember that:

FAITH IS AN ACTION, NOT A CONCEPT.

Pray in the Spirit with your mind, being careful about what you say and think (Ecclesiastes 5:2; 1Corinthians 14:15; Romans 8:26, 27). Know clearly what you want. Know your motives and make sure they are pure. Keep a mental picture of your answered prayer in your mind. Train your mind to accept the reality of God’s answer. If doubts persist rebuke them and get your mind focused on the fact that God’s promises are true and that your prayer has been answered. Focus your mind on the good things that God has done for you already. Reminding yourself of the prayers that he has already answered in your life will increase your faith.

Know and claim the promises of God and His words; Quote and speak God’s promises because God’s words cannot fail, (Isaiah 55:11). Claim God’s promises by reminding Him of them. Solomon did this in 1 Kings 8:25. You don’t do this because God needs to be reminded, but because you need to think about His promises to increase your faith. You also need to remind yourself by these promises that it is God’s will to answer these specific requests. You must enter them into your mind and release them with your mouth, confessing them as truth into this reality.

In Matthew 8:8, the centurion said, "speak the word only, and my servant will be healed.” Jesus was impressed with his faith. Faith is simply taking God at His Word. Faith is knowing and accepting the fact that God’s love for you is real and deep enough for Him to answer your prayers. It is trusting in His love and it is depending upon it. When God’s love for you is real enough, you will pray with the assurance (of the things hoped for) that God hears you and has answered your prayer (the evidence of things not seen), see Hebrews 11:1.

Jesus told us that God loves His children more than any parent could love his own children. This means that it is not the will of God for His children to be continually unhappy, sick, lonely, or to live a life filled with worry, confusion, fear and defeat. No good parent would want these things for their children. Good parents try everything possible to help their children get good things in life. Good parents want their children to be healthy, to be prosperous, and to be happy. Does God love His children any less? Of course not! God loves you so much, none of your concerns are too small, He even keeps track of the number of hairs on your head, (see Matthew 10:30)!! If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, HOW MUCH MORE shall your heavenly Father which is in Heaven give good things to them that ASK him?" (Matthew 7:9-11).

Prayer is more powerful when you add praise to it, (Philippians 4:6-7). By offering up praise and thanks to God before you have received the answer; you are expressing your faith in God’s loving kindness. You can do this because you know He heard you and has answered your prayers.

God hears you when you seek Him earnestly, with your whole heart, (Hebrews 11:6; Jeremiah 29:13; James 5:17).

Seek God with humility, (Galatians 6:3,4). Because of God’s mercy and love, there have been times when my own faith was exhausted. I cried out to God, trusting and depending upon His love. When I acknowledged my helplessness before Him and my need for His loving kindness, He answered.

God will answer you if you pray in the name of Jesus, (John 14:13, 14). You must use the name of Jesus in your prayers. It is God’s will to answer prayers offered up in Jesus name. Answering your prayers will not only make your joy complete, but it will glorify God through the name of Jesus, (see John 16:24). Ephesians 3:11-12 speaks of how we can approach the Father with confidence and freedom through our faith in Jesus. This is because it is only through Jesus that we are in right standing to approach God as His child.

Persistent prayer can get results, (Luke 18:2-8).

Unified prayer increases the power of prayer. "If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them ...For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:18-20).

Prayer is more powerful with fasting, (Mark 9:29 KJV). The disciples asked the Lord why they could not heal the lunatic boy. Jesus said, "Because of your unbelief. . . . Howbeit this kind goeth out by prayer and fasting.” This teaches us that prayer is more powerful by fasting and may also imply that fasting can cure our unbelief. To fast means to deny yourself food. It is humbling your soul before God (Psalm 35:13). By willfully denying the self and the hungers of the flesh, we are strengthening our spirit which will strengthen our faith.

Postures in Prayer:

You can pray while; bowing, (Genesis 24:26), standing, , kneeling, (Acts 9:40), flat on your face, (Numbers 20:6), kneeling with your face between your knees, (1 Kings 18:42) or while facing the site of the temple of God in Jerusalem, (1 Kings 8:29).

When to Pray:

a) Evening, morning, and noon, (Psalm 55:17; Daniel 6:10).
Many of the greatest men of faith in the history prayed and gave thanks at least three times a day, setting aside special time for God. We rarely will neglect feeding our bodies three or more times a day. Yet, we think it is difficult to make the time to feed our soul and spirit three times a day. The body will die, the spirit will live forever. It is more important then, to develop a healthy spirit than to feed only the body.
b) At meals, (Matthew 26:26).
c) All night, (Luke 6:12).
d) Continually pray at all times, on all occasions. (1Thessalonians 5:16, 17; Ephesians 6:18).

What to Pray about:

Sins, (James 5:16); wisdom, (James 1:5); direction, (Psalm 119:133); others, enemies, (Matthew 5:44); a lack of faith, the unity of believers, (John 17:20-26); peace for Jerusalem, (Psalm 122:6); blessings for Israel, (Genesis 12:3); pray about everything. Remember that your prayer life should reflect your love for God and His other children. To only pray about yourself is selfish. To only spend time with God or anyone else only when you want something is not a true expression of your love for them. Spend time with God in prayer, praise and worship.

Next: The Perfect Prayer