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Conditions for Successful Prayer
SEEK THE LORD HUMBLY WITH ALL YOUR HEART
"But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul." Deuteronomy 4:29 "LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:" Psalm 10:17 "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart " Jeremiah 29:13 Come before God with an attitude of trust, which is faith. You will find God if you are truly seeking Him with your whole being.
Seek the Lord with humility. True Bible humility is recognizing all that God is and who we are according to what God's Word says.
God is everything. He is Supreme and Sovereign.
We must bow our knee before Him, stripping ourselves of pride, recognizing that as He gives , He can also take away. This meaning that without Him, we are nothing and have nothing.
Our very salvation is a gift from God to us.
The very breath we breathe is supplied by Him.
He is truly in control of all things.
Yet, at the same time, God sent His Son that all may be saved. God loves us. The Bible tells us so. We must recognize through humility that we are the children of God when we accept Jesus Christ as Savior. The Word says we are heirs of the promise.
Bible humility recognizes this: God is all and on the throne. We are His Creation and He the Creator. Everything God says about us is true. We bow before Our Creator, stripping ourselves of our own pride, praising God and giving thanks to Him for Who He is, and all He has and is doing.
CONFESS SIN AND REPENT:
"If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:" _PSALM 66:18 "If we say that 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. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. " 1 John 1:8-10
As we seek God in prayer, a self examination is always in order. God's Word makes it clear that if there is sin in our heart, He will not hear our prayers.
We are born with a sin nature because of the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. (Gen. 3)
Because of this fleshly nature, we all sin. Many times, we do things that we really don't intend to do. Things that hurt others.
However, God is merciful . (Luke 18:13)
The Word of God tells us that we only deceive ourselves if we say we are without sin. God knows what we are doing. So not one of us can hide our sins from Him.
But, we do have an advocate with the Father. That is the person of Jesus Christ. The verse in the box above, 1John1:8-10, tells us that is we confess our sin, we will be forgiven.
That is because our sin is covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. When God sees that blood upon us, from the very moment we are saved, He sees His Son , Jesus.
It is because of His Blood that we can come before the throne of God and stand righteous before Him. Without Jesus, we are nothing. Through Him, we are free.
FORGIVE OTHERS
"And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses." Mark 11:25-26 This can be one of the most difficult things a person can do, but it is God's Word and is required of us all.
If God can forgive us of our sin, we should humbly forgive others of their sin against us.
Forgiveness is a choice to "let the other person off the hook" in that we by our own choice give pardon to that person.
We don't necessarily forget. This is an impossibility. But, God, through the Holy Spirit, can help us with that issue.
ADORATION
Something of utmost importance after confession is giving praise and adoration to God. Thank Him for His forgiveness of sin. Thank Him for His Son, Jesus Christ and the Blessed Holy Spirit.
Take time to tell Him how much you love Him.
PRAY ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL WHICH IS HIS WORD
"And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:" 1 John 5:14
"If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." John 15:7 God's Word guides us through all decisions we should make. He has made His Will known to us through the Bible.
An example:
God wants us to have a sound mind. He does not want us to walk in confusion or indecision. His Word says that if we seek wisdom, to ask of the Father. He will give it to us. This is God's Will for us. It is also a promise.
So, we can pray according to the Word for wisdom.
It can go something like this:
Lord, I come to You, seeking answers. My mind is in a state of confusion. I know that this is not Your Will for me, because Your Word says in 2Timothy 1:7, that we are to have a sound mind. Your Word tells me to seek you for wisdom and You will grant it to me. So, Lord I pray according to Your Will and Your Word. I thank You that you answer prayer.
This is praying the Will of God.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2Ti 1:7
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him Jas 1:5
PRAY WITH FAITH
"Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass." Psalm 37:5 "Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." Mark 9:23-24 "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed" James 1:6 Faith is simply believing through spiritual eyes.
When my infant son was dying of meningitis, I had no hope whatsoever. I had to believe that God could heal , and humble myself before Him in my request to Him. I had to exercise faith (belief) in Him and His Word.
Faith is believing. Although the doctors gave him less than 24 hrs to live, I knew there was a power much higher in control.
Now, I realize that in God's Sovereign Will, I had to accept it either way. God could choose to take him to heaven or restore His body to health. This is never easy.
So, I prayed believing and my son was restored in full health.
I give God the glory.
PRAY IN JESUS' NAME
"And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." John 14:13-14 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you."John 16:23
GIVE THANKS AND PRAISE TO GOD
Always remember, to give thanks to the Giver of All things.
God Bless You All.
-Connie Jansen
WORD OF EMMANUEL BIBLE FELLOWSHIP