Introduction
Are you a Christian who is desiring to be radically changed?
Are you desiring a more intimate knowledge of God?
Are you desiring to walk in the power of God that is made available to us through Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection?
Are you desiring a deeper faith connection with God?
If you do – you need to:
“Just Pray”
Remember
(Prayer Fuels Faith)
Why Is It Important To Pray?
Jesus invites us to pray!
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 NKJV
Vs 16 Rejoice always,
Vs 17 Pray without ceasing
Vs 18 In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ, Jesus for you. John 17:9-11 NKJV
“I pray for them, I do not pray for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. And all mine are yours and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world and I come to you. Holy Father, keep through your name those whom you have given me, that they may be one as we are.”
What does God promise us when we pray?
James 5:16 NKJV
“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
Questions to Ask Yourself
Psalm 145:18 NKJV
“The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.” The Psalmist expresses that the Lord desires to maintain an intimate relationship with everyone of us.
Ask yourself?
Am I truly seeking intimacy with the Lord?
Am I really desiring to know God intimately or am I simply looking for a quick fix.
Do I really want to enter into a rich and full relationship with Christ? Or – am I more concerned that He might interfere with my life.
Remember!
God loves you and will never stop reaching out to you.
But!
Only when we come to a sincere desire for Him, as Psalm 145:18 indicates, will we truly discover what He has wanted us to have all along.
Just Pray
If we are speaking to the devil, demons, etc., and declaring the word of God to our circumstances we must pray aloud.
There is power in what we speak into the atmosphere.
What Is Prayer?
In a very simple statement, prayer is conversation with God.
Jeremiah 33:3
A Conversation involves 2 things: speaking and listening.
You speak – God listens!
God speaks – you listen!
What If I don’t speak well?
This should never stop you. God knows our heart. God is more concerned that we are open and honest before Him. He wants us to speak as a child – simply, from the sincerity of our heart. (When we learned how to speak as a child, we didn’t concern ourselves with how we were going to sound. In our childlike way we formed the words and spoke them out. Mom and Dad cheered us on. God is very pleased when we take time to learn to communicate with Him. And He cheers us on as we enter into joyous conversation with Him).
What Should I include in my prayers?
P Praise & Worship
R Response of love and adoration
A Admitting our dependency upon Him.
Y Yield to God a listening ear and open, obedient heart.
E Earnestly, with faith, believe for all you ask for within the principles of God’s word.
R Repentance – check your own heart. Ask God to search your heart and reveal to you what needs to change.
S Prayers of Supplication. List before God all the requests you and your relatives, friends, associates, have voiced. (and don’t forget to pray for your enemies)
What Do I Risk If I Don’t Pray?
1. You won’t get to know God is a personal way.
2. You won’t be closely connected to God. Therefore you will look more like, and influenced more by, the world.
3. You will be less sensitive to sin. You will compromise yourself more in the area of moral issues.
4. You miss the experience of the joy of heaven, here on earth. The fullness and richness of knowing the Heavenly Father.
5. Your Faith fades. Faith is to step in the direction toward what is believed to be your assignment in this life. Our faith is fueled by God alone. It cannot be developed without prayer and the word.
What Should I pray for others?
• God’s will be revealed in their life.
• That their knowledge of God will grow.
• Their situations
• Their relationships
• Healing/Good Health
• The desires of their heart
• Protection
• Finances
• Their Ministry/their destiny
• Pray blessings on them, etc.
Matthew 7:11 NKJV
“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him.
Mark 11:24 NKJV
“Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
James 4:2 NKJV
“You do not have because you do not ask.”
If God knows what we are thinking why do we need to pray?
Even though God knows our heart and our thoughts, we need to speak them so they can be released from our spirit-man to God.
(There is power in the release of our words to God.)
Do I have to pray out loud?
No! God knows what we are thinking and what we are praying.
However!
© 2007 Wanda Onstad
http://shekinahgospelchurch.com
