For many people prayer in something that you do at dinner or only in emergencies, you know the “help me God” prayer! For a Christian, prayer is a must and foundational to their relationship with God. Prayer isn’t about folding your hands or even closing your eyes. Prayer in its simplest definition is “communicating or talking with God.” That simple. Many times I talk to God just like I talk to my wife or friend. Matter of fact we should treat God like our closest of friends. We need to talk to him all throughout the day. As a husband, it would be ridiculous and hazardous to my marriage if I only talked to my wife once a day. I tell God when I feel like my day stinks, when I need help with my attitude, when life isn’t fair, and always say “Thank you” because I am grateful. Talking with God is just the beginning. Here are some keys to remember.
1. Be Honest! 1st Peter 5:7 says “cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you!” You can’t fool God. Don’t be afraid to tell him you’re darkest fears, biggest dreams, painful past, frustration, anger, joy, and everything in between. God wants to hear it all. The great part is HE can handle it!
2. Be Persistent! Jesus said in Matthew 7:7 “Ask , (and keep on asking) and it shall be given; seek, (and keep on seeking) and you shall find; knock, (and keep on knocking) it shall be opened to you. Don’t give up!
3. Be Patient! This is a hard one especially in this generation of instant messaging, email, and texting. God answers prayer in his time, not ours. God answers prayer in his way, not ours. Because he knows what’s best, when it’s best!
4. Pray God’s Word. 1st John 5:14 declares “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us!” The key is “according to his will.” What is his will? His Word. God’s will is found in the pages of the bible. It is will that we have salvation, peace, joy, righteousness, healing, deliverance, and so much more.
5. Be passionate! James 5:16b says “The effective fervent prayer of a righteous person avails much.” The word “fervent” means that if you are a solid, you are “red hot,” if you are a liquid you are “boiling over.” Don’t be afraid to cry, laugh, and shout when you pray.
6. Prayer is a practice. That’s right. Just like playing the piano or playing basketball. The more you do it the better you get. You also learn from watching and listening to others.
7. Understand that if prayers go unanswered, it is not because God doesn’t love us. We are finite. We have an ending. God is infinite. He has no beginning or end. He cannot be contained. In other words if for some reason a prayer does not get answered, God knows something that we don’t. And we may not even know why. Our job is to trust in Him that he knows what is best.
8. Finally, prayer is a two way street. Prayer doesn’t do us any good if we do all the talking. Sometimes God already has the answer the moment we pray but we don’t take time to listen. Matter of fact I was taught that Prayer is 2/3rds listening, 1/3rd talking. Why? We have two ears and one mouth. Learn to hear the voice of God in prayer and through his word.
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