I'm beginning a new series called 'Back to Christian Basics.' In this series, we'll thoroughly explore each topic from a biblical perspective to strengthen our relationship with Jesus.
We begin with the basics of Christianity, and the fourth topic is 'Prayer’ Let’s Explore how Praying to God is useful for our Spiritual Growth. We will also understand different types of Prayer and powers of these prayers.
What is Prayer ?
We under the impression or misconception that Prayer is about asking God what we want. It’s only 10% true, 90% of that is not true prayer.
Prayer is about seeking and speaking to God from Heart, Mind and Soul to the Holy Spirit. Prayer is about building the intimacy with God.
True prayer is more than just asking God for things. It is a way of opening our hearts and minds to God, and of inviting Him into our lives. It is a way of seeking his wisdom, guidance, and strength.
Why should we pray ?
Mark 1:35. (NIV) 'Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. '
Hebrews 5:7 (NIV) 'During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. '
Learning from Jesus, he prayed early in the morning and he prayed laying his petitions with fervent cries and tears in a reverent submission to Father to do according to his will.
Prayer is about seeking and speaking to God from Heart, Mind and Soul to the Holy Spirit of God.
When we pray - Our Heart should interact with God’s Holy Spirit, when we do this we are pouring our inner heart to God and laying our burdens of Heart to receive the inner peace from God.
When we pray - Our Mind should interact with God’s Holy Spirit, when we do this we are seeking his will and permission to do according to his will. So that we align to his Perfect Will.
When we pray - Our Soul should interact with God’s Holy Spirit, when we do this we open up and confess with God on our wrong doing seeking repentance with God and also get sanctified by God so that we become righteous in his eyes.
How should we pray ?
Matthew 6:6-8 (NIV) 'But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. '
There are many things we should learn from Jesus how we should pray
Jesus Prayed Very Early in the morning (Mark 1:35), We should also emulate that and practice that in our life.
Jesus instructed to Pray in Private than praying in Public Matthew 6:6 (NIV) - “go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.”
Avoid repetitive words in your prayer. Matthew 6:7(NIV) - “do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words”
Prayer is not about asking God what you want, As we are his children he knows what we need. Prayer is about understanding his will in our life and obeying to that. Matthew 6:8(NIV) for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Let your Prayer be kneeling down and your hands folded to the Heaven, when you do this you humble to God and ask God to hear him. Try as far as possible to kneel and Pray with your eyes closed (This is done to avoid distraction). Pray to the Father. Address God as “Father” Romans 8:15 ... By the Spirit ... Abba, Father!
When you pray, Ask God Father with a Pleading heart, Plead before Him, Cry unto Him, Wait before him, Yield to Him. Never, command Him!
Remember the God we worship is a King of Kings, he is our Creator. Thru our prayers we need to prepare for the King to come into our presence. We start our prayer with worshiping God by Praising him. Our worship to him should be God centred. When we do the following indicative list, he will come into our presence
Worship God’s Glory - Psalms 8:1 NIV - “Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens.”
Worship God’s Power - Psalms 150:2 NIV - “Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.”
Worship God’s Goodness - Psalms 69:16 NIV - “Answer me, Lord, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me.”
Worship God’s Love - Psalms 36:5 NIV - “Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.”
Worship God’s Faithfulness - Psalms 86:11 (‘NIV) - Teach me your way, Lord , that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. '
Worship God’s magnificence - Psalms 104:24-25 (NIV) - 'How many are your works, Lord ! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number— living things both large and small. '
Worship God’s holiness - Psalms 96:9 'Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth. '
Worship God as King of Kings AND Lord of Lords - Revelation 19:16 'On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords. '
When we praise God, Satan cannot stand. Any bondages from Satan will be broken when we start praising God.
After you worship the Lord, be thankful for what he has done in your life. “Thank You, Lord, for saving me”, “Thank You, Lord, for healing me”. He will shower his mercy and grace when we are thankful for all that he has done.
We confess our sins to the “Father” the word says “we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ” he intercedes with Father and forgives our Sins and purifies us to become righteous in his eyes.
1 John 2:1 (NIV) 'My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. '
1 John 1: 9 'If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1: 8 ‘If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. '
After you confess, Pray and place your things which you need to ask him as petitions, humble and submit to his will, if possible plead and submit your petition's with Fervent Cries and tears. Think of a beggar asking the master to show mercy to receive something, our prayer should be like that. This should melt the heart of God to answer your prayer. What we ask should be aligned to his Will for him to answer our prayer.
Pray and lay all your anxieties to God and ask God to help you, his peace will be there to guard your situation. Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) 'Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. '
As you pray, if you have the gift of spirit of tongues, let your prayer be in spirit of tongues with God. When you do this, you place things to God which is known between you and God, Satan cannot hear or understand what we converse with God. If you are promoted to Sing and praise do that, its another form of worship.
Pray to seek things associated to his kingdom. (Lost souls, sick people, desolate people, lost ones, poor people). When we seek and pray for his kingdom, He will give what you need according to your needs. Try to practice a prayer which Solomon did in Proverbs 30
Matthew 6:33 NIV But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Proverbs 30:7-9 (NIV) '“Two things I ask of you, Lord ; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord ?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonour the name of my God. '
Pray for your self desires be crucified in Cross and let the will of God be done, Tell God, “Your will be done!” This is not lack of faith, but expression of confidence that God knows what’s best for me!
As you pray, let your prayer not be to give INFORMATION to God, let that develop the INTIMACY with God.
Additional things to know when Pray ?
We now know how to Pray, There are many things which we do not know because of which Satan uses to his advantage
God answers all our prayers, We fail to recognise them.
Sometimes its - YES! (as its his perfect will)
Many times - NO!
Oftentimes - WAIT! (Wait till its his time comes)
Most often - SILENCE!
Relook at your prayer to see what you need to do to make him hear
Maybe your prayer is too much self centred.
May be there is a Sin (e.g.., the anger or lust or desires or Gossips or hurts or insults or cheating or Bribes etc..) thats preventing your prayer, look inside your life to answers for the un-answered prayers.
Prayer is not to change God, but to change us to fit into His plan.
We are responsible for our sins, Do not accuse Satan for your Sins. Satan can only tempt us, we only commit sin from the temptation. We have the ability to avoid and say no, but we give in. So the responsibility of Sin comes to us when we commit the Sin.
In prayer we address God, not Satan. Do not talk to Satan in your prayer.
We have the power to Cast out Satan (Matthew 10:1,8)
We have the power to Rebuke Satan (Matthew 17:18)
Satan is master in deceiving us, he will bring a dampening spirit so that we don’t pray regularly, if you feel that way, don’t give to that, go against the Odd and Pray and praise God and worship God. He will flee away, he cannot stand near us when we praise God.
As you pray and be closer to God, there is a spirit of false hood that will be like God, but not from God. Its a spirit from Satan imitating God. So pray in Spirit to test and examine yourself, the Spirit of God will guide you. 2 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV) 'Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realise that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? '
Once you receive the faith in Jesus, you are his son and daughter. All the powers of Spirit is given to us. We have the power to cure a sickness, cast a demon out and many more. Seek God to guide you.
You don’t need a mediator to reach to God. Roman Catholics use “Mary” as a mediator — who brought forth Jesus to us. Protestants use “Preachers” as mediators —who brings us to Jesus. Both are wrong. If God does not listen to you, nobody can recommend your case!. The word is clear you ask you will receive, it does not say get a mediator to ask. Matthew 7:7-8 ' “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. '
Seek for help with an elder or pastor only when you are weak in Spirit.
Avoid praying in front of Idols (statue / photo or anything) and praying with blessed cloth or blessed thread. Pray in Spirit and pray with zeal and reverent prayer, with the assurance that you are talking to father.
Confess your Sins to God our father to receive sanctification, there is no need to confess to your pastor or father at church. They are still humans like us, how can they sanctify us when they are also in Sin.
Let not your prayers be self centred, Pray for others. When you pray for others, God’s power will help heal your personal situation. Keep your self prayers as last.
When you Pray in the order thats taught, you will start hearing from God more than you speaking. There will be a voice to tell you and guide you. Receive that word with Faith
Pray with the promises that God gives you, he is a God who fulfils the promises. Open the bible verse and Pray with the promises.
As you start to pray and receive the power of God, answers to prayer. You will receive a Pride - Spiritual pride to think all thats because of your prayer, not realise that God’s mercy is what is source for all your prayer. Get rid of Spiritual pride and ask God to make you empty and be humble.
Fasting prayer
Certain prayers require Fasting and Praying to God. What does Bible teach on Fasting
Matthew 6:16-18 (NIV) ' “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. '
What does fasting accomplish ?
Bible teaches us that every follower of Jesus Christ is called to fast. Read up on it: in all His teachings, Jesus did not say, "if you fast", He said, "when you fast".
What does it accomplish? There are several reasons, but the first and foremost is control over the flesh. The Bible says to... Galatians 5:16-17 'For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. '
We control our flesh to surrender to the Spirit of God
Fasting controls the spirit and when we pray in the spirit the soul also intercedes for us to request father for his help.
How should we Fast ?
No showing off : You cannot Look dull and make up a big show off you are doing a fasting, Bible Says “do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting”
It has to be in Secret : You have to be normal, how to be normal when your hunger pranks you ? thats for God to help you. “when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you”
Fasting has to be accompanied by Prayer : Fasting controls the Spirit to intercede with the soul requesting for help with the Father we need to Pray. Don’t Fast if you cannot Pray. There is no use only with Fasting.
Should I fast “n” number of Days ? : Fasting a set number of days is not for you to decide, it has to be directed by God to you. Its not directed by any one, its between you and God to decide how long you should fast, is this for 1 day or 3 days or 21 days etc..?
Tips to Pray regularly
Pray early in the morning, this is to tell God you are first, guide me my day to do according to your will. I put efforts today to do what you have planned for me tomorrow.
Pray with a note book listing what you should pray for.
Pray with a list of Sins that you need to ask forgiveness with God. God wants us to be spotless and blameless, so don’t discount small sins.
Pray with a list of all thanksgiving things in end of the month and year.
Always meditate and Pray. you cannot skip mediation and say I prayed today so I am good. Prayer and mediation are two lips to God, with one you cannot reach God. You need both of them.
Pray with a burden for God’s kingdom and continue to pray with zeal. Pray for the family who is a non-believer, pray for your neighbours, pray for your local, pray for the church, pray for the nation.