Have you ever wondered why Jesus was so specific to the Disciples about prayer? Why was it so important to learn how to pray? What purpose does it serve in my life and in the Kingdom. Jesus always gave a short, sweet and simple answers to ensure all could understand.
James 5:16 - " Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
The word availeth means "produces and advantage" Prayer when our hearts are clean and right before God can move mountains! The question has come up many times that "I can't pray I don't know what to say or I never can seem to pray for more than 5 minutes"
I encourage you to follow along with us as we Journey into a Success Prayer Schedule!
PRAISE & WORSHP:
Begin all prayer with praise. Whatever your ultimate goal may be, first praise God. In praise you esteem God for His greatness and virtues. Jesus, in His example to us, taught us to begin with prayer with praise, "Our Father which art in Heaven."
Psalm 22:3 " But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel."
Psalm 63:3 "Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee."
Hebrews 13:15 "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name."
FORGIVENESS:
Nothing will block your spiritual progress more fatally than an unforgiving spirit. Forgiving is a complete "Pouring Out" of any feelings that might have developed against anyone during the day. Even a small "Root of Bitterness" will grow quickly into a serious problem.
Matthew 6:14-15
"14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
CONFESSION:
(We do not believe in confessing to man, but God who is our advocate hears our confession)
Early in the complete prayer clock we deal with sin. Unconfessed sin is the greatest hindrance to prayers. Rid yourself of sin by confessing and seeking forgiveness and you will clear the road for power praying.
Psalm 139:23-24
"23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
Psalm 66:18
" If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:"
PETITION:
"Ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask and receive not because ye ask amiss." This aspect of prayer deals with our personal needs. You may feel confident to pray for your personal needs.
James 4:2-3
" 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts."
Matthew 6:9-13
"9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."
INTERCESSION:
Intercession is praying for the lost and involves the most intense dimension of prayer. Intercession is God's love flowing through us.
1 Timothy 2:1-2
" I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."
Matthew 9:37-38
"37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest."
READ THE BIBLE:
It may surprise you to hear the suggestion that you should read the Bible during prayer. However, the Word is enlightening to the eyes. When you read the Bible new possibilities are made clear.
Psalm 19:9 "The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether."
2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"
MEDITATION:
In meditation you ponder on the spiritual themes of God's Word and Spirit. By meditation you will experience a rich understanding into the depth and beauty of God's promises. This understanding will broaden and expand your praying as well as your entire life.
Psalm 1:1-2
"1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night."
Psalm 77:12
"I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings."
THANKSGIVING:
Although thanksgiving should be sprinkled throughout your prayer, plan to spend a special period of thanking God out loud for all the things in your life.
Philippian's 4:6 "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."
PRAY THE WORD:
The word of God is brought into prayer twice. A brief period of reading the Word first; now you "Pray the Word".
Psalms 119:48 "My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes."
SINGING:
Singing refreshes and comforts the soul, and one of the greatest thrills of singing is to sing in the Holy Ghost, "a new song" during worship.
Psalm 100:2 "Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing."
Ephesians 5:19 "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;"
LISTENING:
Prayer is not all talking to God. It also involves listening. Listening is different from meditation. When we listen we receive direction from God's Spirit.
1 Kings 19:11-12
"11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:
12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice."
PRAISE:
We conclude every prayer session with praise. Again we exalt the nature of God.
Matthew 6:13 " And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."
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