Hour of Prayer... Talking to God Index
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Praying to God helps the lives of all those who believe...
"The Prayer of Faith shall save the sick". (James 5:15).
What is prayer?
Prayer is our speaking from our hearts to our heavenly Father, prompted by the power of the Holy Spirit within the believer, through a right relationship with Jesus Christ, to articulate our deepest thoughts and reveal a heart of thankfulness. Prayer that works and is effective requires Faith, Hope, Love, Belief, Trust and Patience which are just a few of the vital virtues needed when communicating our thoughts, needs and thankfulness to God through Jesus Christ. Prayers that are are likely to receive answers are those prayed in accordance with God's plans, purposes and timing which fulfill His temporal and eternal will for your life.
The grace of God enables us; while our communication through prayer keeps us close and connected to God through Jesus Christ. An active, effective prayer life maintains the connectedness which offers strength and enrichment to our lives…
Proper Communication With God is Crucial in Order for the Lord to HEAR and ANSWER your Prayer
Communicating With God:
1. First, God speaks to us through His Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17. Isaiah 55:11) tells us: So is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Since the Bible is God's words, man can trust that when he is in a right relationship with God, and he reads the Bible, he is literally hearing God's spoken word. "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),
2. Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth (John 9:31). Since the Bible says that God hears man (Psalm 17:6, 77:1; Isaiah 38:5), man can trust that when he is in a right relationship with God and he speaks to God, God will hear him.
3. The right relationship with God that is necessary for healthy communication between God and man is evidenced in the following ways:
First is a turning from sin, or repentance. Psalm 27:9, for example, is the plea of David for God to hear him and not turn away from him in anger. From this, we know that God does turn His face away from man's sin and that sin hinders the communication between God and man. Another example of this is found in Isaiah 59:2, where Isaiah tells the people, But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. So, when there is unconfessed sin in our lives, it will hinder communication with God.
Hour of Prayer... Talking to God - continued Index
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Next, a humble heart is necessary for effective communication with God. God speaks these words in Isaiah 66:2, This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.
Being humble and sincere before God should be quite simple, but it can become complex if the one praying is prideful and unrepentant. Confessing our weaknesses and our sins to God with a continual heart of repentance keeps the communication of prayer honest and open with God through the power of the Holy Spirit given by Jesus Christ.
The third thing is a righteous life. This is the positive side of turning from sin and is marked specifically by effectiveness in prayer. The prayer of a man/woman who is right with God (being sincere and prays according to God's will in Jesus Name) is powerful and effective. (James 5:16).
Finally we must have faith; be confident that He will hear us and that the Holy Spirit will help us to pray what we ought to pray. Romans 8:26 says, In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. Beleive that when we pray, asking anything according to His will and in the name of Jesus, He hears us, and will give us what we pray for. Remember, it is impossible to please God without faith.
Avoid approaching God with repetitious prayers (Matthew 6:7) and carnal (fleshly or self-pleasing) requests that look to meet our plans and purposes while they may not be according to His will. Sometimes we expect God to give us what we want, when we want, it instead of trusting Him with our life, and what He deems good, just and purposeful.