By Doreen Lifard
I know there are a number of people struggling
concerning the issue of prayers! I am happy that today we get to talk about
this. I just want to share some experiences both mine and others' together with
the word of God so as to get to help each other concerning praying.
Many Christians are having trouble
with praying especially long sessions of prayers. At least it is better in a
congregation, but for a single person doing personal prayers, it is a big
struggle. I have met a number of people saying that they are not really able to
pray. Not only hearing from people but also I have been there too! I'm not
saying that I am the best prayer worrier in the world but I am improving and I
thank God for that. I just want to share some staff with you and if you have
been almost not praying or whatever level you are, you get to move to the next
level and that is what is important.
2.Pray. As so they say, practice makes
perfect, today lets go with this, do not long for perfection but long for
continual improvement. Perfection might take too long but continual improvement
will someday lead you there. Make it this way, practice makes it better. When
you do something and experience some changes and improvements, gives you more
energy to move on. Enjoy every little improvement you get and desire to do
more. To be able to pray, you have to pray. Do not wait for the time when you have learnt all the
prayer techniques but use every technique you know along with continue studying
more and more from the word of God!
3. Make use of the Lord's prayer to guide you
when you pray.The disciples asked Jesus to teach them
how to pray and Jesus taught them a prayer, you can get this from the
gospel of Mathew 6:9-13. It is a guidance that Jesus gave us to use
as we pray. Make it personal for example you can say"My Father in
heaven, hallowed be your name (you can take sometime praising the name of
God, magnifying him), your kingdom come(speak it out where exactly you
want the kingdom of God to be established in school, your home, your
friend's place), your will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Specify
the exact place you want the will of God to be done, in your
family,studies). Give us today our daily bread (What exactly should God
give you). Forgive us our debts(There are something you may remember that
you did against God, ask him to forgive you and even those you do not
remember), as we also have forgiven our debtors (You may find it hard to
forgive others, ask God to help you in that as if you will not forgive
others it means you should not be forgiven). And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (There are
some temptations that God will not let you go through if you
pray so ask God to help you in that). This very same prayer can be used to
pray for others as well.
4. Pray anywhere. Many people think that they are busy and can not find time to
settle down and pray. I am advising you to use each and every moment you get.
You may be walking or in a bus, that time can also be used very well in prayer.
I once heard a song saying 'Have you ever talked to God..., you can whisper in
your room, you don't have to say it loud, God answers prayers." It does
not matter where you are, God can hear you. The problem is that, many people
want to put God in their schedule instead of being with God all the time. It is
important to have a quiet dedicated time with God but if you have not been able
to do that, you may start with this technique, it has helped
me personally. Put your mind in a prayerful attitude and as you grow
you will be able to pray even more. Do not just give God an hour and assume
that the rest of the hours you can just go your ways, long to be in God's
presence all the time and doing so, God can use you in prayer any time, it is
not bad to have a timetable for prayer but do not restrain the Holy Spirit.
5. Make use of
opportunities to pray. For example, you
might hear that there is going to be a congregation for prayers maybe praying
for the church or the nation or any other thing right before God, go pray.
Having the desire to pray will trigger God to do something about it. The truth
is, God is looking for people who can pray and release His power to intervene
in different situation.
- Pray using the word of God. This
is another important thing. When you pray, remember that God can not give
you something that is not according to His word or let's say against His
word. So make sure your prayer is in the line with the word of God. The
bible says in book of Jeremiah 1:12 "....for I am watching to see that my word is
fulfilled." There are so many promises in the word
of God. Read and pray according to what God says to you through His word
and surely you will see the results.
- Keep the records of your testimonies. This is something that will push up your faith, the more you pray and see results, the more you grow in faith. God answers prayers it's just that most of the times we forget what God did for us because we do not keep records. Or it happens sometimes that God answered your prayers and you take it simple. Let us appreciate what God does and praise Him!
I have
shared these with you because I know that they will give some help, I have
experienced these and God has been faithful to take me steps further and I
still trust God for more. We are supposed to move from glory to glory. Do not
get settled where you are but seek to go another step forward. However small
the step might be, it is worth it rather than staying at the very same level
for so long. Remember, in any situation, do not complain but instead, go before
God and pray.
God bless
you so much in Jesus' name!
MORE AT: http://lifarddoreen.blogspot.com/