Prayer is the means by which we have been given to communicate to our Father. Every believer needs to pray. Jesus Christ taught us how to. He gave the guidelines to prayer.
As human beings it’s in our nature to adequately prepare for tasks; be it work meetings, social meetings, family gatherings, or a simple dinner. We plan ahead, and this brings a positive outcome. There is a huge difference between the things we prepare for and those we do not. Have you ever wondered why we get some prayers answered, unlike others? Prayer being an important tool that we frequently use, we also have to prepare for it.
Here are some insights in preparation for prayer:-
Prayer requires one to be clear-minded.
The mind is like a bank, storing all of our lives memories whether good or bad. But the person has control over it. He or she knows what to store in there and what to permanently delete. Some things if given the chance can hinder our prayers. How we communicate and respond to God. If things are troubling your mind you have to deal with them first before going to pray. Our conscious inhabits our minds and anything vile brings guilt and interferes with our prayers.
- Prayer should be approached without anger or disputes.
If you are driving around and you notice a valley or a ditch, you will first stop and survey the area to find out whether there is a different route. Otherwise, you will get stuck there. Anger and disputes are like a dark cloud blocking our way. No matter how much we try to push it, it’s just stuck there. First, we have to deal with them for us to experience a breakthrough in prayer. Carrying these weights can cause us to go into prayer and come back the same way. God inhabits in a pure heart.
- We should be aware of our thoughts.
That is why other people prefer to go to certain places or a different environment to pray. An atmosphere where the mind is calm and quiet. Have you ever thought of why Jesus withdrew when he wanted to talk to the Father? He often prayed in solitary places.
- Self-control.
As human beings, we encounter different life events that affect our character towards life, issues, or other people. If not dealt with they might hinder our prayers, hence making them not effective.
Meekness.
The Lord delights in a contrite heart. When Nehemiah learned of the state of the exiles in Judah; the broken walls of Jerusalem and the burnt gates, he humbled himself before God. He prayed and fasted. Because of his humility God granted him favor with the king to send him to rebuild Judah. The king provided army officers, timber to make beams for the gates, and all he needed to make his journey successful. The state of our hearts determines what we get out of our prayer time.
The story of Queen Esther is also a good scenario. When Mordecai learned of Haman’s plan to destroy the jews, he approached Esther for help but she was adamant because she feared to go into the king’s presence without being summoned. But when Mordecai confronted her, she humbled herself and went to seek God in prayer and fasting. This is when God intervened and justice prevailed.
Jesus taught about the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax collector who went at the temple to pray. Luke 18:11-14, The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself. ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men -robbers, evildoers, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said. ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ This man rather than the other went home justified before God.
Jesus’ prayers and petitions were heard because he was in reverent submission to the Father. A meek heart can receive anything from God.
Faith is the opposite of fear. When our minds are clouded with fear anxiety fills our hearts. When we allow anxiety, we fill our minds with doubts. And He who doubts is like a wave tossed here and there, by the wind hence unstable in everything.
Faith is believing in God. Believing in Christ Jesus and his works. When we approach the throne of God in faith, it pleases Him and he answers our prayers.
Faith.
Joshua 10:12-14 Illuminates the power of faith. There was a great battle between the Israelites and the Amorites. Joshua by faith commanded the sun to stand still for them to avenge their enemies. The sun stood still for a whole day and God gave them victory.
Yielded Hearts.
When we pray, we desire to experience God. But when we keep things in our hearts, assuming to be in control we cannot experience Him. Having an attitude of self-dependence means that you do not need God. This attitude if not given away to Christ becomes a great hindrance to any breakthrough in prayer.
A yielded heart surrenders to the will of God not their own. The bible says, we ask but do not receive because we ask for selfish reasons. In certain circumstances, we are eager for miracles to happen that we pray not yielding to God’s will because we want things to happen our way.
A yielded heart can easily encounter God in the place of prayer. Hannah waited for God to give her a son for so long. But when she approached the throne of God with a yielded heart, God opened her womb and gave her many children including Samuel the Prophet.
Jesus Christ always yielded to the will of the Father. When the hour had come, he went to Gethsemane to pray together with his three disciples Peter, James, and John. His soul was overwhelmed with sorrow and he asked them to keep watch with him. Mark 14:36.He went a little further and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. He said,’Abba Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.’. He was overwhelmed but instead surrendered to the Father’s will for our sake.
In prayer, we have to be selfless and yield to God’s will.
Submission to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
As believers, we have a helper, the Spirit of God who also helps us to pray. We may feel the urge to pray but if we are not tuned into the Spirit we may pray a miss. For the Spirit, intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. It is important for every believer when going to pray to submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit because he intercedes for us in accordance with God’s will.
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