WHY SHOULD WE PRAY
by
Rev. Patricia Danker
Perhaps you, or someone you know, is weighted down with a heavy burden, a serious illness, or a financial problem. God’s Power is waiting to set you free. Just wishing will not get things done, but the right kind of prayer will bring the answer.
“If you ask anything in My Name, I will do it” (John 14: 14).
It is God’s will for His people to live in good health have victory over oppression and fear, and have their daily needs supplied. As the body of Christ, we are supposed to have the Joy of the Lord in our hearts. It is the will of God that you prosper and be in health as our soul prospers ( 3 John: 2).
Prayer is an essential part of living daily life. In Matt. 7: 7,8, we are told, "Ask and it will be given to you, seek, and you will find: knock and it will be opened to you." What does this mean? It means there is an invisible Power with us able to work out every problem, anticipate every need, and supply whatever may be required.
Many people's faith is weakened when their prayers are not answered at once. They assume it was not God’s will for them. Some times people do ask for things not in His will for them, but He always answers, yes, no, or wait. If your prayers are not answered it could be that your life is out of the will of God. That’s usually the reason for the constant failure of any prayer.
How do we pray?
In prayer you are entering into the presence of God. When you pray you must be conscious of approaching your Creator, the One who is Worthy of absolute reverence and respect. You must, therefore, enter His presence with a clean heart, all sins confessed that nothing can come between you and God.
In Matthew 6:7, Jesus said, ”But when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathens do. For they think they will be heard for their many words.” Prayer is conversation with God. That means we need to listen more than we speak. Also, we are often quick to ask God for help, but, slow to thank Him for the answer He so graciously gives. We must give God the same thanks we would give a friend for helping us in a time of need.
Jesus said to pray, ”... Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven” (Matthew 6:10). It is important to seek God’s will and His blessing, rather than asking Him to bless our plans. Jesus also said, "If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7).
What should we pray for?
1. Pray to receive the Holy Spirit (Luke.11:10,13).
2 .Pray for those that spitefully use you (Matthew 5:44; Luke23:34).
3. Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send laborers into His harvest (Luke. 10:2).
4. Pray for the brethren (Luke: 22:32).
5. Pray for protection and safety of God's ministers (II Thessalonians 3:1).
6. Pray for those in authority (1Timothy 2:21).
7. Pray that you will be counted worthy to stand before Christ at His Coming (Luke 21:36).
8. Pray for the unity of all believers that the world may believe (John 17:20,21).
9. Pray for sick to be healed (James,5:1; Mark.16: 15,17,18).
Prayer outline
1. Make a declaration of Faith. Thy kingdom come Thy will be done. Not simply willed but done.
2. Four major areas in which to establish His Kingdom.
A. Your self
Be sure you are right before God
Ask Jesus to be seated on the Throne of your life
Abide before the Lord until the course of your day is set and the Spirit of God is functioning in you.
B. Your Family.
Mate, children other family members
C. Your Church
Pastor: Leadership of the church:Faithfulness of the people: The harvest.
D. Nation
City, State, National, Political Leaders, Spiritual Leaders, Revival
Ask the Spirit of God to implement your Priorities and help you to live them out. If your prayers are not being answered , and you do not know why, pray, ”Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me and know my anxieties and see if there is any wicked way in me” ( Psalms 139:23,24).
If you are still having trouble, perhaps visitation from church leadership needs to be made
Do not love anything or anyone more than God. Money, popularity, home, family, can all become idols. To have influence with God, you must always put Him before everybody and everything else.
