It seems like at different times, different subjects of our faith come to the forefront, while others drift into the background. Lately (as in the last 6 months or so), prayer has been on my mind and heart on so many days and in so many ways. I feel entirely inadequate in the prayer department, and although deep down, I know it's great power, I often feel supressed by the lack of direction and answers seen from it. So, what to do...
Pray about it. Yep, that's what I've done. For answers, I randomly ended up with a book from the library on prayer and fasting (completely unintentional, since I thought the book Toxic Relief was on detoxification) and have had numerous conversations with people on the effects of prayer and fasting in their life. We even had a Bible Study where we delved into it, as well as reading in the Bible itself about it.
Then we moved some furniture in our house, and some how a book called Handle With Prayer fell out of somewhere and kept knocking around the house until I picked it up and started to read. It was exactly what I had been needing. It turns out that Greg's folks gave it to him for Christmas in 1993, and he's never even read it (sadly, he admits). So, it's been living somewhere in our house since 2003 when we got married, in yet I've never seen it before. It had to be a God thing.
Like all books (that aren't Scripture themselves), I read through it and took the gems and got rid of the rest. And there were lots of gems to glean. Here's what I took away~
-Prayer can really unveil the hidden parts of life. The parts where we think we're in control, but really we're not. If our prayers line up with Scripture, we can know that God hears and will answer our prayers (the opposite would be selfish, worldly, rebellious prayers where we seek our own way rather than God's).
-Prayer can also be the primary way God wants to talk to us. Not through books, friends, counselors, etc. Wisdom from above is wisdom from Himself.
-God wants us to pray with authority. Not with passiveness, not with skepticism, but with pure hearts, knowing His will (from reading the Bible), with pure motives and with a persistent faithfulness by the consistency of our prayers (not to lose hope or interest if we don't see results). Claim what has already been bought and paid for by Christ on the cross at Calvary.
-Fasting. This is still an area I don't know a lot about yet. I know it works, and I know there are many Scriptures to back up fasting in terms of answers to prayer. I just haven't done it myself, so can't vouch for answers in my own life. Fasting does bring us closer to hearing God's voice (digesting food takes up 60% of our energy each day so when we eliminate that, we can hear much better), and when we hear His voice better, we can know what we are to do more clearly. It is also good for bringing to light sins that we may be unaware of so that we can deal with them and put them away. On a totally physical level, fasting clears our bodies as well so that we can begin anew. The book I mentioned above is a good Biblical resource if you feel this would be something necessary to enhance your prayer life.
-Burden of prayer for others. If we feel this burden, we need to act on it. How can God's will be accomplished if His servants are too busy for Him? We often never know how our prayers affect others, nor how we were sustained through someone else's prayers. What a neat blessing that is! There is also an immense responsibilty for being willing to share a prayer burden. Are we really willing to do what it takes to fulfill His will through prayer? To allow Him to use us to His full potential? Wow, it's a bit overwhelming, isn't it?
-How we should pray. We first must have a right relationship with Him. The Psalmist wrote, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear me" (Psalm 66:18). This means that our prayer also should be for The Lord to reveal any sin in our hearts that we may deal with it and put it away. What freedom that brings in the process. We should also be specific in our prayers. God is willing to meet huge requests, as well as tiny ones. Don't be afraid to tell your Father everything. Don't doubt whether He cares or not. He does! Evaluate your motives. All of our life's prayers and directions should glorify our Father in heaven. Give Him glory in your requests and give Him glory in His answers.
-Why prayers go unanswered. Usually it's a yes, no or wait. Are we willing to take those answers? Other times, there are unresolved issues/sins that we have not dealt with. (1 Peter 3:1-7) If our relationships aren't right with friends and families, how can they be right with God? (As much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Romans 12:8). Sometimes we are stingy with our prayers also. We may be scared to pray for what we really need/want. Just as God has promised to meet all of our needs, we can pray confidently that He will do so in our best interest. God wants to cleanse us of all impurities, hurts and disappointments, so let's let Him. Late obedience is disobedience. If we know what we are to do, in yet fail to do it, it is one and the same (think of raising kids and how often this happens).
-How to pray in God's will. This is a common question, but has pretty clear answers. By reading the Bible, we can know what His will is. If we are praying for the saving of someone's soul, we do not need to add "if it be Thy will". We know it's His will that all would be saved (Luke 19:10, John 3:16, 2 Pet 3:9). Sometimes we aren't sure of God's will, so we put out a fleece (as Gideon did). Sometimes we may need this for reassurance that God is hearing us, but most often it is a lack of faith in trusting God is who He says He is. Praying for wisdom over a certain situation would be a better way to go, rather than making bargains with God to see if He'll do what you want Him to do.
-Ask God for a specific Scripture for whatever you're dealing with that you can meditate on while you're in a season of prayer about a specific issue. This is a tangible way we can know God's will as well as reaffirm His presence. The more we saturate our minds with His Word, the more we can know His will over our lives. He also knows our hearts and often when we don't know what or how to pray, He can pray for us (or those others who have a burden of prayer for us).
-Don't be afraid to ask for prayers from others. For specific prayers (you don't have to get into details, but make them specific enough that the people know in what direction they are to be praying). And don't be afraid to ask others how you can pray for them. It's kind of awkward at first, but turns into such a blessing after a while. This is how true Godly friendships form- through prayer together, through accountability, through vulnerability, through waging life's battles together and coming out victorious against Satan and his devices.
Anything to add? I know there's still plenty to learn!
Philippians 4:6 ...but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
