Practice at Prayer

 

        Prayer is not a one time thing to get into heaven.  It should become a part of you, like breathing.  Prayer needs to be worked like a muscle.  It will become natural, but it doesn't normally start out that way.  It takes practice to be able to obey God well.

    Throughout the Bible, you will find where God encourages and commands believers to persevere in prayer.  Never give up on prayer.  Pray consistently by praying over everything.  Even if it may feel like something stupid to pray over, pray.  God appreciates our efforts.  

    Pray in spirit because it is a personal relationship between you and God.  It is okay to pray out loud with other people if it is corporate prayer and not get attention prayer.  Stay alert to persevere and see God's intercession for His people.

    The Bible provides many guidelines to help you develop your prayer life.  If you are persistent in your prayer life, then you will receive what you ask for or what you really need.  God only gives out what is good, never evil.  If bad things happen, then it comes from Satan, not God.

    Jesus taught us how to pray without ceasing.  He was always in communion with his father.  He would get up early to pray or spend nights in prayer.  He would give supplications with tears and crying.  His prayers were intense and powerful.  At times he would agonize over prayer.  The pattern that Jesus taught us is to pray to God, exalt Him, submit, seek, confess, depend, and trust God.  

    All that is required to pray is to stay in Jesus' presence.   If you do that, then he is praying with you and you can trust that your prayers will be answered.  That is why you should pray with confidence.  Ask in God's will and it will be answered.  It is just not guaranteed to be answered in the manner you want it to be.  It will be answered in the best way for you.

Matthew 6:7-13, Luke 11:5-10, 18:1-8, John 15:5-8, Ephesians 6:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, & 1 John 5:13-15