I don’t know about you, but I’ve learned a lot about praying over this last few weeks. The Bible tells us prayer is many things and those things all focus on a relationship with God. I don’t know about you, but it’s been extremely calming to know exactly what God’s word says prayer is. I think my prayer life is transforming. Have you found this to be true as we’ve looked at all prayer is?

Today, we’re going to see what the Bible has to say about how to pray.

First and foremost, when we pray, we need to remember to whom we are speaking. God deserves the utmost respect and reverence. “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed and were created.” Revelation 4:11

Our prayer needs to be focused on God and giving him the glory and taking in His glory. “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.” Matthew 6:9.

When we make God our focus and we give Him our utmost respect, we are praying to set our vision on heaven. This allows us to pursue God’s will and rule for our lives and the world. ”Your kingdom come Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10

As we pray, we more often than not, ask God for many things, thank Him for things already in place and for things we want to happen. As we do these things, we need to be sure our motives are pure, right motives.  “Instead, you should be saying, “If it is what the Lord wants, we will live and do this or that.” James 4:15

As we talk to God, we are sharing our most inner thoughts, dreams, and desires. It is in these things that we need to be sincere in our prayers. “Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ, we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.” 2 Corinthians 2:17

It is also important that we are persistent in our prayers. We can’t wear God down. He never tires of us. NEVER. He loves us and wants to bless us. It’s okay to pray for something more than once and over and over again. The answer may not always be what we’re expecting, but he will answer. “Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. “There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’ “For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge said; now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? “I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:1-8

Prayer has less to do with Biblical restrictions and more to do with the limitations we place on them. ASK, ASK, ASK!! The answer might be NO, but it might also be YES! “You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it so that the Son can bring glory to the Father.” John 14:13

Praying for others is a form of love! When we pray for others, Jesus’ love flows through us as we love others enough to pray for them. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7

Finally, there are times when we just don’t know what to pray and the words just won’t come. When we don’t have the words, FAITH, through the Holy Spirit, allows God to know what we can’t say. It’s okay to say, God, I just don’t know what to pray. It hurts too much. It’s too difficult. I’m too sad. I just can’t.“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27

Friends, prayer is a relationship with the One who created us. He wants to know us. He longs to talk with us. Not only did He leave his word as guidance about what prayer is, but he covered the how to’s too! NOW THAT’S LOVE!!!

BLESSINGS!