Learning to Pray
The Christian life is based on relationship. It is rooted in your relationship with God through Jesus His Son. Actually, when a person trusts Jesus Christ to save him or her from the penalty of sin, that person is born into the family of God and becomes an adopted son or daughter with all the privileges belonging to Jesus Himself. You now have a heavenly Father who stands ready and wanting to meet your physical and spiritual needs. Just like anyone of us who are parents, we love to have our children come to us when they need something they can't get for themselves. It provides us with a wonderful opportunity to show our unique love for them! This is also a spiritual reality and one which most of us as believers either don't fully comprehend or take advantage of in our walk with God.
One of the primary relational privileges that we practice as believers is prayer. Prayer is simply the communication of the believer with God It can involve praise, worship, quiet meditation on God, but most of all it involves asking and receiving from a loving Father. Many of us did not have normal, loving relationships with an earthly father so consequently we fail to understand how great our heavenly Father truly is to us.
Jesus said,
You have not because you ask not. (James 4:3)
Yes, it's that simple, but prayer accomplishes so much more than just receiving things from God. It also protects us. Let me explain by pointing out a very familiar verse that we all quote from time to time.
The Lord is near: do not be anxious for anything. (Philippians 4:5-6)
Now that is a command because this is spoken in what is called the imperative voice. In other words, we are commanded by God not to worry or to yield to anxiety. Why? Because the Lord is near to us in our place of need. Of course, if that was all God said, we would be left wondering how not to worry, right? But the next verse supplies the secondary answer without hesitation. Paul said next,
But in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall guard your hearts in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6,7)
Let's be reminded of four plain and simple truths in this statement. First, prayer includes everything you can possibly think! There is nothing you can't bring to God as His child.
Second, did you see that little phrase, "with thanksgiving". This is very important! What right do you have to ask for more if you haven't thanked God for what He is doing now or has already done?
Third, you are to make your requests known to God. This does not mean you are informing God of something He is unaware of before you ask! God will not provide for us if we operate on presumption! He already knows what you need and what your requests will be. When we ask we are admitting our need, God's power to answer, and placing the answer before Him to do what is absolutely best for us.
Finally, God provides a supernatural peace in your heart (mind) both before, during, and beyond His answer to your prayer. Consequently, we can live anxiety free daily! Did you hear that? You can have God's peace everyday if you pray with a grateful heart!
One of the primary relational privileges that we practice as believers is prayer. Prayer is simply the communication of the believer with God It can involve praise, worship, quiet meditation on God, but most of all it involves asking and receiving from a loving Father. Many of us did not have normal, loving relationships with an earthly father so consequently we fail to understand how great our heavenly Father truly is to us.
Jesus said,
You have not because you ask not. (James 4:3)
Yes, it's that simple, but prayer accomplishes so much more than just receiving things from God. It also protects us. Let me explain by pointing out a very familiar verse that we all quote from time to time.
The Lord is near: do not be anxious for anything. (Philippians 4:5-6)
Now that is a command because this is spoken in what is called the imperative voice. In other words, we are commanded by God not to worry or to yield to anxiety. Why? Because the Lord is near to us in our place of need. Of course, if that was all God said, we would be left wondering how not to worry, right? But the next verse supplies the secondary answer without hesitation. Paul said next,
But in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall guard your hearts in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6,7)
Let's be reminded of four plain and simple truths in this statement. First, prayer includes everything you can possibly think! There is nothing you can't bring to God as His child.
Second, did you see that little phrase, "with thanksgiving". This is very important! What right do you have to ask for more if you haven't thanked God for what He is doing now or has already done?
Third, you are to make your requests known to God. This does not mean you are informing God of something He is unaware of before you ask! God will not provide for us if we operate on presumption! He already knows what you need and what your requests will be. When we ask we are admitting our need, God's power to answer, and placing the answer before Him to do what is absolutely best for us.
Finally, God provides a supernatural peace in your heart (mind) both before, during, and beyond His answer to your prayer. Consequently, we can live anxiety free daily! Did you hear that? You can have God's peace everyday if you pray with a grateful heart!
God wants you to come to Him as your Father (in Heaven) and seek your needs from Him by His inexhaustible grace. Go ahead, tell him everything you want to tell Him, ask Him for your needs to be met, and then trust Him. Remember this; your wants are not necessarily your present needs. You may be going through a storm in your life. You may think your need is the storm to end! However, your need may be for the necessary spiritual strength needed to pass through a certain part of the storm you are presently in. .Paul told us in Phil. 4:19 that
"He will supply all your need according to His riches in glory."