THE SECRET OF PRAYER!
Mood:  happy
Topic: PRAYER

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Like many people, I used to struggle in my prayer life. I would feel guilty,
condemn myself and even evade the topic of prayer with other saints because I
felt like a failure. I thought that my good work, faithful church attendance and
tithing would offset the fact that my prayer life wasn't what it should be
for someone like me who professed an undying faith in Jesus. I would try to have
devotions before I'd pray and fall asleep while reading a scripture. I'd
engage in corporate prayer at church, but that didn't satisfy the intimacy I
needed with the Lord that comes through personal, private prayer.

I know that prayer is one of three powerful tools we have as believers. The
other two tools of fasting and studying the word are only complemented by having
a strong, consistent prayer life. The bible says in the book of James 5:16 it
states "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth
much." This declaration that James makes reminds us that God hears and
responds to prayer. He loves when we seek Him, worship Him and acknowledge Him.
He loves to bless us! He wants us to know Him in a personal way. Prayer offers
us that. Prayer gives us a calming peace and security that only the Father can
provide for us. This peace that surpasses all understanding that is mentioned in
Phillipans 4:7 is given to us freely by a God who loves us unconditionally.

I wanted to seek God about my prayer life and in order to do so I felt I had to
make some declarations. The first one I made was that my prayer life needed an
overhaul. The second was that I needed to repent to God for avoiding prayer and
making excuses for not praying consistently. Next I wanted to learn how to pray
so that my prayers were more effective.

I needed to re-examine the scripture in James 5:16. It does state that the
prayers of the righteous carry weight with the Lord, however it also states that
we must "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that
ye may be healed." I didn't realize it at the time, but I needed to be
honest with fellow believers that I was struggling with finding quality time to
cultivate my prayer life. I needed their support, their prayers and their love
to help me get through the dry season I was experiencing in my prayer life. The
times of pretending, hiding and borderline lying about how much time I was
spending with God needed to stop. Immediately.

Next I wanted God to teach me how to pray. I searched the word and took a new
look at the Lord's prayer. In Matthew 6:9 Jesus tells the disciples how NOT
to pray. He talked in the previous verses about "vain repetitions". In
other words, I shouldn't try to impress God with selfish, distant prayers. I
needed to be honest with God about whatever I needed at that moment. The next
thing God revealed to me was that I needed to have conversations with the Lord,
not feel like prayer is a forced, painful ritual that requires me to put in
time. When I thought of prayer this way, as a duty it created a bondage for me
and therefore I'd avoid it. When I re-read the Lord's prayer I learned
to talk to God which is what praying really is. The prayer teaches me to simply
acknowledge God by telling Him his name is "hallowed", sacred and
holy. It tells me to ask God to make His will known in my life (thy kingdom come
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven). It reminds me to ask God for !
 provision or daily bread, to forgive me for anything I've done amiss and
to have mercy on people that sin against me. This passage told me to always ask
God to keep temptations from me and keep me delivered from evil. Then the
closing acknowledges His sovereign power.

God used this prayer to give me a revelation. My spirit was illuminated after
reading this passage prayerfully. Why I never saw this before I can't answer
but I will never forget the day I'd received this understanding concerning
prayer. The Lord showed me that I was simply making too much of a production of
prayer. When I used to do this, it would make praying a burdensome task and
I'd feel bondage instead of freedom. The Lord showed me that praying
isn't a prison. It's a way to simply talk to my best friend~Jesus! I
didn't have to have a structured prayer time every day. I could pray to the
Father ANYTIME of day, any day of the week. Tradition taught me to set aside a
prayer time daily that may include a set time to begin and end. The Lord showed
me that I could pray in my car, in class, at work or even when preparing dinner
for my family. I could pray when washing dishes or while I'm cleaning the
bathroom. I learned that my prayers to God don't have to have formality
they just need to be sincere.

I learned that God loves when we talk to Him. He loves when we are honest with
Him and tell Him our vulnerabilities so He can fix what ails us. He wants us to
cast all of our cares on Him. I'm so glad I sought the Lord about prayer
because it freed me from the traditions of men that I was taught concerning
prayer. Yes I could still have a set time daily to meet the Lord in prayer if I
choose to but if I miss that time, I could still talk to the Father and He will
honor my prayer.

The reason why I love the Lord so much is because when we struggle with issues,
He speaks the answers. He loves us too much to allow us to feel any bondage
because whom Jesus set free is free indeed. Talk to the Father where ever you
are. Have an honest conversation with the Lord. Make Him your best friend. That
is the secret of prayer…..

Be encouraged child of the most high God~!

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copyright 2008~11/20/08

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"Win 'em for Jesus! A soul at a time!"