How Should I Pray To Be Heard By God?
Over the course of the evening, Jesus had said three times, “Ask what you will in my name and it will be done” (John 14:13, John 15:7, and John 15:16). We long with all our hearts to know that truth in our own lives. We pray for peace on earth; yet, we turn on the news and hear of hatred, violence, and terror. We pray for healing of a loved one while we watch them slipping away with some agonizing death—we feel helpless and lost. We pray for prosperity and instead we face sudden financial ruin or the loss of our ability to earn an income instead. Is it some lack of faith on our part that hinders our prayer? Did Jesus mean this to be true only for some and not for me? How can I pray so that God will answer my prayers that way? Perhaps if we look closer to each of these scriptures we can gain a little insight into the “how to have that kind of response to our prayers.”
John 14(NIV): “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” Immediately following, He says keep my commandments and I will send the Comforter to guide you, instruct you and remind you of all that I have said—He will abide in you.
John 15:7 (NIV) If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love”
John 15:16-17 (NIV) You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.17 This is my command: Love each other.”
There does seem to be a thread that runs through all three of these as though some condition of prayer that we must needs understand in order to wield God’s power into our prayers.
3 CHARACTERISTICS OF POWERFUL PRAYER
1. Once more there is the heart of the matter. Are the prayers for self-exaltation or truly are we seeking to bring Glory and honor to God through Jesus. If indeed our hearts are being led by the Holy Spirit, then we will be led also in how we will pray. Indeed, we are told that when we pray the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf; particularly, in those moments when our hearts are so burdened and filled with pain that we don’t know what to pray. (Romans 8:26-27).
2. Abiding in the word of God. Our prayers must be molded by God’s word. Often, I have found my most power filled prayers are when I pray scripture. In my prayer book, I have a list of scriptures which I pray for myself and for family.
3. Covered and fueled by a genuine heart of love. Love that first seeks God and from Him is then fueled with the power to truly love others around us. It begins with His love healing our hearts.
This is a beginning of looking at what Jesus meant by saying that “whatever we ask, we shall receive.” Because learning to truly pray with this kind of power is of such importance; I will continue this on Friday—Christmas day. In this world in which so many things try to steal our hope and our joy; prayer is a key to our clinging fast to joy, hope, and love in our hearts. Yet, even there Satan tries to steal our joy by whispering lies that cause us to lose heart. When, we pray for years and it would appear the prayers go unanswered—we lose hope. We feel perhaps it is our fault, our lack of faith or even we feel perhaps God doesn’t really love us as much as others. Yet, the truth is—God is working out a miraculous “yes” to our prayers that is even greater than we asked for. With each stroke of God’s brush in our lives, He is completing the portrait of beauty He intended for us to be. He has promised to answer our prayers and He is doing just that, even when we don’t see or understand at first. We will see the finished portrait of our lives and our answered prayers one day when we stand before Him. I am certain we will each be amazed in how He answered each prayer—our joy will be overflowing on that day. Then shouldn’t we be filled with that joy now—knowing this truth.
Philippians 1 (NIV): 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
I would love to hear and learn from your stories of prayers: you can contact me or comment below.
The song I chose for you today is: Blessings
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2015
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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