This is the thing about prayer.
If I really believed it mattered, I would pray. If I honestly thought it would change things, nothing would be able to keep me from being on my face, back to the sky, before the Most High God. I would pray unceasingly. My prayers would be effective.
The Bible claims prayer is important. "Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain and it did not rain on the land for three years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops." James 5:17-18.
It's important to praise as part of prayer. We see that over and over in the Psalms - glorifying God in the middle of a cry for help.
Acknowledging sin in prayer is important, too. Sin leads to broken relationships, which leads to broken communication. David recognized his broken relationship with the Lord after his sin with Bathsheba (and the accompanying ones!) and he poured his heart out to right that relationship in Psalm 51. And through David's life, we see that forgiveness leads to restored relationships and restored communication. After all, the Savior of the world came from his line!
Abiding in the Lord is what makes the real difference. Elijah knew how to abide in the Lord, as a vine is with the branch. John 15:7 "If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you."
Rightly abiding in the Lord automatically lends itself to not delving into sin, which springs from our own evil desires and ultimately leads to death (James 1).
Rightly abiding in the Lord keeps those channels of communication open, where we know He will hear our fervent requests and our praises to Him.
Rightly abiding in the Lord means we already know what to ask for and we can hear His guidance in those areas.
Believing that it matters is the beginning.
If I really believed it mattered, I would pray. If I honestly thought it would change things, nothing would be able to keep me from being on my face, back to the sky, before the Most High God. I would pray unceasingly. My prayers would be effective.
The Bible claims prayer is important. "Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain and it did not rain on the land for three years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops." James 5:17-18.
It's important to praise as part of prayer. We see that over and over in the Psalms - glorifying God in the middle of a cry for help.
Acknowledging sin in prayer is important, too. Sin leads to broken relationships, which leads to broken communication. David recognized his broken relationship with the Lord after his sin with Bathsheba (and the accompanying ones!) and he poured his heart out to right that relationship in Psalm 51. And through David's life, we see that forgiveness leads to restored relationships and restored communication. After all, the Savior of the world came from his line!
Abiding in the Lord is what makes the real difference. Elijah knew how to abide in the Lord, as a vine is with the branch. John 15:7 "If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you."
Rightly abiding in the Lord automatically lends itself to not delving into sin, which springs from our own evil desires and ultimately leads to death (James 1).
Rightly abiding in the Lord keeps those channels of communication open, where we know He will hear our fervent requests and our praises to Him.
Rightly abiding in the Lord means we already know what to ask for and we can hear His guidance in those areas.
Believing that it matters is the beginning.
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