READ:
MATTHEW 6:7-13
Most
Christians who pray spend a lot of time in serious supplications. The bulk of
their praying time is spent asking and commanding. But they wonder why they get
so little result from prayer compared to the time and effort they put in. They
may base their request on the Word of God. They may have great faith to receive
answers. They may even be in right standing with God yet obtain little results.
Do you fall into this category? Have you ever wondered why? You may need to change your prayer pattern. Do you know God knows all the needs confronting you right now even without telling Him? That is why He is the Almighty God. “Be not you therefore like to them; for your Father knows what things you have need of, before you ask Him.” (Matthew 6:8). What the Lord is saying here is that you should emphasize effective asking, and embrace things that will facilitate answers to your prayers. That is why He taught us the ‘Lord’s prayer’ which is a model or prayer pattern, although some people recite and chant it like some mantras or magic words.
From our reading, factors that will guarantee results in prayer are: Having a relationship with God and ensuring it is intact as at the time of going into God’s presence. Isaiah 59:1-2 says sin will be a stumbling block in prayer. The second factor is thanksgiving, praise and adoration. The Psalmist says he will praise God seven times daily because of His righteous judgements (Psalm 119:164). In fact, David knew this secret very well and excelled in praise hence he became the man after God’s heart. Hear him: “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that has horns and hoofs.” (Psalm 69:30-31).
The best time to ask God is when you have entered His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. This is one reason if I have one hour to pray, I spend the first 50 minutes in praising and thanking Him. And when the coast is clear, I use the remaining 10 minutes to mention my requests. Cultivate this pattern today and enter into the realm of answered prayers.
Do you fall into this category? Have you ever wondered why? You may need to change your prayer pattern. Do you know God knows all the needs confronting you right now even without telling Him? That is why He is the Almighty God. “Be not you therefore like to them; for your Father knows what things you have need of, before you ask Him.” (Matthew 6:8). What the Lord is saying here is that you should emphasize effective asking, and embrace things that will facilitate answers to your prayers. That is why He taught us the ‘Lord’s prayer’ which is a model or prayer pattern, although some people recite and chant it like some mantras or magic words.
From our reading, factors that will guarantee results in prayer are: Having a relationship with God and ensuring it is intact as at the time of going into God’s presence. Isaiah 59:1-2 says sin will be a stumbling block in prayer. The second factor is thanksgiving, praise and adoration. The Psalmist says he will praise God seven times daily because of His righteous judgements (Psalm 119:164). In fact, David knew this secret very well and excelled in praise hence he became the man after God’s heart. Hear him: “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that has horns and hoofs.” (Psalm 69:30-31).
The best time to ask God is when you have entered His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. This is one reason if I have one hour to pray, I spend the first 50 minutes in praising and thanking Him. And when the coast is clear, I use the remaining 10 minutes to mention my requests. Cultivate this pattern today and enter into the realm of answered prayers.
MEMORIZE:
MATTHEW 6:8 –Be not you therefore like to them; for your Father knowsw what
things you have need of, before you ask Him.
