image by Thittaya Janyamethakul via 123rf
We are privileged that we can pray anytime, anyplace, under any circumstances to El Shaddai, Almighty God. However, having the faith to believe the answer is on the way is a whole different story. When I pray in God’s will and live according to His Word to the best of my understanding, I want to know—without question—my prayers are answered.
Remove the question marks.
Here’s what I’m learning and doing to pray, no doubt prayers. Notice, I used the present progressive tense of the verbs: learn and do, because I’m a work in progress. I’m not proclaiming I’ve found some secret formula to getting prayers answered; nevertheless, I’m excited to share my new approach to prayer.
Fill the Prescription!
A few months ago, I wrote a post called: Put Some WORD on It! In that piece, I made the point that if you got a minor cut, scratch, or bruise—put some hydrogen peroxide on it. If you got a swollen ankle—put some ice on it. But if you got some impossibilities—put some WORD on it. I like to view the Word as the Prescription, outlining all that I can obtain through Christ Jesus.
Example of my prayer:
Prescription: For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Me: BECAUSE YOUR SON SHED HIS BLOOD, and I have accepted Him as my Lord and Savior, I’m in right standing with You.
Prescription: The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (James 5:16b, NIV).
Me: AND SINCE I’ve been made righteous through Christ, my prayers are powerful and effective.
Prescription: Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart (Psalm 37:4).
Me: YOU KNOW—how much I delight myself in You.
- I hunger and thirst after You;
- I can’t stop talking about You;
- I want to please You;
- I love our intimate moments and one-on-one conversations.
Prescription: Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10b).
Me: HOWEVER, IF MY PRAYER isn’t aligned with You, help me accept—Your will.
Prescription: The eyes of the Lord are toward the [uncompromisingly]righteous and His ears are open to their cry (Psalm 34:15, AMP).
Me: THEREFORE, I thank You in advance that You will hear my prayer.
After laying that foundation, I’m ready to present my requests boldly by faith.
BUT WAIT—that’s not all!
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God (Romans 8:26-27).
The Finisher!
I call on the Finisher, the Holy Spirit, to turn my imperfect prayer into a perfect prayer and present it to the Father flawlessly. My faith is in the Father answering the Holy Spirit’s prayers on my behalf.
That’s how I pray, no doubt prayers.
Amen.
© 2020
See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith.