IV. Tell Others You Are Praying for Them (Luke 22:32).
When a young trainee is told that his name was placed before the bosses in a company for the open position, he feels good to know someone took the time to place his name before the men. Nothing is better than knowing a sibling in Christ brings your name before God’s throne in their personal prayers. How do you think Peter felt as Jesus told him that He was praying for him? What about the Philippians (Philippians 1:4) or the brethren at Colosse (Colossians 1:3)? Let specific people know that you have prayed for them. Honestly tell them “I pray for you weekly.” Give them an update on your prayers and ask if there is anything special you can take before the throne of God on their behalf this week.
V. Make Prayer A Conversation Not a Recitation (Matthew 6:7).
The phrase “vain repetitions” is translated “empty words” in the ESV. One version says “do not repeat over and over.” Saying the same words is not wrong (Matthew 26:44) unless the heart is not focused on them. Sometimes prayers are filled with the same phrases and lines. Common phrases are not wrong, but make prayer a conversation, not a time to recite what everyone else says. We would look like a fool if we did this when talking to our friends; let’s not do this with God. Talk to God like He is your Father because He is (Matthew 6:9). Express your needs to Him like you would express them to your mother, doing so reverently. Don’t focus on sentence structures, word definitions, or tone inflections. Pour our your heart like Hannah (1 Samuel 1:15). Formal prayers are good in formal settings, but personal conversations with God open the gates of the heart (Psalm 62:8). “A mother was walking by her daughter’s bedroom door when she heard her daughter reciting the alphabet in a very reverent tone. ‘What are you doing’ asks mum. ‘I’m praying’ comes the reply, but I can’t think of exactly the right words, so I’m just saying all the letters, and God will put them together for me.’”[3] God knows what you will say before the words even come out of your mouth (cf. Matthew 6:8)—so just speak!
VI. Always Start the Day with a Prayer (Psalm 55:17).
John Bunyan observed “He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find Him the rest of the day.” It is always good to begin a day in conversation with God. David told God to expect to hear from him in the morning (Psalm 5:3) and Jesus woke up before it was day to talk to His Father (Mark 1:35). Since God’s mercies are new every morning, offer up a new prayer of thanksgiving every morning. As you awake just a small conversation will do the trick. What can you pray about as you get up in the morning?
Thank God for the new day (Psalm 92:1).
Ask God to be with you as you face temptation (Matthew 6:13).
Praise God for yesterday’s benefits
It is better to begin with prayer than to not begin with prayer. Make the need for prayer in the morning so essential that you could not go without it.
VII. Request Request Request (Philippians 4:6).
Prayer should involve praise, but it should also involve petitions. Thanksgiving should precede requesting but requesting should not be left out. Asking God for help, aid, or wisdom (James 1:5) shows that one trusts in the power of prayer (James 5:16). Asking persistently (Luke 11:5-8; 18:1-8) manifests a heart that leans on the everlasting arms. Asking with faith (Mark 11:24; James 1:6-8) shows God that you mean business. While lust is not a request God will grant (James 4:3), often “ye have not, because ye ask not” (James 4:2). God answers questions, grants searches, and opens knocked doors (Matthew 7:7). What should we ask for in prayer?
For forgiveness of personal sin (Psalm 51:1-4).
For daily necessities (Matthew 6:11).
For the Lord’s will (Matthew 26:39; 1 John 5:14).
No request is too small and no request too big. If God positively grants a request to stop a celestial body (Joshua 10:12-13) and can give a woman a child (1 Samuel 1:17), shall He not do much for us (Matthew 7:11)? John wrote, “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him” (1 John 5:14-15). One little girl prayed: “Dear God, please take care of my daddy and my mommy and my sister and my brother and my doggy and me. Oh, yes, please take care of yourself, God. If anything happens to You, we’re gonna be in big mess.”
The last section of this series will be published on October 14th, 2024
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