Pray In This Way

Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.  Luke 18:1 NIV

Yes! Thank You Lord! This verse is a reminder that no matter what, we have to keep praying. I can think back on a time when I was deeply worried about a person, I prayed and finally decided I had done enough, so I simply stopped praying about them.

Yet God tells us to Keep praying. 

And sure enough Holy Spirit made it quite clear to continue to pray about the person. And his family. I prayed. A few months later I ran into them at a local store and they had a new steady job, an apartment, a big change from the 3 months prior. Praise be to God! 

It will turn around. I am here to tell you things will and can turn around. God will turn it around in His time, in His will. 

Philippians 1:18-19 NET What is the result? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is being proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

Continue to pray about the situation one of your friends is facing no matter how hard it looks, continue to pray for your child’s salvation, pray about the next step you should take, and then praise God thank Him for the gift of prayer. 

Even if it looks like the odds are stacked against you, yield the outcome to Jesus, in faith, remembering His sacrifice at the Cross. When we have given our hearts and lives over to Jesus Christ, we receive salvation by faith in Him. This is not our forever home. The struggles are not always going to be this way. 

For us Prayer is probably the most important habit we cultivate throughout our life. 

Pray with declarations, what we are believing from God no matter how it looks right now. In the name of Jesus Christ pray. whatever we are expecting to turn around put the words into His HANDS. Declare dead situations have now risen. Know death and life are in the power of the tongue. Begin to read and recite scriptures that relate to your changing situations daily.

True prayer is an honest encounter with our living God. We’re not performing—for Him or anyone else. We are talking . . . and listening... having a conversation WITH God. 

Sit in silence for several minutes, focusing on God, not on you. Yes, it’s hard to be quiet, but this is not about how good we are at meditation. We are not trying to succeed at devotionals. We are  opening our hearts to God who is waiting and available every single time. 

And through prayer, God is continuing His good work in us, growing us, transforming us, correcting and forgiving, helping us conform to the image of Jesus. Never give up. 

Galatians 6:9 NET So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up.

God instructs us to praise Him for things we have been praying for. He said, “No longer pray for these petitions as if it has not happened, but begin to praise as if it has already happened!”  Praise Him when the day is fantastic! And Praise Him in the valleys, those experiences in life that appear dark. 

Acts 16:25-26 NET About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the rest of the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly a great earthquake occurred, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. Immediately all the doors flew open, and the bonds of all the prisoners came loose.

This scripture speaks of Apostle Paul and Silas who were put into jail for merely performing the great works on behalf of God. The act of being placed in jail represents the trials and tribulations we too face today. A teaching in the scriptures informs us they did not view their situation as hopeless, but they praised God for what He was GOING to do. They prayed and praised God with such an awesome power that all the prisoners throughout the jail heard their praise! Can you imagine ?!?

With worship filled prayer Jesus points us toward the pathway of praise-filled prayer and when He says; 

1. Our Father in heaven (we thank You for that relationship You have given us through Your Son, our Saviour), 

2. Hallowed be Your name (for You are holy, and we worship You and revel in the beauty of Your completeness and excellence), 

3. Your Kingdom come (for there is no action of human working that can bring about Your peace, power, and blessing); 

4. Your will be done (because we bow in full submission to declare, as did Jesus Christ, “Not My will but Yours be done”), 

5. On earth as it is in heaven (for there is no question God’s will is exercised where His throne is established). 

Lets seek to be persistent with our prayers until we get face to face with the Lord Himself. Don’t close your ears to Holy Spirit. When Jesus asks what we want Him to do for us about the incredible problem that is confronting us, remember that He doesn’t work in the way of the world, but in His way. 

God will do it if we will ask Him. But we have to come to the point of believing Him to be almighty. We find faith by not only believing what Jesus says, but, even more, by trusting Jesus Christ Himself. Once we meet Jesus, the impossible things He does in our lives become as natural as breathing.