Feb 22
Prayer Secrets: Part 1-Prayer Basics
1:1 Kicking the Sacred Cows in Prayer.
A number of definitions for prayer have been raised based on what we think and some of the definitions have resulted in a number of people not praying. Prayer has different facets and trying to put it all the facets in the same box has resulted in many half truths, some of which are mentioned below.
A) Prayer is just communication.
I want to make myself clear that prayer is communication but saying that it is just communication where you talk and then God talks is not the whole truth. This is not entirely true because there are times when you will pray especially a prayer of faith and you will hear nothing from God and that’s why you have to believe you’ve received. Some believers have stopped praying because they don’t hear anything because we have taught them that you talk and then God speaks. It is true that God speaks to me in prayer but in almost all my prayers of faith, I’ve never heard him say, “Now I have heard you”. I don’t want you to base your acceptance of that on my experience. We believe according to the word of God- so let us look at Jesus in John 11.
When Jesus heard of Lazarus sickness, he said this “…sickness is not unto death…” Then when He reached the tomb he said “…Father, I thank thee that thou heardest me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the multitude that standeth around I said it, that they may believe that thou didst send me.” John 11:41-42
Jesus knew that His Father heard him 4 days earlier. This is the secret; you don’t have to hear God saying now I have heard you to verify you have been heard.
1Jn 5:14 And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that if we are asking anything according to His will, He hears us.
1Jn 5:15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have requested from Him.
You know that God heard you when you ask according to His will and His word is His will. So don’t look for voices. God can immediately speak to you when you pray and if He does, fine, otherwise it is still fine. The most important thing is founding your prayer is on the word of God and a sincere heart.
B) Prayer has 3 answers-Yes, No or Wait.
This is a misconception and it is a lie. Now don’t stop reading because you can’t judge me before reading my whole statement, so just go on. If you read the last 2 verses in (A) above, you will realize that the bible says we are confident that if we ask anything according to his will, He hears us. Now let me ask you a question, “When doesn’t He hear us?” When we ask for anything outside his will! You see that is plain enough. So when you pray outside his will, he doesn’t answer No, you are already on that road of NO. So, what is the answer to prayer? It is always yes. This is what Jesus said in John16:23-24. Wait and No as answers to prayer have their place in prayers of consecration and when you inquire of God concerning His will for your life especially when you want to make a move or a decision.
C) When you pray with faith, the answer comes tomorrow.
That is not exactly word per word but some people think that if you pray, the manifestation of your answer in the physical is supposed to appear immediately. Now, I need to make myself clear lest you jump to conclusions. Your answer can come one second or even 10 years after you pray. Incase of emergencies, you need the answer immediately. But other instances, the manifestation of your answer may take some time and you need to hold onto what you have believed and your confession lest you lose your answer.
D) You have to pray All Night for God to Hear You.
I often go for overnights but some people have the notion that people who don’t come for overnights don’t pray. Others think they are the ones upholding their churches, and end up missing the benefit of their praying. Am not encouraging laziness but it may profit you to do a lot of praying and not just waiting for Friday to bundle your week’s prayers together. So pray at all times; at night, all night, mornings, afternoons.
E) You have to pray silently or Loudly.
Whether you pray silently or loudly, God does not get nervous either way though it is important to consider the people around lest you bring attention to yourself. The other thing is that closing your eyes and putting your hands on your chest is not part of prayer. It may help you concentrate but if someone doesn’t do it, they are not backslidden or irreverent in the presence of God.
F) You are supposed to always end Prayers with ‘if it be thy will’
I don’t know where this lie came from that for you to submit to God’s will and pray according to His will; you have to add that statement. Well I know-it came from Satan! Jesus said that in the garden before going to the cross because it was a prayer of dedication and consecration. We will deal with this in Part 2 .
G) Prayer Is Prayer, Sport is Sport. God understands.
It is common to bundle all prayers in one sack, throw them in the sky, get confused and then end them with ‘if it be thy will’ expecting God to understand. I believe sometimes God looks at us and wonders what is wrong with us. God sees your heart but He expects you to have sense and select what you want to say and then say it. If words were not that important, Jesus wouldn’t have said that, ‘With your words are you justified and with your words are you condemned’. So don’t just say stuff like ‘Lord just take half of this burden so that I may bear half’ because it is not good stuff. FOLLOW THE BOOK (the Bible). For you to have the best output, you must manage the supply chain (sorry for my business lingo). Work the system and it will work for you.
SU Bookstore is located on SILVA Arcade opposite YMCA in Wandegeya