Rhemalight

Prayer Secrets: Part 2-Elements of Prayer

Author: Michael J. Sonko

1. Love (emphasis on Forgiveness)

In Jesus, God forgave us. We do not forgive just so that God forgives us. We forgive because God FORGAVE us. (Eph 4:32, Col 3:13)

Forgiveness is an element of prayer- effective prayer.

Love, which is the LAW in which we operate, calls for forgiveness not just because you want God to hear you, but also to help yourself.

Paul in 2Cor 2:7-11 states an important truth;

“When you don’t forgive, the devil will seize that as an advantage and get you into hate and strife and our God is not one of strife” Love and specifically forgiveness is an important element in Prayer

Mark 11:25-26

One person said that not forgiving someone is like taking poison hoping that he/she dies. Many of our prayers are hindered because we are not walking in love and forgiveness is an expression of Love. Love thinks the best of the other, it covers their sin. Any step out of Love into unforgiveness or bitterness etc is sin and this [sin] will affect your fellowship with your father hence your prayers.

Eph 4:32: …forgiving one another, even as God…has forgiven you.

Note 2 things;

1-You forgive because God forgave you

2-You forgive as God forgives. God purposefully decides to forget when he forgives because Love covers a multitude of sins and thinks the best of the other person rejoicing in righteousness and truth. Decide to forgive.

2.Faith and Patience

How did the patriots of old obtain the promises? Heb 6:12-15 and 10:35-36. Listen when it comes to faith and prayer, patience must be present. The bible says Abraham endured and received the promise. How often we cast away our confidence and lose patience. Faith and patience go together. You have to be like Paul who said I believe God that it shall be as He said. Cultivate patience in your faith walk so as to receive those answers.

3. Boldness

Boldness is not arrogance. Never be arrogant in the presence of your heavenly Father. Boldness is defined by Webster as Courage; bravery; intrepidity; spirit; fearlessness and it defines being arrogant as “Assuming; making or having the disposition to make exorbitant claims of rank or estimation; giving one’s self an undue degree of importance”. You don’t go to God with an exaggerated idea of your importance.

This boldness, a freedom from timidity in prayer, is founded on 3 important things. It is the spirit that says I will take what God has promised and will stand on the account of Jesus’ work.

i) The Word of God- 1John 5:14 and Heb 13:5-6

Many a time, we have failed to pray because we don’t know what God thinks about what we want or to one extreme, if He wants us to pray. This is basically due to ignorance of God’s will which is His word. A man/woman who knows what is in the will of his Father will be bold knowing that since the father has provided, it is his and therefore He can ask for it. When you know that God has said it, boldness will come upon you and asking for his help will be easy.

ii) The Blood of Jesus-Heb 10:22

The blood of Jesus, as different from that of Abel, does not speak of judgment but forgiveness. We are able to draw with boldness because through this blood, we have our consciences cleared and can stand before God because we have become the righteousness of God. You are not an unworthy worm of the dust but the forgiven, righteous child of God.

iii) Jesus-Heb 4:14-16 and 1John 2:1

Jesus is our advocate and has been interceding for the whole world for the last 2000+ years. We are children of the Most High God and that is why we need to draw near with a sincere heart. Jesus doesn’t condemn us. He said that in this day, we will ask. So draw near with a bold attitude for you are part of His body and what He has done. He reconciled you back to God.

In conclusion, there are many things to ask for and boldness is one of them. It is scriptural to pray for boldness, so go ahead and ask for it. Eph 3:11-12, Acts 4:31

4. Obedience and Willingness

Isaiah 1:19 says, “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the Land.” What you do before a prayer session is very important. You can’t live just anyhow. When His words abide in you and you obey them and you abide in Him, then when you ask, you can be sure.

1John 3:22-23 ” and whatsoever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments, and practise the things which are pleasing in his sight.

23 And this is his commandment, that we believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and that we love one another, even as he has given us commandment.”

Walk in love and obey his words and then answers shall be guaranteed. Love is the foundation for a successful prayer life.

5. Importunity

This is perseverance. Some translations translate the word as shamelessness. This is a word that is also similar to the word persistence. Often times, it has been taught in a wrong way. This importunity is one of faith not unbelief. I have realized when I first became acquainted with this verse, I thought it meant to go back to God with the same petition again and again. This I later realized was unbelief at its best. If you believe you got it when you prayed, and you know you will have, then why should you go back and ask in a similar manner. When you go back concerning the same issue, unless you know there was an issue you had to settle say acting in love, just thank Him for the answer and remind Him that you expect it.

Our texts are Luke 11 and Luke 18. God does not answer prayer because He is our friend. No! He answers prayer on the basis of faith. I heard this statement recently and it blessed my heart; if God responded to needs, Satan would set those up and God would respond hence making him like a servant of the evil one. He responds to faith. Period!

Going to God with the same request more than once is nothing but unbelief. That is why Jesus said that repetitions don’t guarantee answers. Now, you need to understand that when you pray believing, you will receive what you ask. If you believe you received, why do you repeat the prayer.

Let us look at Luke 18 which most people quote to prove that they have to continue asking and asking until they receive. Let us note a few things to help us understand:

1. This was an unjust judge and you can’t compare God to an unjust judge

2. Jesus said that God avenges His elect speedily.

3. Jesus asks whether He will find faith on Earth.

Listen God expects us to have the importunity of faith and like i said above, we need to be patient but not get in unbelief. One preacher said, “If you ask God for something for seven times, all the six were in unbelief” and another said that when He goes back to God about an issue he raised in prayer, he just reminds God that he expects it and gives thanks. Continuous repeated praying about the same thing won’t get the job done. It is the prayer of faith that will get the job done. Get your act together.

I also believe sometimes we pray quick i.e. we pray before we build our faith to receive. I usually say if something has been in a particular state for some time, i can as well build my faith for sometime than ask in unbelief. Unanswered prayer affects your faith so play the game right.

6. Continuity

You need to maintain a life of prayer not one that is at zero level and goes to 10 on Friday nights. Jesus encouraged the disciples to watch and pray, Paul encouraged us to continue in prayer. Paul said that he prayed in other tongues more than all of the Corinthian church. This meant that He prayed not only at night but every awakening moment.

Remember that we are the righteousness of God in Christ and can draw unto God because of the grace in which we stand. Thank God we have access by faith. Righteousness means right standing with God. Endeavour to live a sin free life because sin affects fellowship with God and subsequently your prayers. (Rom 12:12, Eph 6:18)

Email: admin@rhemalight.com or ssonkom@yahoo.com

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