Are you joining us on our 21 day prayer and fasting journey? If you are, let me give you a few quick suggestions on how to pray effectively...
• Pray in Jesus' Name
Effective prayer is focused on and centered in Jesus. When it comes to praying, Jesus himself told us to come to the Father in his name. "I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name." John 16:23 God hears and responds to prayers that are lifted up in the name of Jesus.
• Pray God's Will
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 1 John 5:14 When we pray according to God's expressed will, we can expect God to respond.
• Pray God's Word
This links to the previous point. The best place to go to understand God's will is God's word. So when we pray God's word we're on target in praying according to God's will. "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you." John 15:7 The more we stay in God's word, the more his word stays in us and the more we pray in line with his word.
• Pray With Faith
Jesus said that when we pray faith is an essential element. "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:22
• DON'T GIVE UP!!
In one of Jesus' most famous teachings on prayer (Luke 11:5-8) he teaches us not to give up until we get an answer. He ends the story with one of his most famous sayings: "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Luke 11:9 In the original language of the New Testament this would have sounded more like this: "Ask, and ask, and ask...seek and seek and seek...knock and knock and knock..." In other words, KEEP PRAYING!
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