A method of prayer

Prayer is communication with God and there is really no particular recipe to It.  It is the same way you would talk to your parents. We all have access to God through prayers but sin is an ocean and separates us from the Almight. Jesus is the mediator that grants us access to him.

Prayer is a  two way communication with God.  Remember to be still and  listen to what  God has to say.

God communicates to us in our language, so no need to change your voice trying to be proper.

In order to reach God through our prayers, we have to remove this ocean. The only way of doing this is by confession (1John 1:9). Jesus' blood on the cross washed our sins away thus the blood of Christ is a cleanser of sins.

The question is, how should we pray? 

This question came from one of my readers who was honest enough to ask me. Thank you and sorry that I assumed everyone knows how to pray.

God later put in my heart to explain to my readers this helpful guide line on how to pray. I understand some people know already but there are others who need to hear this.

There are other ways of praying, this is just one  method. We pray according to the situation.

Most people struggle with prayers especially if you are a new believer. The good news is, Jesus gave us a model to follow. "The Lord's Prayer". Please read (Matthew 6:5-15) Also, he was a model to his disciples (and us) Jesus always went away in private to pray to the Father. This means putting away the distractions of life and focusing on God. I'm not disregarding the need to pray in public. Prayer can be just a word like  " thanks ", "help", " Jesus" etc

Starting your morning with prayer is preferable to me. This is before the  craziness of day begins.  Personally, this is best because my kids are all asleep and I can create the time not only to pray but to also listen to God. It is important to have a specific place and time each day for prayer. Our Heavenly Father is a God of order and will meet with us right where we are.

Also, prayer is constant communication with the Father. The morning prayer is just a starter. We are commanded to be alert and pray always. A prayer can be is simple as saying " help me Jesus",  or just calling the name Jesus. There is power in the name of Jesus.

This acronym A.C.T.S is a helpful way to go about it and is what I was taught to use. This helps us step by step in our prayer pattern.

Adoration of God is very important because, we hallow at him giving him the praises. He is the God of the universe and there is non like him " Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. (Deuteronomy 4:39 NIV) " 

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. (‭Psalm‬ ‭100‬:‭4-5‬ NIV)

He is Holy, holy, holy, " And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” (Isaiah 6:3 NIV)" he is all powerful, all knowing, ever faithful, omnipotent, omnipresent. 

God is the great I AM," God said to Moses, “ I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘ I am has sent me to you.’ ” (Exodus 3:14 NIV)", his kingdom shall last forever, he is the beginning and the end, he is all loving. 

God is not man. "God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? (Numbers 23:19 NIV)."The list can go on and on of his attributes. By doing this, we are worshiping him  through acknowledgment and adoration.

"Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; (Psalm 95:6 NIV)."

Confession closes the ocean between us and God. We can't ask God for anything if we have sin in us." But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. (Isaiah 59:2 NIV)."

God is so loving that he gave his only son to die for our sins." This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (Matthew 26:28 NIV)."

 If you can't think of any sins, let God point out your sins for you. He knows where you have gone wrong and will surely make you know. " Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23, 24 NIV)." 

Ask him to fill you with his Holy Spirit here on earth. His spirit is what we have as our help through our daily struggles. Let the Holy Spirit lead your every step of the way. "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14:26 NIV)."

Once you become a born again christain,  you are a moving temple. He never leaves those born of God. His spirit dwells in you.

Thanksgiving: it is very important to thank God for all what he has already blessed us with. Everything we have belongs to God, for he created all things. "The earth is the Lord ’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; (Psalm 24:1 NIV)." Thank him for family, food, life, for every breath, our homes, cars to ride on, you name the rest.

When we start to see our blessings, it makes us more thankful. We don't deserve all the things we already have. We are stewards to God's belongings. The sad thing is most people don't see their blessings.

Thank him because he promised to supply all our needs according to his glorious riches in heaven. 

Thank him because his promises are true and only he is truth. Anything we asked in his name is already ours, if it aligns with his will for us.

Thank him for your salvation daily. Praising him with gratitude is a very powerful tool in prayer.

Supplication is time to make our request and the request of others to God. By this, we acknowledge that he is the sustainer and provider of our needs. This is time to pour out our hearts to him. Tell him all the things that make you anxious, I mean everything even the things you can not say in public. He knows already what is in our hearts but he wants us to come before him in submission and humility." Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4 NIV)."

Always remember that whatever you ask for should be according to his will. " Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2 NIV)." God gives us what we need and not our wants. Becarefull what you ask from God.

Leave time to listen after prayers. We can't  just talk without keeping calm and quiet to listen to what God has to say to us. God whispers and speaks to our  hearts. " And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power?” (Job 26:14 NIV)." 

We have to be attentive and practice to hear his voice."My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27 NIV)."

This pattern is good to start a prayer life with. Please try to take at least 10-20 minutes of your day and communicate with God. Also, remember we are commanded to pray always and on all occasions. To be alert and keep watch. This can be done in silence in the course of the day. It will change your life for good.

Constant meditation on the word of God is prayer. You have to know the word. There is no better way of knowing it than daily meditations. 

Hidden treasures of a success life are in the word. It is God's active and living word to us. The word of God speaks to every situation in life. It is our weapon against the enemy.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 NIV)