1. Pray the way that you know how to pray - When I was a teenager. I laid in bed one night and tried to pray. I apologized to God for only saying the same few words in prayer that it seemed like I always said. As I laid there in the silence, I kept feeling like I needed to get up and read Ephesians 6:18.
I hadn't memorized any scripture. I had no idea what or why that verse was coming to mind. I tried to ignore it but I finally had to get out of bed. I turned the light on and opened my bible. I felt the Holy Spirit over me as I read "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."
God honors the words of your heart. If your words are sincere, it doesn't matter how few you say or how many times you've already said them. He is still listening.
2. Be specific - There have been times that I have wanted or needed something and I didn't want to ask God because I didn't want to "interrupt him" for something petty. -Like "God, help me find my keys".
However, a couple of years ago I was making a set of Resurrection eggs to teach my Sunday school kids about Easter. If you aren't familiar with toddlers, this is an age where they LOVE to hold little things in their hands. I could have printed pictures for each egg but I knew that they would be much more interested in the story, if there was something that they could hold inside each one.
Most of the items were easy to find. However, finding a donkey that small was not. I went to every toy and department store that I could think of. Please God let me find this donkey. I know that there is one. I just need you to show me where it is.
The Saturday before Easter, I was trying not to get discouraged but I still hadn't found it. The kids had a birthday party to attend in Williamsburg. The stores in Williamsburg were my last hope. I tried every one that I could think of before I took the kids to the party. No donkeys were found.
As we left the Birthday party, I was walking to my truck. I stepped off of the sidewalk and over in the shadow by a column, something caught my attention. I turned to look at it and it appeared to be a gray rock. I turned back to the truck but I felt something telling me to go back and look at it. So I did. I picked it up. It was the tiniest donkey that I had ever seen.
It was the donkey from Shrek and must have come from a child's birthday cake. I scoured the parking lot for any small child that may be missing it. When none was found, I teared up a little and sent up thanks. God reminded me again of the same verse from so many years before.
I've had several friends comment that God only answered because it was something that aided in teaching others about him. Yes, the answer(s) that we get to prayer(s) are strongly dependent on what God's will is for our life and maybe even dependent on how we would respond to the answer. -But how many people would've even prayed for a plastic donkey? You can glorify God with any answer he provides and he can answer any prayer.
I've had several friends comment that God only answered because it was something that aided in teaching others about him. Yes, the answer(s) that we get to prayer(s) are strongly dependent on what God's will is for our life and maybe even dependent on how we would respond to the answer. -But how many people would've even prayed for a plastic donkey? You can glorify God with any answer he provides and he can answer any prayer.
Updated 2/21/15 - Check out John 11:4. Jesus was raising Lazarus from the dead and said it was so that God could be glorified through the answer! Now this is only one example but read the other miracles in the bible. When God answers our prayers, it is maybe occasionally out of love or will but mostly it IS in order to give GOD Glory!
3. You cannot bother God by seeking his hand - You SHOULD seek it in everything that you do and in everything that you need. He knows the need. Just like we know that he's there. Sometimes, he just wants us to ask. -To consider him, so that we can learn that he is trustworthy.
4. Seek Ye First (Mat 6:33) - Ask him before we ask all of our friends. Ask him before we find our vice. Ask him before we give up. Ask him before acting in haste or emotion. Seek ye first. Not last or after.
5. Pray together - Matthew 8:20 says: "For where two or three gather in my name, there I will also be." There have been several periods in my life, where I have asked others to pray with me. I usually do this when I am really anxious about something. Whether we physically pray with each other or if I make a request and others pray on their own. -When someone else prays with me about the same thing, I can feel the difference. My anxiety always stops. I attribute it to this verse and the results of a prayer team.
6. Fasting - I've only fasted twice and it should only be done if you feel led to do it. I have received peace and answers during both times that I have fasted. There are many verses that mention fasting and so I won't reference one. You can search on your own. I am certain that I will fast more when I study more about it.
7. POWER in repetition - Some of the simplest prayers that I have prayed, have been "Hallelujah" over and over. Try it. (The next two examples are also a form of repetition.)
8. Write it down if you need to - I've been terribly uncomfortable praying out loud. I am mostly embarrassed when I draw complete blanks while I have every one's attention. However, I told God that I'd accept every opportunity to pray out loud until I could get past that. So, I found myself writing prayers ahead of time (so that I wouldn't forget my words).
I have even discreetly read from the paper when the opportunity presented itself. It might sound corny and I don't do it anymore but it got me practicing something out side of my comfort zone. Again, God sees your heart and honors what you are trying to do, if it is truly for him.
9. He can give you the words - Last fall a friend and I were talking about prayer. She had heard a statement about how "he will give you the words to pray." I didn't really have any experience with that. I actually thought it was strange statement. -Most likely because I couldn't understand the point of praying, if he was going to tell me what to say.
However, there have been some occasions since that time that I would find myself rehearsing prayers and thoughts, until I got them in a certain order. -Particularly, before opportunities where I would be praying out loud. When the opportunity presented itself, I would verbalize the words that I had been meditating on.
I thought that this was my updated method of practicing. Instead of writing thoughts, I thought I was just memorizing and order of words. However, when those situations have occurred, I have had a big response to those prayers. Other people have felt the spirit while I prayed. I believe now that the spirit does give you the words to pray in certain situations. -Especially, for the benefit of someone else. (I will be studying more about this one too).
Updated 2/21/15 - See also in John 11:41-42 Jesus Thanked God in front of others and he says that he does it for the listeners benefit. Stop to consider what it's like when you hear someone talking to or about someone that they don't know verses when they talk to or about someone that they do know. How much more of an impact do you think that would have for someone without faith to hear us talk to a God that we know; sharing knowledge or confidence about what we trust in him? It gets our attention doesn't it? Our prayers out loud with others can totally be for the listeners benefit!
8. Write it down if you need to - I've been terribly uncomfortable praying out loud. I am mostly embarrassed when I draw complete blanks while I have every one's attention. However, I told God that I'd accept every opportunity to pray out loud until I could get past that. So, I found myself writing prayers ahead of time (so that I wouldn't forget my words).
I have even discreetly read from the paper when the opportunity presented itself. It might sound corny and I don't do it anymore but it got me practicing something out side of my comfort zone. Again, God sees your heart and honors what you are trying to do, if it is truly for him.
9. He can give you the words - Last fall a friend and I were talking about prayer. She had heard a statement about how "he will give you the words to pray." I didn't really have any experience with that. I actually thought it was strange statement. -Most likely because I couldn't understand the point of praying, if he was going to tell me what to say.
However, there have been some occasions since that time that I would find myself rehearsing prayers and thoughts, until I got them in a certain order. -Particularly, before opportunities where I would be praying out loud. When the opportunity presented itself, I would verbalize the words that I had been meditating on.
I thought that this was my updated method of practicing. Instead of writing thoughts, I thought I was just memorizing and order of words. However, when those situations have occurred, I have had a big response to those prayers. Other people have felt the spirit while I prayed. I believe now that the spirit does give you the words to pray in certain situations. -Especially, for the benefit of someone else. (I will be studying more about this one too).
Updated 2/21/15 - See also in John 11:41-42 Jesus Thanked God in front of others and he says that he does it for the listeners benefit. Stop to consider what it's like when you hear someone talking to or about someone that they don't know verses when they talk to or about someone that they do know. How much more of an impact do you think that would have for someone without faith to hear us talk to a God that we know; sharing knowledge or confidence about what we trust in him? It gets our attention doesn't it? Our prayers out loud with others can totally be for the listeners benefit!
10. Confession/Admission - Humble yourself and say what's really on your heart. There is power in admitting not only your sin but your weakness. You are recognizing that you have a need and that God really is bigger than you are.
11. Journal - Record your thoughts but also record your answers in a prayer journal. You will be surprised how much more visible it is that God is with you and that he does reply. This whole blog is my record. This is my journal so that I can easily see the evidence of his hand in my life. He is with me. He is with you too.
12. Less worry - This is not the command to "worry less". This is the byproduct "less worry". Once I started writing about my prayers, it started a cycle; I started listening more, which led to praying more, which led to thinking about prayer more and then back to doing it more. Somehow in doing that, I've started worrying less. I am learning to be peaceful. ...It's the darnedest thing. ;)
13. You can improve your prayer life - Get a study. Practice, practice, practice.
14. God listens to the prayers of the righteous - I seriously believe that this is not about believing in God. This is about being obedient to God. If you believe and if you are obedient (or are trying your best to be) then it makes all the difference in your prayer life. See John 9:31, Psalms 34:17, 1 Peter 3:12.
15. Thankfulness - See his hand in your blessings and answers and remember to thank him.
16. Exalt him - One of the best things that I've learned about praying is that "Thanking God is still focused on self and what he has done for you." Thankfulness is important; but trying to pray without asking for anything and without thanking him for anything, is really hard. -At first. Try to pray to him about how awesome he is. How powerful he is. How you want to know him or feel his presence. Exalt him.
17. Include scripture - I have started doing this the most. Depending on what I will be praying about, I will look up scripture and I will reference it in my prayers. "Your word says this..." or "Psalms says this..." and I am seeing such a significant difference in my prayer. Not only that; but in saying scripture more frequently, the memorization comes more easily. There are a lot of studies on scripture and prayer or "praying God's word". This will be something else that I study more of.
18. Put a little love into it - Do you enjoy listening to someone talking that clearly doesn't mean what they say or that doesn't have any passion for what they are saying? God hears all- but our prayers have to be more powerful when we're having a conversation and not just going with a motion.
Remember to check back. I've got quite a few studies that I will be doing about prayer in the next year or so. I am pretty sure that I will have more notes to add. :D
19. Pray outloud - Check out this video, Mike Donehey on Prayer.
18. Put a little love into it - Do you enjoy listening to someone talking that clearly doesn't mean what they say or that doesn't have any passion for what they are saying? God hears all- but our prayers have to be more powerful when we're having a conversation and not just going with a motion.
Remember to check back. I've got quite a few studies that I will be doing about prayer in the next year or so. I am pretty sure that I will have more notes to add. :D
19. Pray outloud - Check out this video, Mike Donehey on Prayer.
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