5 Tips For Learning How to Pray Effectively
Do you ever feel like your prayers just hit the ceiling and don't go anywhere? Learning how to pray effectively is not as complicated as you might think. It begins with a simple cry for HELP! After that, the following 5 tips can help you gain experience as you learn to pray.
How to pray effectively through understanding the unseen realm
If you watch much TV, you know that the unseen world is full of all kinds of bad stuff, right? No. Not really. There is an unseen world inhabited by God, angels, and some bad guys called demons, but the biggest resident of the supernatural realm is God.Your prayers matter to God. Prayer captures God's heart, and he rules this unseen realm as well as the world you live in. Demons bow to his name, and, although invisible,God passionately loves you and wants to answer your prayers. He will speak to you in ways you might not expect so that your prayers make a difference in bringing his good news to all the world—even your small world.
How to pray effectively through mentoring
You can learn a lot about prayer from other people. Read books and subscribe to a few prayer blogs. Learn from those who have gone before you and left a legacy of prayer for you to follow.Ask someone to mentor you in prayer who won't get freaked out if the Holy Spirit leads you to do something unusual as you pray. It just might impact the spiritual realm I mentioned.
How to pray effectively by being specific
Try to clearly identify your prayer need. Be specific as possible. Journal your concern if it will help make it clearer. A journal also provides a place to record the promises God gives you and the answer to prayer when it arrives.
How to pray effectively by wearing the armor of God
Dress appropriately by wearing the armor of God. Pull out your weapons of spiritual warfare with Scriptures that address your concerns. The promises of God are a good place to start.
How to pray effectively as a watchman, supplicant, and warrior
As a watchman in prayer, stand, and ask the Lord how to pray.Let the Holy Spirit show you what you are facing in the spirit realm and what gap in the wall needs defending. Also look for the promises of God that the Spirit wants to bring to pass.As a supplicant, face the Lord in worship, and then present your prayer request to him.Finally turn and deal with any demonic forces as a warrior in spiritual warfare. Use your sword of the Spirit, and defend yourself with the shield of faith.Once you have sensed that you have won the battle, turn back and face the Lord to praise and thank him for the answer to prayer.Yes, I know there is a lot more to prayer than what I have covered here, but it is always wise to go back to the basics.Thanks for joining me these last three weeks as we have explored intercession, spiritual warfare, and how to pray effectively. (For a much more comprehensive study, pick up my book, Intercessors, God's End-time Vanguard - How to Pray Effectively For the Things That Matter Most.)Next week we'll look at some simple ideas for making a difference in the lives of people you meet every day, SusanNow it's your turn: What has helped you the most in learning how to pray effectively over the years?"Jesus likes it when we share." -Adelaide, age 3: Pass this along to everybody and their brother. OK, maybe not everybody's brother, but you know, all of your friends would be nice.Related posts:A Healthy Response to the Attack of James Holmes During the Showing of The Dark Knight Rises.