Prayer is a personal conversation directed to God in casual, informal speech that acknowledges our total dependence on Him for resources and guidance for ourselves and others. It is a channel through which God’s will (which is His Word) is brought to earth. The seven truths below will you help to know how not to pray for your needs to be met. HOW-TO TIP: Before you pray, check your motives against this list and make the adjustment!
James 4:2b-3 (NIV)
“...You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”
1. Prayer is not begging, pleading, convincing or twisting God’s arm.
2. Prayer is not moving God to your point of view
3. Prayer is not expecting God to carry out your decisions
4. Prayer is not an activity limited to a segment of our lives or a scheduled event in our day.
(God won’t fit into our box)
5. Prayer is not giving God instructions to follow.
6. Prayer is not a recitation (a fixed form of words repeated without thought)
7. Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance but laying hold of God’s willingness.
(Quote by Martin Luther)
Resources:
Power Outage: The Power Behind the Body of Christ is Prayer
