Prayer, From Mom, Part 2

Prayer is one of the greatest privileges and pleasures we can have in our relationship with the Lord.  Imagine, we have a friend, a confidant, a defender, a champion, a listener, a Father, a Savior who is there whenever we need to talk to Him.  He is for us and not against us.  Part two of Mom's entry on prayer gives us some ideas on prayers that please our Father. 

Prayer for boldness.  Remain alert.  Prayer in the Spirit, with all supplication. 
Ephesians 6:18-19  Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.  And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.

Rejoice in answered prayer.  Psalm 28:6-7  Praise the Lord!  For he has heard my cry for mercy.
The Lord is my strength and shield.  I trust him with all my heart.  He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.   I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

Seek God's instruction.  Psalm 32:8  I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

Ask God to examine you and show you your heart.  Psalm 139:23  Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

Pray a personal prayer of commitment to our God. Based on 2 Peter 1:5-7  "I will make every effort to add to my faith goodness, and to goodness, knowledge and to knowledge, self control and to self control, perseverance, and to perseverance, godliness, and to godliness, brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness, love."

Pray for guidance every day.  Jesus told us in Luke 11:9 "And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for.  Keep on seeking, and you will find.  Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you."  Certain phrases like, "In Jesus' Name" or "if it is Your will" are not meant to mislead us into thinking they are going to get us what we want.   Keep it in perspective, the answers to our prayers are in God's plans, and His hands.  Remember we have the responsibility to live HIS way. 

From me.

Praying from God's Word is pleasing to the Lord.  Praying in faith that God's answers, even when they don't line up with our will, is also pleasing to the Lord.  We must remember that we don't always know best.  That is one of the biggest "struggle" areas for me.  Something my Pastor said on Sunday really resonated with me and I believe it goes along with this perfectly.  "Jesus always loves and Jesus always reigns."  We must trust that when we pray, God's heart is love, and His answers are right for us.  He reigns.  All of His ways are perfect.   Hebrews 11:6  And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

Father, may Your Name be kept holy.  May Your kingdom come soon.  Give us each day the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.  And don't let us yield to temptation.  Amen.  (Luke 11:2-4)  

Look up Scriptures to pray over Your life.  Trust God to do what is best for you.  Ask Him to help you let go of your "right answers" and seek His best answers.