HOW NOT TO PRAY

Wait a minute; you thought I was going to give you some pointers on how to pray. Yes I am. But first lets talk about what we don’t need to do. As always let’s see what the Bible has to say about it.

Matthew 6:5-15 (King James Version
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.} .
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Do your praying in private, it is between you and God. {We are not speaking here of prayer meetings, or prayer at church. What the Bible is speaking of are people who pray for attention.}
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. The Bible is speaking here of the same prayer over and over again. Do you not believe that God hears you, that you need to repeat word for word the same thing to Him.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. God is a just and righteous God, He will forgive you only as much as you forgive others
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. .

What you are unable to do, ask and He will do it for you. If you find it hard to forgive someone, then be honest with God. An example would be: Lord I know that I am suppose to forgive this person, and even thought I don’t feel it, I am going to speak it, and I will ask you to do a work in me concerning them.

Psalms 66:18
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear [me]:

Isaiah 59:2
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid [his] face from you, that he will not hear.

John 9:31
Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

We feel real deep about people who go before the Lord whining and bellyaching about how bad life is treating them. They never count their blessings. They never see the good things He has given them. They never say “Thank You Jesus” for anything.

How can anyone expect a blessing, much less a miracle with these kinds of thoughts
going on in their head all the time? If we aren’t getting what we need, we need to look at ourselves to find out why He isn’t listening or answering. Seek and ye shall find.

God does not make mistakes, He never has, and He never will. But we seek and we learn. We ask God to change us and show us a better way. If your prayers are not getting answered then let us show you a better way. Remember it has to be His way not your way. It’s all about Him.

God Bless
rECj/LJG

PS Starting Monday we will start a series on How to Pray.