This is not to say that He won’t grant your request if you aren’t a follower. It simply means that you’ll be better able to communicate with Him if you have a relationship with Him. Think about the difference between a stranger and your best friend. If a friend asks to borrow some money or a stranger on the street asks, you’d be more likely to give to your friend. It’s not a perfect comparison, but it’s similar.
Praise and thanks must be genuine, not a tactic to butter God up so you can ask for what you want. You must really mean what you pray. Start by saying, “God, it’s amazing how well you have taken care of me and provided for me. I’m thankful that you are strong and that you never turn away from me. ”
The reason this is important is that sin means going against what God wants from you. When you sin, you separate yourself from God. To confess and repent simply means to tell God that you know you have sinned, that you are sorry, and that you want to change. Pray to God, “I’m sorry I was so rude to my neighbor. I know you love him too, and I should treat him as you want me to. I will work harder at being patient and kind to him. ”
There is not a specific prayer of forgiveness you must pray. Tell God that you are sorry and that you want Him to forgive you for wronging Him. Pray, “God, I’m sorry for lying about what I did last night. I should not have done that. Please forgive me for my dishonesty. ”
It’s not enough to think of what’s wrong if you don’t make an effort to fix it. Get in touch with the person and seek reconciliation before going to God. Apologize to them or forgive them, depending on what is wrong between you.
It may be worth your time to learn more about what spiritual warfare is and how it can affect your prayer life and living for God. Pray, “God, I feel like there is evil that is surrounding me. In Jesus’ name, please rebuke these spirits. Do not let them come between us. Tell them that they have no power over me. ”
Being specific does not guarantee that God will answer your request in the way you want Him to. He may have other plans for you. Say to God, “I’m hurting for rent money this month because of the doctor bills. Please let me pick up some extra hours at work so that I can pay my rent. ” Remember that God will not give you something that goes against His will. Check your heart and check the Bible to see if what you are asking for is against His will.
The benefits of praying in this way are many. Although you may know exactly what you want, God may have much more for you than you could think to ask for. If you only ask for the thing you want, you could miss out on a larger blessing. Say to God, “Lord, I really want to start a new job this month, but I know that you might have something more in store for me during this time. I pray that you would show me your plans, even if it isn’t exactly what I want. ”
This is not like saying magic words, and it should not be used as a way to exploit God’s blessings. It is simply a way to show that you are submitting to God’s will through Christ.
