If you ever wondered if prayer works or if God is even listening to your prayer, this is the article for you.
Over the past 23 years, I have taught the leaders under me that excavation is one of the most expedient processes used in growth and development in the kingdom of God.
GOD expects us to have fruit on our tree when the Lord comes to taste it. So why is prayer so important? Jesus tells us a story of a man – a visitor who came to his house. This man didn’t have anything to give his guest. He went next door to his neighbor to borrow some bread, but it was midnight, and his neighbor was already in bed with his children and was quite adamant about not opening the door.
Then the neighbor kept knocking on the door and was persistent. In the story, his persistence paid off because the neighbor rose out of his bed and gave the neighbor what he wanted. (Luke 11:5-8) This analogy is an excellent example of how prayer has a particular type of knock.
Jesus uses this story to analogize that we need to keep bombarding (knocking) on heavens doors when we go to GOD, and he will provide us with what we need.
One of God’s compound names is Jehovah Jireh. Early on in my walk with GOD, I asked GOD about getting to know him, and he told me to learn his compound names. As years went on, I understood that his compound names show his personality and attributes of who he is. Leaving no doubt in our minds that he’s in the position to meet our specific needs when we ask in faith and believing that he will give it to us.
It gets straight to the point. Sometimes, fear makes us afraid to ask GOD for what we need. People can get wordy and beat around the bush when asking God for some nourishment, like a blessing.
You should pray about what you need. Be as precise as you can. You can’t just say GOD help me unless you are willing to say what you need help with. Please don’t say “He knows what I need”, to get out of asking GOD, because he is looking for a dialogue with you, in case you didn’t know. He wants you to share all the things that you go through in life; whether good or bad, they all are precursors to the discussion he is longing to have with you.
The Bible says, “you have to take everything to GOD in Prayer”, that’s scriptural. The problem for you is that you don’t trust the process. Other components work with prayer: timing, patience, knowledge, and wisdom. Suppose you are a Bible person like I am, we need to pay attention to all the different godly spirits working together to help bring your solution and make you a success.
In this case, it triggered me to think about Solomon because of the profound revelation he gives us in Proverbs. Solomon asked GOD for wisdom to lead his people, and we can see that GOD gave him wisdom through Solomon’s writings.
Prayer is such a vast subject; there is much to be discovered about it. People do it every day and have no idea of the force that they’re unleashing. “The power of Life and Death is in the tongue.” (Proverbs 18:21). That’s why having GOD at the core of our life is essential; it’s vital. When you pray and talk to GOD, He will work on your behalf. GOD is so great at strategizing that he will act as a conductor. Much like a symphony conductor who will cue you up and direct you through prayer. Specific words are said in a particular manner to him so that he can release your blessing.
The story of the man and his neighbor is one of my favorite stories that I treasure when I pray to GOD. I remind him of things that I have already spoken to him about and let him know that I trust him. This is a great time to thank him for answers to your prayers, even if they haven’t manifested in the natural yet.
To Believe Is Epic But To Expect Is Profound
There’s another scripture where Jesus says:
“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father, which is in heaven, give good things to them that ask him?” Matthew 7:11-12.
So, prayer is our connection to GOD and not only to him but to the Trinity, which is GOD the Father, GOD the Son, and GOD the Holy Spirit.
Our Father
Jesus taught his disciples how to pray because prayer is the gateway to GOD. When we pray, we should use the formula for which Jesus told us it doesn’t have to be the exact model prayer that Jesus said. Still, it must have the same components that specify GOD as the person you are talking to. Also acknowledging the place where the throne of God is, which is heaven. Hollow his name means to sanctify his name above everything. Then when you say (thy kingdom come, thy will be done, you are now entering into the prayer of agreement with GOD. You are saying to him that I’m not only in agreement with your kingdom manifesting here on earth, but I am partnering with you, GOD. Especially when you’re telling him that you want his will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
You are telling the Author of Our Souls that you want holiness to arise and take over the world you live in. You are acknowledging that GOD should be GOD over everything and that you support his plan. And then you go on to ask GOD for his daily bread and to forgive you of your trespasses or debts and that you’re willing to forgive others. And the last part of this beautiful prayer is when you ask GOD to lead you not into temptation, but deliver you from evil, which is telling GOD, “I don’t want to be a part of the kingdom of darkness, and please don’t let it touch my life.”
You close by acknowledging His Kingdom, His Power, and His glory. This prescription for prayer is quite an honor and blessing that was orchestrated by Jesus Christ, his beloved Son, who paid the ultimate price for both you and me.
This is the foundation of prayer, and I would suggest that you always use the formula in the scripture given to you by God himself.
The Manifestation of Real Prayer
Real prayer is the facilitator and acts a conduit between you and GOD. And if you commit to real prayer with GOD, you will experience heights and depths you cannot find anywhere else. GOD is a minstrel who uses prayer as a symphony to interconnect our lives and release everything we need.
Most people do not even know that GOD has people praying for them around the world.
That’s how important prayer is; you may not understand its effectiveness at this juncture in life. Your knowledge is limited. But if you want to know what prayer is doing for your life and the generations to come, you will have to pursue a divine prayer language with GOD.
This is the only way to cover your life totally and learn things that God will not share with those who don’t establish a prayer dialogue. When you’re praying, you are moving in the realms of life and death. As I stated earlier, prayer infiltrates heaven, but it also bombards the kingdom of darkness where our enemy resides. So please don’t take it for granted.
When they are very young, we teach our children to pray at night on their knees before bed, which speaks volumes. But then, in the public school system of the United States of America, we are silent, and we do not speak up and be adamant about them putting prayer back in school. I’m not speaking about religion; I’m talking about teaching our children how to call on GOD and acknowledge the person who created and loves them above anything.
It’s time for us to realize that strong talk and education will not make our schools safer. History lessons and protests will not do it either. The only thing that can protect our children, schools, homes, etc., is bringing GOD back into the forefront of our lives.
Unlike the animals that we co-exist with on earth, GOD gave us the ability to talk and have great speech to make sounds in speaking and singing. Why not use the fantastic vocal abilities that GOD is giving to every one of us? Offer up a sacrifice of praise in your prayer time. If you focus on praising GOD and turn your total attention to him, you will feel his presence and; it will change your mind about prayer and praise.
This is GOD’S promise to us:
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
