Successful Prayer

Does it make any difference how we pray? Kneeling standing, hands folded, upraised or whatever. Does the type of prayer or type of words matter? Or just to make a connection. Is that the key?
Enlarge ImageSuccessful Prayer
I believe that prayer is a good thing,...
but it is not the key to success in prayers being heard or answered.

Have you ever considered ...
That In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart

I would like to talk to you about prayer.

Actually, Jesus Christ would like to talk to us all about prayer. From His point of view.

See, it seems to me that I have talked about prayer a lot. It seems to me that I maybe have told you everything I know about prayer.

Jesus said "yes, and that has been good". But now I should tell you everything that He knows about prayer.

Now when I get done you are not going to know everything that Jesus knows about prayer. But hopefully we will understand what a huge subject it is. And how much we have underestimated it.

See I have heard it said ... and have said myself, that prayer is just communication between us and God.

Far to often it is just one way communication. I believe that is true. But to sell prayer, or to say that prayer as just two way communication, is a terrible mistake.

The communication is not prayer.
The communication is the result of prayer.

Just because you have bowed your head and said some things. Maybe read something that is written out, Or talked out to someone in the great somewhere, does not necessarily mean you have prayed.

Prayer is so much more....
The essence of prayer does not just consist in asking God for, whatever is on our hearts.

Whether praying for ourselves or others.

The essence of prayer consists of ... opening our hearts ... to God. The real essence of prayer is talking to and living with Him.

In a constant communion.

Prayer is a process of continual giving up of all that you are to God.

Prayer is not just asking God for all kinds of things that we want.
No matter how good that list of things sounds to us.

Prayer is the desire for the presence God Himself.
Prayer is not asking, But union with God.
It's not in the asking, it's in the connection.

Prayer is not a constant effort to gain help from God in the varying needs of our lives.

Or shouldn't be. Prayer is the desire to have God Himself, ...Who is the source of all life.

As I sometimes struggle with my prayers for all of you for example ... I don't know all of your personal needs.
I have discovered it don't matter.
When I pray for my family the list seems more complete. I know much more intimate details about what is going on in their lives.
I have discovered it don't matter

When my heart has made connection with God's heart ... Then the subject doesn't matter.

There will be two way communication. Because I'm not going to say Dear Lord, in the name of Jesus blah, blah, blah thank you Amen and then jump up and leave.
See ... I'm not done ... there is a connection here.
Prayer!

Prayer is not trying to manipulate God into doing as we want,
Prayer, is the communion with God.

There are some verses in the bible ... Did ya know that?

See some verses are written to those called to be saints.

and some verses are written to the faithful in Christ Jesus.

Now these verses are not written to just any body. They are written to the faithful in Christ Jesus. Is that perhaps you?

Now watch ...
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation,... so that you may know him better.
I pray also ... that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened ... in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, ... the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, Eph 1:17-19

Now that small prayer by the Apostle Paul is a powerful request on behalf of the faithful.

See, I know They had problems, I know they had illnesses, they struggled with everyday life. I am sure some were out of work. Some had teenagers to deal with and who knows what all.

They had prayer lists. I'm sure that Paul had a prayer list.

But think about this.

When he had put everything that they wanted, ... and everything that he wanted for them aside.

Made the connection, got into the Real spirit of Prayer, and began to pray ... what God wanted prayed for, it came out like this...

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints

See the hope that you are called to is His glorious riches in the saints. That's all of you.

See when the shopping list is done and the communion with the Son of God begins, then the thunder rolls and all heaven hears your prayer. Because now they are according to "His" will.

Now watch ...
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ... so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

And I pray that you, being rooted and established ... in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp... how wide and long and high and deep ... is the love of Christ,

and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen Eph 3:14-21

Listen people, don't spend a lot of time on the list. It's not the subject, It's the connection, that's when the communion takes place and the praying starts.

the bible says ...
Matt 6:33-34
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
What does that mean? It means don't stop ... after you have recited the list.

It doesn't matter if you are praying on your own behalf or interceders prayer for others.

Continue until you have prayed.
Continue until the connection has been made.
Continue until communion has taken place between you and the Lord.
Then lift them up. All Heaven will hear.

It doesn't matter who you are or how you pray. God would take it to another level if you will allow Him.

Remember its the connection, it's the communion, that is prayer. Thoughts from God ministries
Helping people turn their knowledge of God into a relationship with Him.
By Lee Adams