PRAYING THE HEART OF GOD

By Adeola Akintoye

Text: “And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure” James 4:3 (NLT)

When I rededicated my life to Christ in 2005, God opened my eyes that this relationship is about Him. It’s all about Him. Then I realised that I don’t know how to communicate with Him. I mean I say the words, quote the verses but it just didn’t click for me. I did not feel connected. If you think about how we relate to our earthly parent, even to husband and wives, we know the right thing to say, the right approach, and the right words in the right way. This is not to say we have to stick to a particular time, or same words but we know how to get to the heart of our loved ones. This is about having the right relationship and making the right connection. I also did not feel the assurance of God’s answer, even if it is no. I believe that God lets us know His answer by either answering our request, asking you to wait or saying no through His words.

So, I started praying that God should teach me how to pray effectively, prayers that will be like a sweet smelling aroma to Him.

One day the Holy Spirit just started pouring insights into my heart. Also led me into various teachings from Godly writers.

Jesus taught us that when we pray, we should seek first the Kingdom of God and everything will be added to us. This for me underlines the way we pray, how to pray and what to pray for.

Prayer is about communication with God. It could be in form of conversation or making a request to God. We can bring everything and anything to God. He knows us; our thoughts, desires, fears, concern etc. There is nothing that is hidden from God. Knowing that God sees our heart, our prayer of request to Him must come with the right motives.

This outline is focused on making request to God. There is no one way of making our request to God, He is Sovereign, and He will have mercy on whom He will have mercy. Yet God desires that we know Him and strive to do His will. And when we totally surrender to His will, our prayers will be focused on His will not ours. No man can in his own wisdom tell you the prayer God will answer or when He would answer. But God has opened our eyes in His words to those things and those that He listens to.

Jesus also confirmed what we need to do to get what we need in this world, when he said, ‘to seek ye first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness and everything shall be added unto you’. God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matt 6:8, ‘Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him’)

The purpose of this write up is not to teach you how to pray or what to pray for but to encourage us as Christian to always focus prayer on those things that are central to the will and purpose of God for the World and our lives.

Objective

• Understand some biblical prayer principles
• Align our prayer requests in line with God’s
• Challenge our mindset on why we pray
• Deepen our relationship with God
• To glorify and honour Jehovah

God will not answer our prayers if:

·         We regard iniquity in  our heart (Ps 66:18)

o   Unconfessed sins (1 John 1:9, ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness’)

o   Have unforgiveness in our heart (Mark 11:25-26, ‘and when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.’)

1. Key Principles (A principle is a guiding sense of the requirements and obligations of right conduct)
1. More prayer of thanksgiving and praise; God inhabits the praise of His children (Ps 22:3). Thanking Him 1 Thess 5: 18 “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you”

                                                              i.      Praising and Thanksgiving brings us into His presence

2. Our prayers must be eternal focused not earthly focused

                                                              i.      Seeking and expanding the Kingdom of God through Soul winning

                                                            ii.      Making Heaven

3. Pray the heart of God

                                                              i.      He desires relationship with Him

                                                            ii.      He loves and wants us to care orphans, widows, foreigners, Believers (God’s Children) e.g. King Solomon asked for wisdom to be able to rule God’s people. God loved Israel so much and this request was pleasing to Him. He granted Solomon’s wish and added even  more abundantly to it

                                                          iii.      That we do His will: Shift from self centred (my needs) to God centred (His will)

4. Pray the will of God

                                                              i.      This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us (1 John 5:14)

                                                            ii.      In harmony with God’s declared purposes for the world and us (Mark 14:36). Not everything we desire is good for us, so we need to depend on Him to give us what is best for us

                                                          iii.      Submissive prayer: Gethsemane prayer, Jesus perfect submission to the will of God: Math 26:39, ‘He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”’

5. Pray the purpose of God for the World:

                                                              i.      For His glory

                                                            ii.      His purpose for the World is to worship Him and love others e.g. Jesus was very clear about God’s purpose and He always pray in line with this, to be fruitful

6. Pray the value of God ( in relation to others)

                                                              i.      Love, justice, mercy, righteousness, faith (Math 23:23)

                                                            ii.      Move from superficial to significant (Godly character, holy living)

7. Pray the promises of God.

                                                              i.      He honours His words more than His name

·         Answered prayers: "Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear." Isaiah 65:24

·         Guidance: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." Psalm 32:8

·         “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them, and I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them." Isaiah 42:16.

·         Long Life: “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. “Isaiah 46:4.

·         “For through me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life." Proverbs 9:11

·         "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." 1 Cor. 2:9

·         “I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me." Proverbs 8:17

·         “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him." Psalm 103:13

·         “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27

·         Protection: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." Isaiah 43:1,2

·         Temptation:  “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation, will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it”.

·         Success: “That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil--this is the gift of God." Ecc 3:13

·         For our Children”….I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your children (Isaiah 44:3)

                                                            ii.      God  does not forget His promises and our biblical fathers used these in their requests

                                                          iii.      You should confess your sins first and ask for forgiveness. Remember God sees the heart of man; don’t confess with the intention of continuing in sin.

                                                           iv.     

8. Pray from a relationship and not a routine: When we have a deep relationship with God, we will know what to say, when and how. If we are lost for words, the Holy Spirit will intercede for us
9. Pray specifically

                                                              i.      But ensure it is aligned with God’s will and purposes. E.g. asking for riches in order to be able to or support the expansion of God’s kingdom

10. Pray in Humility

                                                              i.      Address God with reverence and deep respect

                                                            ii.      Do not use commanding tone

                                                          iii.      Approach God with Care (Eccl5:1-2, 4-5) ‘As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God. ^{2 [b]} don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few, when you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him. ⁵ It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it)

                                                           iv.      Authentic: from the heart.

11. Pray strategically

                                                              i.      Eternally focused

                                                            ii.      Ultimate objective is for the world

                                                          iii.      Captures God’s hearth and His purpose

                                                           iv.      For God’s Glory

12. Pray in faith: In Matt 21:22, Jesus said you can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive anything you ask for.

In conclusion our prayers should be:

                                i.            Be in harmony with God’s declared purposes ,Mark 13:36

                              ii.            Be from the right motives and a clean heart James 4:3

                            iii.            Honor God’s name

                             iv.            Be for the good of God’s people e.g. King Solomon

                               v.            Have an effect on others as a result of God’s action or refusal to act e.g. intercede / stand in the gap ( Abraham for Lot regarding Sodom & Gomorrah)

                             vi.            Appeal to God’s justice, mercy, loving-kindness e.g. Jesus plead for his faithful followers Roms 8:33-34

                           vii.            Have no plan B,C, D etc:

                                                              i.      Clear your mind of all negativity and doubts

Always ask the Holy Spirit to direct your prayers. Sometimes it might not be what we think we want that we should pray for. This might require us to pray for direction on what to pray about.

Spend time to listen for God’s answer.

Above all, these would only work for you if you have already given your life to Jesus Christ and you are living a holy life under the direction of the Holy Spirit. If you have not done so, I ask that you reconsider. You are missing out on so many wonderful promises of a victorious, joyful and peaceful life in this world and the promise of eternity with Christ.

If you would like to give your life to Jesus, just repeat this prayer; ‘Father I come to you as a sinner, I confess I am a sinner, I believe that Your Son Jesus Christ came into the world and died for my sins. I ask that from this moment forward you come into my life and be my Lord and Saviour. Where you lead I will follow. Direct my paths from henceforth and help me to grow in you all the days of my life. Amen’

If you prayed this prayer, I encourage you to go to a bible teaching church as directed by the Holy Spirit and continue to pray for God to help you to grow spiritually. I would like to pray for you so write to me adeola@we-can-leadershipinstitute.com

SHALOM

PART B:  PRAYER GUIDE

THE PRAYER OF JABEZ

1 Chronicles 4:9-10 (NLT): “There was a man named Jabez who was more honourable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful. He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel. “Oh that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do and keep me from all trouble and pain”. And God granted him his requests

1. Jabez was more honourable than any of his brothers (Honourable means adhering to ethical and moral principles)
2. ‘Oh that you would bless me”
1. Spiritually
2. With divine health
3. Wisdom, knowledge and understanding
4. Materially

3. ‘And expand my territory’ all to use for your glory, expand your kingdom and bring honour to your name
1. Of influence to win souls
2. My ministry
3. To declare your glory
4. Impact lives
5. Fruit of the womb
6. Increased knowledge, understanding an wisdom
7. Increased experience
4. ‘Please be with me in all that I do’
1. Empower me
2. Equip me
3. Enable me
4. Protect me
5. ‘And keep me from all trouble and pain (that I may not cause pain)
1. Lead us not into temptation
2. Protect us from temptation
3. Deliver us from all evil
4. Protection from Pride
5. Protection from Power and arrogance
6. Protection from lustful desires

Copyright: the use of this article should be done with due copyright and ascribing all glory to Almighty God