Thursday, October 10, 2013

When You Pray.... always pray before decisions

by Dale Shumaker

When in a business venture of any kind, prayer will add an additional substantial dimension to your business decision making and power to resolve critical situations
 
Isaiah said to Hezekiah that because he prayed to the Lord of Heavens Armies, God will respond with His might to come against his enemies (Isaiah 37). This is the lesson for all of us when faced with a decision. Ask God first, and He will respond to our requests. How do you pray... here's how to make prayer work in all we do, and see His Power at work in our efforts. 
 
When You Pray by Dr. J. Robert Ashcroft is a great fundamental study on learning the art of prayer. It is easy to follow and practical in how he explains it. It is a teaching manual intended to train the reader in the skill of prayer, and live in the prayer experience as a working part of life, and seeing results actualized in your life, business, career, relationships. 
 
 In this summary, be sure to note the last couple chapters on group prayer and the Power of the Holy Spirit in prayer. 

1. Think about God when you pray.
God will teach you to pray. It starts by doing it. God is good and he wants to answer your prayers and wants you to come to Him in prayer. God loves you and responds as a Father. God can do anything, and wants to help you regardless how difficult of a situation you may be in.
2. Come to God the right way.
Pray in Jesus' Name. Jesus tells us to use His authority in prayer. We should hold an attitude of respect, thankfulness, confidence, humility and repentance, forgiving and loving others, sincerity and earnestness. We can pray anywhere and in any position... kneeling, standing, laying down. A pattern to follow is the Lord's prayer using it as an outline for addressing current conditions of your life.

3. Listen to God when you pray.
God wants to talk to you. He speaks through life experiences, people, circumstances, visions, dreams and messages by others. Especially listen for God when you read the Bible. And when you feel God is speaking to you through people, places or events, always go back to the Bible to make sure it is consistent with the Bible.
4. Use God's Word when you pray.
Use the Bible as a guide. Many times when reading a verse it will come alive as meant for you. This is a way God speaks to you. Use the Bible to strengthen your faith, so you believe He will answer you. Use Bible verses when you pray and make them personal by using your name in them. God's promises are like a promissory note or bank check from Heaven... pay to the order of (every believer) the sum of (your needs). Act in faith as you believe He is answering your prayer, and keep on believing it is so.

5. Think about others when you pray.
Look at the needs of others. Pray for your family and others. He tells us what to do, tells others what to do, tells angels what to do, He works in nature, circumstances, in us and defeats evil powers. He works miracles.

6.Join with others when you pray.
Pray with a friend. Pray with you family.

Pray in a group. When praying in a group keep this in mind.
--Begin by singing together or listing to worship music.
--Have a brief time of reading the Scriptures, especially that encourage faith.
--Have some share testimonies of how God has answered a prayer in their life. This encourages us to pray for the needs of others.
--Encourage those with special needs to share them with the group.
--Then encourage everyone to take part in praying for needs and praying for others as the Lord may lead.

Small groups of around 10 or less work well so everyone can participate. These groups can be held at home, an office, or any place where there is privacy and people feel comfortable.  Many find a small group has great benefits for prayer as needs can be shared, prayed for, and faith is enlarged to see miracles in lives.  
 
 7. Let the Holy Spirit help you.
Listen to the Spirit's voice. The Spirit speaks to us in a two-way conversation. When in Spirit we can trust our thoughts to be of Spirit as we converse. Of course, Scriptures come alive too as if talking just to us. 
 
 In many cases we may let the Spirit speak through us. Some call this a prayer language as we feel a language moving through our lips. When your Spirit prays, it many times is this expression. "Speaking in Tongues" is what the Bible calls this. Let the Spirit pray through you in this way. Then as you get mental impressions, act through God's power. 
 
 Live by the Spirit and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. Seek His will in all matters. The Holy Spirit will give you victory over Satan. Know The Spirit demolishes all earthly strongholds, so be obedient to what the Spirit is telling you. Jude 1:20 says to build yourself up in your holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 
 
When Your Pray is a publication of Global University. 
and available as part of their Christian Life series.

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