Pray the Right Prayer
Jesus spoke against the thoughtless repeating of prayers like the heathens. He said, “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking” (Matthew 6:7). Heathen prayers often involve repeating the same word over and over again, in order to empty the mind, like a mantra. It is against such prayer that Jesus spoke. The Savior doesn’t want us to pray the same thing without giving thought to what we are saying.
But the Savior encouraged the believers to persist in prayers and not give up. He Himself pleaded repeatedly for the same thing (Matthew 26:44). He gave the parable of the widow and the unjust judge, “that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;” (Luke 18:1). The judge honored the widow’s constant petitions by saying, “yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’” Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?” (Luke 18:5-7).
Christians are to “pray through.” Instead of just asking, ‘praying through’ means that believers should not stop thanking and claiming God’s promises until they receive God’s answer or learn of His will. The Bible teaches, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). Part of winning the spiritual battle is to be “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication” (Ephesians 6:18).
Thank God!
To thank in advance shows faith that God will answer prayers. Jesus said, “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mark 11:24). Notice believing comes before receiving. Therefore, believers need to confess by faith what they hope for even before they see it. The Lord will then honor their faith and answer their prayers.
It is God’s great pleasure to answer the prayers of His children. God knows their needs and He is fully able to supply them. He “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20). We can be sure that God hears our prayers as we pray in accordance to His will (1 John 5:14-15).
Jesus said, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:13). So, when we ask for power, wisdom, victory over sin…etc., we need to believe immediately that God has given us what we are asking for and continue to pray in faith until we see the answer to our prayers.
For more on how to get your prayers answered, check What can we do to get our prayers answered?
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In His service,
BibleAsk Team
