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How to Pray Effectively
written by: Alan Fuller
There have been times in the past when someone would come to me and say, "My
daughter is on drugs and it seems like God has just forsaken me." Or they
would say, "The bills are just out of control." Or, "My husband doesn't want
me to go to church anymore." Then, they would always follow it up with, "I've
prayed and prayed, and it just seems like God doesn't want to hear me
anymore." And often, they'd remark, "He doesn't listen anymore . . . He just
doesn't care."
Usually, I'd respond with, "I'll pray for you." And I would. And the next
time I'd see the person, they would remark, "How did you do that?" Or, "Teach
me how to pray." Or, "Why do your prayers get through and mine don't?"
But, the fact is, it's not that I did it, or that I can teach you to pray, or
that your prayers aren't getting heard.
I never did believe that there was one way to pray that would be heard more
than another way. I simply did what the Spirit of God told me to do when I
first got saved.
The best part is this: after trying several other "ways" to pray, I always
ended up right back at this one. No other "way" to pray ever got results the
way this one did, for me at least.
Many times, I would give those inquirers a formula, and the formula would
work . . . at least until they discovered that the Spirit had a way for them
to pray, too.
So, for those of you who want to know how I pray so effectively, I present
this same "forumla" to you. The basic precept of the entire thing, though,
is: Obey the Holy Ghost. If He doesn't tell you to pray this way, don't. If
He answers when you pray this way, then do it always. It's that simple.
The Formula
1. Be certain that, before you pray, you're already in the Spirit or the
Presence of God. In other words, praise and worship first.
2. When you're in the Presence, it's best to begin by repenting of any sin
that you may have comitted (with or without realizing it). Thank Him for
washing away your spots and blemishes in the Blood that He shed on Calvary's
Cross.
3. Next, I ask for what I need. The only difference between me and others is
this: I take the time to look up His promises in His Word concerning these
needs or wants. Then, when I ask, it might go something like this:
"Father, You said in Your Word that the stripes You took on Your back were
for my healing of this awful virus. You promised me Divine Health, so I claim
it right now, knowing that You promised it to me as a Covenant Right. I
receive it now! Confirm Your Word by Your Spirit, and I praise You for it, in
Jesus' name!"
4. (Now, this |
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