Renewal of Your Mind

Guidelines to Intelligent & Effective Prayer

January 6, 2011 at 12:37 PM Leave a comment

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By Deryl S. Lampkin

When we Pray

1. We should be praying according to the expressed will of God
2. We should be praying for things that contribute to the establishing the righteous government of God on earth, which is the Kingdom of God.
3. We should know and understand what things are necessary to ask God for and what things are not.
4. We should know and understand what things are exclusive to being the responsibility and part for God to perform and what part and responsibility belongs to us.
5. We should know and understand when the answer to a prayer request or question or solution to a problem or situation is a matter of knowing and acting on the appropriate information. Sometimes we ask God for things that we already know or have or the information is readily available to us. In these cases, it is a matter of acting on the information but instead of doing that, we often want God to do it for us or perform some miracle.

We should not waste time and energy asking God unnecessary things. For example: Many websites have a FAQ  (Frequently Asked Questions) section. This is a list of questions that have already been asked and answered. Before contacting the company to ask them a question, you should check the FAQ first to see if the question has already been asked and answered. If it has, then there is no need to ask it again. We need to study the Word of God and learn what things God has already answered, revealed as being His will or declared or demonstrated as being His way and method of operation.

Therefore, if a person is asking for prayer, you should first find out what they have need or desire of. Then determine if it is something that God has given us the power and responsibility to do or is it something that only God can perform.

Next you should determine if it is information, inspiration, encouragement, confirmation, affirmation or material or financial assistance that they need. If God has made available already these things, then it is a matter of distributing the needed blessing to the person in need. For example: Why would we need to ask God to bless someone with food or clothing if God has already blessed us with surplus of these things. It is our responsibility to give these things to the person in need.

On the other hand, if a person is sick and on their deathbed, we do not have the power of life and death in our hand. But we can pray to God, to heal and spare their life, and if God is willing, He will deliver them. That is God’s call not ours. Be sure to read the article below, “Specific Prayer“.

Related Articles

• Specific Prayers? (j4man.wordpress.com)

Entry filed under: Article. Tags: Christianity, Denominations, Deryl S. Lampkin, Elijah, God, Lord, Prayer, Religion and Spirituality, Thanksgiving.