Thursday, April 23, 2009, "Effectual Praying"

Triumphant Victorious Reminders
Inspired by the Holy Spirit
By: Teresa Criswell

"...the earnest prayer of a righteous person (made righteous through Jesus Christ) has great power and wonderful results."
~ James 5:16 (NLT) ~

Have you ever really listened to the way we pray many times?

We have been equipped to pray the Word of God, yet many of us do not know the power that God has given us through His Word. No wonder that people perish for lack of knowledge. Many times I tend to think I have other options of what I call 'prayer'.I laugh as I shake my head in disbelief at my actions many times.

Here are some prayers you may find are not really prayers but more of selfish, get my way 'prayers'; we define as praying, but are sadly mistaken.

Many times I approach our God who is HOLY, JUST and RIGHTEOUS this way. He is KING of kings and LORD of lords. Sometimes I forget that He is not only my Friend but He is my FATHER, HE is KING whether I say He is or not, but is my King? HE is LORD, however have I made Him my Lord? He is whether I make Him My King and My Lord. He is Who He is whether I choose to believe it or not.

More than anything HE has equipped us to pray effectively...HOW? THROUGH AND BY HIS WORD. We must keep in mind that the angels only listen to HIS WORD.

Here are some examples of how we can pray at times:
Unintentional Prayer of Manipulation...Let's get this one out of the way...God does NOT manipulate so I must know that this type of so-called 'prayer' is not effective.
Example: "O God please make them feel bad about what they have done..."

Instead I must pray:
"Father God, in the name of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit we thank you that Your Word does not return to You void. As I am reminded of this I thank you Father that as Your Word says that your goodness is the 'tool' that leads man to repentance, turning away from the old and possessing the newness of You..."
~ Isaiah 55:11, Romans 2:1-4, II Corinthians 5:17 ~

Prayer of Begging and Bartering...
Example: "O God if you just please give me one more chance I will never do it again..."

Instead I must pray...
"Father God, I come to you in the Name of Jesus boldly by the power of the Holy Spirit and I thank You that Your Word says when I confess my sins You are faithful and just to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me and wash me from ALL unrighteousness. Lord, I thank you that your mercies are new every morning. I do not take for granted your goodness and mercy that follow me all the days of my life as I walk in obedience. Father, I know your grace is more than sufficient to help me and deliver me from this temptation, you make a way out that I will be able to bear getting through and past the temptation. I thank you that you make a way through the mess I have made and you turn it into your message of grace and hope..."
I John 1:9, Lamentations 3:23, Psalm 23:6, II Corinthians 12:9, Matthew 6:13,
I Corinthians 10:13

Prayer of Doubt...
Example: "If it's your will for him to be healed, please heal him..."

Instead I must pray...
"Father God, I come to you in the Name of Jesus revealed by the Holy Spirit and I thank you for Your sacrifice that You were brutally beaten and whipped, tortured and hung on a rugged, cross as You were obedient to God. You went to the cross to take on every sin, every sickness, every grief and every sorrow as Isaiah the prophet prophesied of your coming and declared that by your 'stripes' we are and were healed. I rejoice in that redemption, that we are to receive your healing that you have provided and reject the sickness that is not of or from you. For all Your promises are 'Yes' and unto the glory of God we who receive it say, 'Amen'. Lord, your Will of healing is revealed in Your Word. So I know it's not 'if' you will heal' but knowing that you will heal and I pray that your gift of healing be manifest upon his physical body in the name of Jesus..."
~ Isaiah 53:3-5, I Peter 2:24, I Corinthians 1:20 ~

I have struggled with this, yet when I put my faith in God and realized not only is He able but He is willing to heal, it changed my thought process, which eventually changed my heart. I get to see the Word activated in my life when I believe.

Many times I say the 'glorious' cliche, "God is in control..." and use it as an excuse to not fight with faith. Yes, He is in control, however, He has given us the keys through Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. So I must do something...I must take hold of what HE has provided and activate my faith in God and His Word. I cannot waver...I must believe and have faith in God.

If I have the tools to build a house, I have the provision to build the house and I even have the workers who are willing to build the house, yet, I don't utilize any of them...am I going to see my house built? Of course not.

We must look at the provision of God's faithful provision over our lives. He wants us to live victorious lives...for HE is VICTORIOUS! It doesn't mean we don't go through trials and tribulations of life, but we go THROUGH it with HIS POWER, AND STRENGTH DELIVERING US FROM AND INTO! It's revealed by His Joy and Peace that surpass all of our understanding.

Believing is not just a thought process but it is also an action. I not only speak forth but I also walk out what I believe, whether it is of God or not. That belief system is revealed through my life. I am so humbled by His Living, Powerful Word. I get so caught up in what I see with my physical eyes and how I feel in my physical body that I give up before I even start sometimes. I pray strength through the Joy of the Lord...why? Because His Word says it! Wooooohoooooo!!!

*****I want to be very sensitive to many of you who may be going through a trial of sickness or disease in your body...please know that we who are not going through it will stand in the gap for you and believe the Word of God for your healing on your behalf.

It's so difficult to have faith in an area where you are right in the midst of it. It's like being in a forest filled with trees and you can't find your way out. But there are times where your family in the Lord have the 'ariel' view and can see more clearly and God will guide you out into His glorious light.

It is important that we go to our brothers and sisters who believe the Word as Truth and when we need faith in an area of our body, we call on the Almighty Physician as He is faithful to send forth those believers who can encourage us to increase our faith in an area where we need it most.

God will manifest the process of healing that needs to take place, I believe, to the measure of your faith. Many times, when people have died and gone on to be with the Lord, and they died believing that they were already healed, whether they saw it or not on this earth, I know that their healing was made manifest in heaven.*****

If you have any prayer requests:
Please send them to:
wmcip@yahoo.com

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