Develop a Life of Prayer

Author: Michael Gott

Christianity is a living relationship with God. Every relationship requires communication to flourish, and all relationships die without it. Therefore, if prayer is the communication from my heart to God, I must learn how to pray, and I must love to pray and live in prayer.

There is a simple way to say it—outstanding people of God are always people of prayer. We are most often not conscious that we are breathing, but we cannot live without doing it, and it is the very same with prayer. Air is the breath of life, and prayer is the breath of faith.

In true prayer we become so absorbed with God that we are not even aware that we are praying, and often the clock ceases to control our lives. The frustration comes when we are called away by obligations.

A great Christian said, “Most Christians expect little from God, ask little, and therefore receive little and are content with little.” Decide to be a person of prayer, and learn it by doing it!

Jesus tells us to live in the spirit of prayer and reminds us that asking is the rule of God's kingdom. We are to ask! Prayer then is like a key to heaven's treasures. Open the treasure chest wide on your knees.

God promises to help us pray. He promises to do that with His Spirit, and then He tells us even our groans are understood by Him because of the assistance of His Spirit (Romans 8:26).

Let me provide a simple framework for understanding prayer more fully. Think of the very word — PRAY.

P raise. Always start your prayer by praising God for His blessing and goodness, but more especially praise Him for being your God and for His love and care. Tell Him how you love Him.

R epent. That is, admit your shortcomings and failures and ask for forgiveness. Tell God you want to turn from those things that dishonor Him and will destroy you. Tell God anything and everything you know to be wrong with yourself. Never excuse any failures. Confess and repent!

A sk. Ask for things you know will bring Him glory. Ask for those who will not ask for themselves. Ask boldly and ask for things that only a mighty God could do. Do not be afraid to ask God for miracles and mercy. He loves to answer bold prayers. A great Christian said someday in eternity, when we get in His presence, God will show us all the wonderful things He was waiting to give us but which we never received because they were never asked for in believing prayer.

Y ourself. Put yourself last in praying. Too often that is where our prayer starts and then stops. But it is not wrong to lay before God all those things that concern you or those things which you desire. Be open and honest before God. Even tell Him when you don't know what to ask for—be transparently honest and fearless in His presence. Tell Him the truth.

Finally, don't forget to base your prayers on promises. Let that be your source of confidence as you pray. Read and repeat the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:7.

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you."  Matthew 7:7

Learn to pray back to God the promises in His word. Tell Him you claim them and that His promises are your confidence.

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