"…But if you do not forgive, your heavenly Father will not forgive your trespasses either."
(Matthew 6:15, Mark 11:26)
Are your prayers always answered? "Father, bless my enemy with the peace that comes from you…" is a very useful prayer! Many people wonder why some prayers are answered, but there are also prayers-including their own-that go unanswered. If you want to know how to pray powerfully, consider the suggestions and apply the instructions in this article.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Correcting Your Mindset so You Can Pray Well
Step 1. Obey God's Word
As a follower of Christ, do all that Jesus taught and live a life of obedience to God. Believe that God who created the universe deserves to be glorified, praised, and exalted. When praying, acknowledge that God is on the throne in your life.
Step 2. Pray to praise God and thank Him then end the prayer with positive words
Avoid unhelpful attitudes when praying, for example asking or asking God for something while crying before going to bed at night. Instead of getting a good night's sleep, this behavior can trigger nightmares and make you wake up often because you are sleeping while harboring worries and negative thoughts. Therefore, be a peacemaker for yourself. The method? Trust that God already knows and wants to give you what you need. Try to control your passions so that you don't get jealous or jealous of other people. Say thank you for all that God will give and always hope for the best (this is called having faith in God in action). You can of course ask and plead with God anytime anywhere to "accept salvation with fear and trembling," but before bedtime is not the right time. Instead of praying for the happiness of life in a way that keeps you from worrying or having nightmares, rejoice in everything. Ask God to show him the root of the problem and dedicate your life through meaningful personal prayer and faith in Him. According to the words of Jesus in Colossians 4:2, "Persevere in prayer and in the meantime watch with thanksgiving", being grateful every day will lead you to a life of peace!
Step 3. Focus on the positive when praying
Set aside time to more often (or start) thanking God, praising and worshiping Him for all the goodness (blessings) you receive in your daily life. The Lord Jesus promised to bless those who bless others and always be grateful for the blessings that God gives.
Step 4.
Trust in God and don't hesitate
Pray wisely when asking for what you need and make sure you are wise enough to believe that you will get what you say through prayer. Faith makes this really happen. Jesus said in James 1:5-8,
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all and does not stir up wisdom, and it will be given to him.
Let him ask in faith, and do not doubt at all, for he who doubts is like the waves of the sea, tossed to and fro by the wind.
Such a person should not think that he will receive something from God.
Because a double-minded person will not be at peace in his life."
Method 2 of 4: Using Aids When Praying
Step 1. Take the time to keep a journal of daily or weekly prayer activities
Write down various things you are praying for, such as loved ones, goals you want to achieve, or progress towards achieving projects you are working on. However, a journal is just a record of the things you pray for, not a report card to judge answers from God. Additionally, use the journal to record:
- The result of reflection after reading the Bible.
- The moment when God delivered a message to you.
- Spiritual life development.
Step 2. Read the Scriptures
You can learn the good and bad ways of praying by reading the Bible. God speaks to you through Scripture as you read it, but not always (because God decides and depends on what you pray for).
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Read the Gospels about Jesus while praising God and asking for His help "in the name of Jesus". Jesus said: " Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives and everyone who seeks finds and to everyone who knocks, the door is opened for him.
(Matthew 7:7-8). God will answer in His time if you are willing to wait.
Step 3. Use rosary beads as prayer aids
The Rosary is used by people who pray according to certain rites. If needed, use rosary beads to monitor progress as you pray the rosary.
Each part of the rosary is associated with a particular prayer. For example, when you start praying the rosary, hold the cross while praying "The Apostles' Creed", then pray "Our Father" while holding the single bead, followed by praying "Hail Mary" while holding the next 3 beads
Step 4. Make a prayer card with a specific topic every day for 1 month
You can buy pre-printed prayer cards or make your own. Choose 1 card each day as a way of determining the topic you want to pray for. You may use the cards to record a Bible verse, a prayer topic, or a specific person you want to pray for.
- For example, write a different Scripture verse on each card for reflection as you pray daily.
- As another example, write a different topic on each card, such as about living a peaceful life, protecting children, or being grateful more often.
Method 3 of 4: Changing Behavior
Step 1. Don't sin
The relationship with God is cut off if you sin because God forbids humans to sin. Says Jesus in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, "Or do you not know that the unjust will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be misguided! the miser, the drunkard, the slanderer, and the deceiver will have no share in the kingdom of God."
Step 2. Forgive the mistakes of others
Live as a child of God who He loves because through Jesus, you have been adopted as His son so that you have the right to enjoy eternal joy and God will give you comfort when you are in trouble. However, you can experience it if you deserve God's mercy and forgiveness by forgiving others. If you don't, you don't deserve to be forgiven and your relationship with God as a friend (and follower of Jesus) is cut off. Therefore, you must always forgive others so that you can "please God" because what you do to others will be done to you! Jesus said in Mark 11:25, "And if you stand up to pray, forgive first if there is anything in your heart against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive your iniquities."
Step 3. Love your enemies and don't be mean to others
Love others because God loves you. If you want to be forgiven, forgive others too! If he is sick, pray for his speedy recovery according to Matthew 7:12, "Whatever you want people to do to you, do the same to them. That is all the Law and the Prophets."
Step 4. "Wish good for others and don't curse it"
Show goodwill and say good things about others through your every action and word! Pray to ask God to bless your enemy with kindness. Remember that praying for the enemy is God's command. Like it or not, we have to do it.
Step 5. “Keep on praying” 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Be a person who is always grateful and grateful to God by sharing blessings with others so that God hears you "pray through concrete actions". This behavior makes you pray without getting tired because you glorify God when you treat others as you would like to be treated yourself. Everything you do to the least of people, good or bad, you do to God.
Method 4 of 4: Changing the Way You Interact with God
Step 1. Obey God's Word:
John 15:7, "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you." Make sure you ask for something that pleases God. If you sin, you are disobedient to God so you are separated from Him (not pleasing to God). The Holy Spirit does not reside in a temple tainted by sin. Even though you are saved, you must repent and live according to God's will. What you "sow" in the lives of others will "bear fruit" in your own life according to the Word of Jesus: "What you sow, you will reap."
Step 2. Speak honestly to God and make requests in faith
God knows everything about you, your life, problems, and sins (no point in lying). He understands your feelings. His love and care for you is limitless. Because God is love and mercy, He does not play favor for He created, restored, and saved man who believed in Him and kept His commandments.
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Jesus said:
"And when you pray, do not pray like the hypocrites. They like to say their prayers standing in the synagogues and at the corners of the highway so that they may be seen. I tell you the truth, they have already got their reward. But if you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. Then your Father who sees what is hidden will reward you." (Matthew 6:5-6).
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Jesus also said:
"Moreover, in your prayers, do not be long-winded like the habit of people who do not know God. They think that because of the many words their prayers will be answered. So do not be like them, because your Father knows what you need, before you ask Him." (Matthew 6:7-8).
- Pray with the right motives, instead of just being selfish. Make sure your thoughts are filled with good things and when you pray, convey wishes that glorify God's name. (James 5:3)
Step 3. Confirm God's will in prayer because He doesn't allow Himself to be toyed with:
"For what a man sows, he shall also reap." (Galatians 6:7).
Step 4. Ask God for His will to be done
"Try to be worthy before God," understanding God's thoughts and His will through the Word of God written in the Holy Scriptures.
Step 5. Persevere and never give up:
God wants us to pray diligently… If we stop, we lose. Ephesians 6:13-14, "… and stand still, after you have finished all things. So stand tall, …"
Tips
- "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself." (Luke 10:27)
- Pray diligently. God knows what your next wish is because He knows the truth about you (because He is truth) and your life (past, present, and future). God has a plan for everyone. If you surrender to Jesus and ask for forgiveness, God will forgive you and your sins.
- Pray sincerely. When you pray for Jesus to save you, say the "Prayer of Repentance" and then accept God's plan for your life.
- Love your neighbor selflessly because "There is no greater love than that of a man who lays down his life for his friends" (or strangers). (John 15:13).
- The Scriptures recommend that you pray for the following:
- Matthew 9:37-38 about workers to reap souls.
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Isaiah 58:6, 66:8, 1 Timothy 2:4 about sinner's repentance.
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1Timothy 2:2 regarding president, government,
peace, purity, and honesty.
- Galatians 4:19, 1:2 about ecclesiastical maturity.
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Ephesians 6:19, 6:12 about God gives opportunity to be a missionary.
- Acts 8:15 about filled with the Holy Spirit and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit for Christians.
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1Corinthians 14:13 concerning 2 gifts of the Holy Spirit and gifts for Christians.
- James 1:5 about Christians will receive wisdom.
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James 5:15 about physical, mental, and spiritual healing for Christians.
- 2Thessalonians 1:11-12 about power to glorify Jesus in evangelism.
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Matthew 26:41, Luke 18:1 about strength to resist temptation.
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1 Timothy 2:1 concerning file petitions and other requests.
Warning
- Prayer with pretension or pride is not a prayer of benefit.
- Don't ask for something you don't need. Make requests to God when you need help, guidance, or forgiveness. Ask God to always fill your heart (control your spirit).
- When you pray, make sure your desires are in harmony with God's will. Otherwise, your prayers will not be answered. Praying is not just "ask for something and get it." God is always listening when you pray, but His answer may be "no" or "later."
- Praying for others to experience bad things will not come true!
- Jesus said:
- Remember the words of Jesus:
- "…purify your heart, you double-minded!" (James 4:8)
- "…a person who doubts is like the waves of the sea being tossed about by the wind. Such a person should not think that he will receive something from God because a double-minded person will not be calm in his life". (James 1:5-8).
