“LET’S MAKE IT SHALLOW” PRAYERS:

“14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” (1 John 5:14-15)

Are you praying to God? Maybe you don’t pray. Perhaps you pray a little. Perhaps you pray a lot. Let me tell you, as a Christian, you need to pray! But do you pray with your whole heart? Is there depth? The Psalms can inspire you here. Are you in a position of reverence to God your Savior (Hebrews 12:28-29)? Are you communing with God with a genuine heart after Him? Or are you venting, gossiping, or Jeannie-wishing? Are you being shallow, impersonal, selfish, or disingenuous? If so, your heart is not correct.

Use prayer to seek fellowship with God. When you search with your whole heart after God, you can call on His name, and He hears (Jeremiah 29:11-13). Jesus said that when His Words abide in you and you in Him, then you can ask God for your desires, and they will be granted because they are aligned with His will (John 15:7). Those who keep God’s Word and will, seeking Him wholeheartedly, are blessed (Psalm 119:2). Indeed, those with a pure heart are blessed to see God (Matthew 5:8), because when you come close to God, He comes close to you (James 4:8). As a Christian, you can have close fellowship with God (1 John 1:3), and His Son (1 Corinthians 1:9). So, ask God to examine your heart and mind (Psalm 26:2) and seek Him, because a clean heart and a righteous spirit are yours in God (Psalm 51:10).

Pray for protection. The prayer of a righteous man is effective (James 5:16), and in Christ you are righteous, indeed (2 Corinthians 5:21). Prayer empowers the spiritual armor; whenever the enemy attacks, you vigilantly pray for the Holy Spirit to help; you pray for all believers and yourself, individual and corporate (Ephesians 6:18). As a Christian, God hears your cries and will deliver you from trouble (Psalm 34:17). Don’t be overcome with anxiety, but rather pray and give thanks to God in all things (Philippians 4:6-7).

Pray with humility. God told His people, the Israelites, that if they prayed with humility to God, sought Him, and repented of their wickedness, then He would listen, forgive their sins, and heal the land (2 Chronicles 7:14). You are in different times – under grace through faith – and it’s not conditional! Nevertheless, God doesn’t change (Hebrews 13:8). God’s desire is that you should NOT think too highly of yourself but rather should be sensible and humble (Romans 12:3). You must understand that all blessings in your life come from God (James 1:17), so there is no reason to boast (Ephesians 2:4-9). In all you do, including prayer – remember who God is and who you are not (Psalm 77:11). Jesus warned not to pray publicly with pride; instead, keep it private and genuine with God (Matthew 6:5-6). This is about relationship; God communes with the humble (Isaiah 57:15; Philippians 4:6-7).

Pray for opportunities. Take every opportunity to pray for every opportunity! Pray you can serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear (Hebrews 12:28-29). Pray for voluntary service (Matthew 5:14-16; Matthew 28:18-30). Pray for sharing your faith (2 Corinthians 4:4). Pray to share one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). Pray to seek God’s strength and presence (1 Chronicles 16:11). Pray to be transformed and conformed to God’s will (Romans 12:2). Pray to do good to everyone, especially Christians (Galatians 6:10). Pray to understand the time and walk wisely toward non-Christians (Colossians 4:5; Ephesians 5:15-16). Pray for opportunities to love each other instead of using each other (Galatians 5:13). The possibilities are endless! Therefore, pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)!

Pray with genuineness. Don’t pray to please others or fuel your pride (Matthew 6:5). Rather, pray to God, for God, through God, by God! Focus on Him, even if you must lock yourself in your closet to pray with a genuine heart (Matthew 6:6). Don’t pray with vain repetitions like the ungodly, who think that God listens the more they talk (Matthew 6:7). God knows precisely what you need before you even speak (Matthew 6:8). A few verses later, Jesus outlines a pattern of prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) which many people have turned into a vain repetition!

Put God first through a life of prayer.