How To Pray Effectively! R

HOW TO PRAY EFFECTIVELY

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes) (Two part lesson)

THERE WAS AN ITALIAN SCULPTOR THAT FROZE ICE FIGURES OF HUMANS AND SET THEM ON CONCRETE STEPS IN THE SUMMER. His thought was this: “LIFE IS SHORT, ENJOY, ENJOY IT BEFORE IT MELTS!” --- BE KIND!

I ALWAYS THOUGHT THE DISCIPLE CAME TO JESUS AND SAID “LORD, TEACH US HOW TO PRAY.” FIRST TIME I REALLY LEARNED WHAT THE DISCIPLE REALLY SAID: HE SAID: “LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY!” Let us really listen, LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY.

Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

WE LEARN EFFECTIVE PRAYING BY PRACTICE. THE MORE YOU PRAY THE MORE YOU DESIRE TO PRAY. PRAYER CAN BRING WONDERFUL RESULTS. GOOD PRAYER CAN RELEASE DIVINE POWER.

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Did you hear about the two drunks sitting in the bar arguing about prayer. The one drunk said: I WILL BET YOU $10.00 you cannot pray “THE LORD’S PRAYER!” The other drunk said: “YES, I CAN, I WILL TAKE YOU UP ON THAT BET!”

They both laid down $10 on the bar. So the drunk started quoting the prayer real loud he said: “NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP IF I SHOULD DIE BEFORE I WAKE, I PRAY THE LORD MY SOUL TO TAKE!” The drunk said: I bet because I thought you was so pagan you could not say the “Lord’s Prayer!” I did not think you could pray it. So the man picked up his money.

EXPECT THE TEST OF BEING OFFENDED AND HURT. THIS SPIRIT OF OFFENSE WILL HINDER A HEALTHY PRAYER LIFE AND CAUSE A FALLING AWAY. THE ATTITUDES WE ACCEPT DETERMINE OUR ALTITUDE.

*OFFEND, OFFENDED: To feel upset, to be angry, annoyed or resentful; hurt feelings, to cause pain; to cause to sin or fall.

Matthew 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

IF WE DON’T RISK BEING HURT, WE CANNOT PRAY OR LOVE OR GIVE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. REAL UNCONDITIONAL LOVE WILL GIVE OTHERS THE PERMISSION OR RIGHT TO HURT US. This could be a STUMBLING BLOCK or a STEPPING STONE.

The Bible teaches a deep lesson we seldom address: THE HIGHEST MATURITY LEVEL we can achieve is found in the CLASSROOM OF PAIN AND SUFFERING. YOUR REAL MATURITY LEVEL WILL SHOW WHEN YOU DON’T GET YOUR WAY.

THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE IS FORMED because there is some foreign object that gets in the oyster shell. The imperfection causes the oyster to start secreting a substance to coat the dirt. Layer by layer the secretion builds a pearl.

WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME? WRONGFUL PRIORITIES LIMIT PRAYER.

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

WE KNOW THERE IS POWER IN AGREEMENT. THE INVERSE IS TRUE: THERE IS POWER IN DISAGREEMENT.

Matthew 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

YOUR PRAYER LIFE IN PUBLIC WILL NEVER ARISE WHAT YOUR SECRET, CLOSET PRAYER LIFE IS.

Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

I AM TOLD THAT INDIANS WOULD GET OFF THEIR HORSE AND PUT THEIR EAR TO THE GROUND TO LISTEN. ARE WE LISTENING? PRAYER IS MORE THAN JUST TALKING, WE NEED TO LEARN TO LISTEN CAREFULLY.

Proverbs 28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

IF OUR PRAYER LIFE IS BURIED IN DOUBT, DON’T EXPECT GREAT RESULTS.

James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

DISCORD AND STRIFE IN PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS CAN HINDER PRAYER. HOW DO WE TREAT OTHERS? DO YOU HONOR PEOPLE? YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARD OTHERS CAN HINDER PRAYER.

1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

THE PRAYER FOR HEALING IS MORE THAN JUST TO ALLEVIATE PAIN. REAL HEALING IS TO SERVE.