What Is My Prayer Philosophy? (2 Part)

WHAT IS MY PRAYER PHILOSOPHY?

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (Two part series)

I read where a loving mother purchased a prayer book for her son. Each night he had to read one of the prayers to God. One night the lad had turned off the lights and crawled into bed and had his covers all pulled up around his neck. He then remembered his prayer book. He looked up and said: FATHER, YOU CAN SEE THE PRAYER BOOK IN THE DARK, FOR TONIGHT WHY DON’T YOU JUST READ THE PRAYER FOR YOURSELF?

SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN WE PRAY IS: AM I PRAYING IN GOD’S WILL? WHAT IS MY MOTIVE? AM I THANKFUL?

Text: James 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

*MOTIVE: Why are we asking? What do I want? Why do I want this? Why am I desiring to take this action?

You lust for what you don't have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn't yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it.

*IS THIS GOD’S WILL?

Jesus was in a great conflict, great agony--- Jesus’ prayer was very earnest and intense. His sweat became as great drops of blood…

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. 2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

* JESUS TEACHES HIS CHILDREN A 6 POINT EXAMPLE WE HAVE FOR A GOOD PRAYER IS SIMPLE:A GOOD PRAYER.

• We address the Father in heaven.

• We praise and thank God.

• Thy kingdom come, seek the WILL OF GOD that is accomplished in heaven so let it be here on earth.

• Give us our daily bread. If God gave us our bread a month at a time it would not be fresh.

• Everything about Jesus hinges on FORGIVENESS… We must forgive others to receive forgiveness.

• Lord, open our eyes that only God can deliver us from evil.

WHAT DO WE DO WHEN THE CONFLICTS GET SO INTENSE FROM THE EXTREME LEVELS OF STRESS? HOW ABOUT TRYING PRAYER?

Jesus was in a great conflict, great agony--- Jesus’ prayer was very earnest and intense. His sweat became as great drops of blood…

*HEMATOHIDROSIS: when individuals suffer from extreme levels of stress.

Luke 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

WHAT IS OUR PRAYER PHILOSOPHY? …It is good to end every prayer by saying “ NOT MY WILL BUT THY WILL BE DONE.”

Too often we pray God I need that TOY… We might need a TOOL much more than a toy. We think and demand God GIVE ME MY TOY. Would WE PRAY selfish prayers? WHY? WHY CAN’T I HAVE MY TOYS? In prayer we often ask for things that we have no right to ask. Prayer is more THAN A CHRISTMAS GIFT LIST. We could become spoiled brats, each demanding and wanting their own way.

911, WHAT IS YOUR EMERGENCY?

When you call 911 you don’t have to say a word, the call connects almost instantly. They know your telephone number, your name, your address, --- you don’t have to say what the problem is the dispatcher knows where the call originated and they can send HELP ON THE WAY.

THE ANCHOR OF PRAYER! PRAYER: Prayer? Is prayer throwing out an anchor and catching hold of the shore, then pulling the shore to you? Or maybe prayer is like hooking the shore with the anchor line and pulling yourself to the shore?

Prayer is not pulling God to me, my will! Prayer is pulling me to God’s shore where I override my selfish motives and submit to the PLAN and PURPOSE OF GOD. IS MY PRAYER’S MOTIVE IN GOD’S WILL? IS MY PRAYER IN GOD’S DIVINE TIMING?

TWO TO THREE MINUTES WITH GOD CAN ACCOMPLISH MORE THAN YEARS IN ARGUMENTS AND DEBATES.

LET US RETURN TO HISTORY AND GO TO THE BATTLEFIELD OF GETTYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA…

94,000 Northern troops, 71,000 troops from the south gathered at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in early July, 1863. There were 5,000 horses and mules that died in this battle. There is much debate about the casualties but there were between 46,000 and 51,000 deaths between July 1-3, 1863. This was the bloodiest day on American soil. The battle field was being dedicated as a NATIONAL CEMETERY.