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“Six Keys to a Healthy and Balanced Prayer – Part One”
1. Know who you’re talking to. “Our Father in heaven…”
When Jesus instructed His disciples to address the Father directly, the idea was likely met with some raised eyebrows. Throughout the Old Testament, the only way a common person could express requests to God was through a priest. Thankfully, Jesus came to change all of that.
Because of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus on the cross to cover our sin, believers now have direct communication with the Father. That is why we pray to our Heavenly Father “in the name of Jesus.” However, there are no set formulas for prayer, and praying a prayer to Jesus is just as meaningful as addressing the Father Himself. The most important part to remember is that there is now no communication barrier between God and you.
2. Reflect upon and express your adoration and thanksgiving for all He’s done for you. “…hallowed be your name…”
By setting aside a portion of your prayer to focus specifically on praise and adoration, you remove the focus from yourself. While God wants to hear our needs and desires, He also wants us to demonstrate gratefulness for all He’s done and realize it’s not “all about us.” In fact, it’s really all about Him. He is a God of abundance and love, and praise and honor are due Him. When you reflect on the blessings God has given you and the incredible privilege it is to be in relationship with Him, you’ll find it easy to express your gratitude, adoration and thanksgiving to Him. You’ll also find it harder to focus on yourself.
3. Pray that God’s purposes for His Church and for your life are accomplished in full. “…your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Vibrant and effective prayer comes when we get our minds off of the problems of the past and onto the awesome possibilities of the future. Continually dwelling on your past will only serve to limit your future. Take on God’s perspective, and don’t allow previous challenges or failures to consume your thoughts and limit your thinking. Express to God your desire to achieve your full potential in Christ, and ask Him to help you enlarge your vision and dreams. He wants you to accomplish His full purpose in life, and also that of His Church.
1. Know who you’re talking to. “Our Father in heaven…”
When Jesus instructed His disciples to address the Father directly, the idea was likely met with some raised eyebrows. Throughout the Old Testament, the only way a common person could express requests to God was through a priest. Thankfully, Jesus came to change all of that.
Because of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus on the cross to cover our sin, believers now have direct communication with the Father. That is why we pray to our Heavenly Father “in the name of Jesus.” However, there are no set formulas for prayer, and praying a prayer to Jesus is just as meaningful as addressing the Father Himself. The most important part to remember is that there is now no communication barrier between God and you.
2. Reflect upon and express your adoration and thanksgiving for all He’s done for you. “…hallowed be your name…”
By setting aside a portion of your prayer to focus specifically on praise and adoration, you remove the focus from yourself. While God wants to hear our needs and desires, He also wants us to demonstrate gratefulness for all He’s done and realize it’s not “all about us.” In fact, it’s really all about Him. He is a God of abundance and love, and praise and honor are due Him. When you reflect on the blessings God has given you and the incredible privilege it is to be in relationship with Him, you’ll find it easy to express your gratitude, adoration and thanksgiving to Him. You’ll also find it harder to focus on yourself.
3. Pray that God’s purposes for His Church and for your life are accomplished in full. “…your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Vibrant and effective prayer comes when we get our minds off of the problems of the past and onto the awesome possibilities of the future. Continually dwelling on your past will only serve to limit your future. Take on God’s perspective, and don’t allow previous challenges or failures to consume your thoughts and limit your thinking. Express to God your desire to achieve your full potential in Christ, and ask Him to help you enlarge your vision and dreams. He wants you to accomplish His full purpose in life, and also that of His Church.
Scripture
About this Plan
Discover the principles to building a powerful and effective prayer life. Prayer - communicating with God on a personal level - is the key to seeing positive change in our lives and surroundings. Taken from the book, “Out of This World: A Christian’s Guide to Growth and Purpose” by David J. Swandt.
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