Inspiration on prayer

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6,7

“Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him.” Steps to Christ 93

1. Praise: We should begin our Prayers to God with Praise.

Gratitude and praise should be cultivated – 1 Chron. 16:8-36
“When the ten lepers were healed, only one returned to find Jesus and give Him glory. Let us not be like the unthinking nine, whose hearts were untouched by the mercy of God” (5T 315). “Let us educate our hearts and lips to speak the praise of God for His matchless love” (MH 253). My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God. Psalms 5:3

The power of praise – 2 Chron. 20-30
“Begin to educate your tongues to praise Him and train your hearts to make melody to God; and when the evil one begins to settle his gloom about you, sing praise to God. When things go crossways at your homes, strike up a song about the matchless charms of the Son of God, and I tell you, when you touch this strain, Satan will leave you” (RH 8/5/1900). “Unbelievers are often converted as they listen to pure words of praise and gratitude to God” (MYP 424). “No more effective means (telling about and praising God for blessings received) can be employed for winning souls to Christ” (COL 300).

Brief Example:
Father God, in the precious name of Jesus I humbly come to you this evening to praise Your wonderful name. I praise You because are worthy of praise. I praise you because You are all powerful, almighty and all wise. You are worthy of Praise.

2. Thanksgiving: Thank God for spiritual, physical, mental, and social blessings daily.

Brief Example:
Heavenly Father I thank you this evening for life, for health, for strength, for food, for shelter sanity. I thank You for shinning the light of Your love upon my pathway and for giving me peace. I thank You for placing the knowledge of You in my mind and Love for You in my heart. Heavenly Father I thank you for the 19 individuals that excepted you as Lord and Saviour at Falls SDA church and made a decision to be baptized. Father I thank You for hearing and answering my prayers for Malawi, concerning July 20th civil unrest, the planned activity of August 17 and September 21, 2011. Thank You for holding the winds of strife, for intervening in the potential violence and bloodshed. Thank You for the privilege of uniting with my many Malawian prayer partners both in the US and Malawi on behalf of Your people there. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayers.

I thank You for all of that and so much more, but most of all Father I thank You for Jesus. Lord Jesus I thank You for coming to this planet, for being born in humble surroundings, for living a perfect life, for dying a painful death, for experiencing the second death, for the first time in eternity being separated from the Father. Thank you Lord Jesus for that supreme sacrifice you made for all humanity.

3. Confession: Confess all known sin to God I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Psalms 32:5
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.1 John 1:9 15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’[a] 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. Matt 18:15-17

Brief Example:
Lord Jesus I acknowledge I was born in sin and shaped in iniquity, please forgive me of my sins, for the words I’ve spoken and acts I’ve committed that were not pleasing to You please cleanse me of all my sins and cover me with Your robe of righteousness.

4. Intercession: Make a list of people or groups of people to pray for daily. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. John 17:9 1I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

1Timothy 2:1-2

Brief Example:
Father I Intercede on behalf of Elder Ted Wilson, President of General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist, all the Vice Presidents of G C, the Presidents of the Divisions, the Unions the Conferences, the educational institutions, the health facilities and all the pastors worldwide, along with their administration and staff. Father I ask that You would baptize each one with Your Holy Spirit and surround each one in an atmosphere of light and peace. Please give each one the courage, the wisdom and the strength to lift up the blood stained banner of Prince Emmanuel and lead the Seventh-day Adventist church into the true revival, “a revival of primitive Godliness as have not been seen since Pentecostal times”, spoke of in Great Controversy pg. 464.

Father I ask this evening that you would continue to hold the winds of strife and not allow them to blow over Malawi. Please speak to hearts and minds of the citizens of that great nation and impress upon their hearts to turn to You instead of turning on each other and be more supportive of the president as he is trying to maintain high moral standards in the country. Father I ask this morning that you would speak to the heart of the president, grant him Divine wisdom in how to govern the nation of Malawi. Father please give him the courage to continue to uphold high standards in spite of outside pressure to change, please bless Malawi financially, spiritually socially and every other way it needs your blessings.

Father I ask that You will unite the Hearts of the Seventh-day Adventist of Malawi in prayer, all the pastors and the members, please give each one a sincere yearning for souls, that each one would pray one for another and reach out to others in the communities to lead individuals to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Father I ask for a special blessing for brother and sister Chatepa, please bless them spiritually, mentally, physically and financially, please bless them as they work faithfully to make contact with the new believers to establish the prayer warriors prayer band in Lilongwe. Please baptize them afresh with Your Holy Spirit and surround them in an atmosphere of light and peace. Please help them to experience the peace that passes all understanding. Father please do the same for me and my family and I will be carful to give You all the praise, honor and glory.

5. Petition:  Talk to God about everything that concerns yo; your conversion experience Acts 16:31, employment, family, recreation, etc.  Matthew 11:28-30, Matthew 7:7-12; Peter 5:7.  Surrender your entire life to Christ, John 3:16-17; Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19-21; Luke 11:28

6. Commitment: Make a determined effort to trust God with everything that concerns you and stop worrying about things you have no control over. 5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Brief Example:
Heavenly Father I humbly submit my mind, my heart and my life to You. Please fill my mind with knowledge of You please fill my heart with total love for You, and please fill my life with your Holy presence.
Father I submit my will to You please take it purify it and link it with Your own will so that I may dwell in the center of Your will moment by moment this day. Father please do the same for brother and sister Chatepa.

7. Silence and Meditation:
Learn to practice listening to Gods voice from the Bible, nature, being quiet and still and meditating on Jesus’ life. Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Psalms 4:4 1God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.2 Therefore will not we fear , though the earth be removed , and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled , though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.5God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved : God shall help her, and that rightearly.6 The heathen raged , the kingdoms were moved : he uttered his voice, the earth melted . 7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah .8Come , behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder ; he burneth the chariot in the fire.10 Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.