Prayer

9 Things You Should Know When You Pray

by sk

Luke 11:1 NKJV
Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”

The disciples clearly realized that Jesus while on earth as a Man, had a very close relationship with the Father. They realized that whatever Jesus prayed about, the Father would respond. The disciples also noticed the miracles that He did and they realized indeed that Jesus was a Man who knew how to pray.
Therefore the disciples wanted the kind of relationship that Jesus had with the Father. And they wanted to know how to speak to God; how to pray; and what to pray about.

Indeed when we come before God we must realize the following:

God will never cast out anybody who comes to Him. (All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. – John 6:37 NKJV)
God knows what is best for your life. He has plans to prosper you and not to harm you. (For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. – Jeremiah 29:11-12 NKJV)
We can talk to God about anything that is on our heart. He already knows what you need and what you are going to say in advance. (“… For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. – Matthew 6:8 NKJV)
We must realize that God answers prayers according to His time, His choosing & His will. God’s thoughts and plans sometimes are different from our own. However God’s plans are always the best plans to follow. (“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. – Isaiah 55:8 NKJV)
God is not a genie who grants your EVERY wish. When we pray we must pray the will of God and not just our own will. God is sovereign. It is not God’s duty to obey everything we tell Him, but it is our duty to obey Him. (Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. – Matthew 6:10 NKJV)
We cannot manipulate God in our prayers. God looks at our hearts and our sincerity. (Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. – James 4:2-3 NKJV)
Your sins or flaws should not prevent you from coming to God in prayer. God is merciful. Even when you have sinned, God is always forgiving if you confess genuinely and truthfully. (If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:9-10 NKJV)
God does not rejoice in anyone’s suffering. God wants you to succeed. Therefore if you are going through a challenge in life and you are praying about it, God will guide you to overcome the challenge and in the process strengthen your character. (My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. – James 1:2-4 NKJV)
Pray with a humble heart. Confess your sins. Forgive those who have wronged you. (“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. – Mark 11:25 NKJV)