Prayer Series:Praying in Faith these Four Prayers to God

Prayer.  What do you think about when you hear the word Prayer?  To be honest when I was younger and in my early years it meant obligation.  As a youngster, I remember growing up in a beautiful farmhouse in central Iowa.  I could not come downstairs for breakfast if I had not read my bible and prayed.  

At the time, I failed to understand that spiritual nourishment was so much more important than physical.  Then as a teenager, prayer began to fall into the shadows of my mind as years of rebellion kicked in.(Sorry mom & dad)  My focus was on football, fun, and females!  In that order.

As a young adult, I began to pray a little more but only when I desperately needed or wanted something.  I might pray for a new job or pray if a family member was ill or needed help but that was pretty much the extent of my praying.  It was not until I suffered the stroke that I truly began to comprehend what a privilege and an honor it is to be able to pray to my Lord and Savior.

Starting today and over the next few weeks I am going to share with you Four Prayers that we need to be praying on a consistent basis.   These types of prayers bring us into a closer relationship with God, impact our lives and the lives of those close to us as well.  It is my prayer you will be both encouraged and inspired to renew your prayer life going forward.

Praying in Repentance

Let me start here first.  If you have not recognized that you are a sinner in need of salvation; repented of your sins and accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, most of these prayers are useless to you.  However,once you have accepted Christ; you are now part of God’s family.  You have unlimited access to your heavenly Father through prayer.

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As believers in Christ, repentance is crucial!  Even though we are saved by grace, it is still in our nature to sin.  So whether it is deliberately sinning or unknowingly, we need to pray a prayer of repentance as often as needed to maintain that right relationship with God.  I love what Paul says in his second letter to the Corinthian believers.

2 Corinthians 7:10.  “For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret leading to salvation.”

When we have a repentant heart, it is evidence of true salvation in Christ.  Repentance allows Christ to communicate with and to bless us without the barrier of sin impeding.

 1 john 1:9.  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our signs and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Prayer is talking with God and building a strong relationship with Him.  I am excited to share these four types of prayer with you as I experience them work repeatedly in my own life.  In fact, I would not be here today writing to you without the answered prayers of not only myself but loved ones also.

It is my prayer that you will join me again soon( next week if the Lord wills) as I continue discussing other types of prayer that Christians should include in their time with God.