PRAY!!!

Effective Communication With God

While we may like the convience of clean, electric heat, there is that old saying that where there is smoke, there is fire. And, if you have a real good fire going, there will be lots of smoke! On the other hand, if you don't have any smoke, the odds are good that the fire has gone out. (Moreover, some of the best cooking occurs when that smoke wraps itself around the food and flavors it!) And the same holds true for spiritual fire--for God experiences our prayers as sweet smelling incense (II Corinthians 2:14-15; Ephesians 5:2).

WHAT IS SPIRITUAL PRAYER?

Well, every parent goes gah-gah over their child's first words. And, now that you have become God's child, through spiritual rebirth, HE wants to hear your first fumbling words, too! But, even more than that, HE wants you to talk to HIm. For, God is very lonely. And strongly desires HIS creation to communicate with HIM. God wants a personal relationship with you. Yes, even as Abraham was called the friend of God (James 2:23), because he spent time talking with God, so, too, does God want to be your friend--your best friend (John 15:13-15). Thus, prayer is the way to develop your personal relationship with God. So, if you are a Descendant of Abraham (Jew, Christian, Muslim), by bloodline or by adoption, you are part of God's Family now! And, therefore, prayer (talking with HIM) should NOT be neglected.

WHY DO WE NEED PRAYER?

While God desires us to communicate with HIM, we also need to have our talks with HIM. For it is written: "Cast all your cares on HIM, for HE cares for you!" (I Peter 5:7). Moreover, while God is Sovereign and will do as HE pleases, we also know that HIS Plans are not ironclad nor set in concrete, but that HE can change HIS Program (Jeremiah 18:1-10), especially if someone HE knows well pleads with HIM to change it (Genesis 18:17-33). Consequently, no matter how discouraging or dismal the situation we are facing, we need to remember that prayer changes things--and sometimes miraculously so (Acts 12:1-17). And, it is this hope, that God will somehow rescue us, that is the fuel of Faith. And, we need to feed this fuel by developing a consistent and diligent prayer life (Luke 18:2-8). Moreover, those who are Engifted with a Prayer Language or Tongues, will find that if they spend time praying in the Spirit (in Tongues), that it will edify or build up their own Faith (I Corinthians 14:4).

WHEN SHOULD WE PRAY?

The Holy Scriptures instruct us that: "The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and HIS ears open to their cry...The righteous cry, and the Lord delivers them out of all their troubles!" (Pslams 34:15, 17) Consequently, now that you are a child of God, your prayers should be heard by God, even as it is written: "Ask, and it shall be given. Seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall be opened to you. For everyone that asks, receives. And, he that seeks, finds. And he that knocks shall have it opened to him. Or, what man is there of you, whom if his son ask for bread, will he give him a stone? Or, if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father in Heaven give good things to them that ask of HIM!" (Matthew 7:7-11). And, while some religions have set prayer times, God wants you to talk to HIM constantly, without ceasing (Luke 18:2; I Thessalonians 5:17), always singing to God or making melody to HIM in your heart (Ephesians 5:19-20).

WHO SHOULD WE PRAY TO?

While the Holy Scriptures warn us that God will not hear the prayers of the wicked (Isaiah 59:1-2), now that we have become HIS spiritual children, we are admonished: "And, in that Day, you shall ask ME (Jesus) nothing. For truly, truly I tell you--Whatsoever you will ask the Father (God) in MY (Jesus') Name, HE will give it to you! Before this time, you have asked nothing in MY Name. Now, ask and you shall receive, that your joy may be full." (John 16:23-24) And, indeed, Christ's Blood on the Cross, gives us, as Believers, direct access to God the Father in Heaven, in Jesus' Name (Hebrews 4:16). Therefore, we should always direct our prayers to our Heavenly Father, in Jesus' Name. We do not need some intermediary, angle, or saint to ask the Father for us, for we only need the ONE Mediator, Jesus Christ, who gives us direct access to God (I Timothy 2:5). And, while it may be helpful to pray with those more experience or more gifted in prayer, we should never pray to them, nor any angel or spirit being--only to God the Father.

WHERE CAN YOU PRAY?

Well, basically, anywhere! (Anytime!) For, as a child of God, you can have direct access to HIM on your own, wherever you are. You just have to take the time and discipline yourself to do it. But, it is good to gather with other Believers and join in with their prayers, for God's Presence will be there (Matthew 18:20). And, the Faith of others may help your prayers come through, when you may have had difficulty on your own (James 5:13-18). Consequently, it is also good to gather together in the Congregation, for God's House is to be known as the House of Prayer (Isaiah 56:7; Matthew 21:13). However, don't become a fat-head and take delight in showy prayers before the people (Matthew 6:5). Rather, spend most of your prayer time in private, in your own prayer closet (Matthew 6:6). And, learn to be humble, not asking for things that you know you shouldn't have or that aren't really good for you (James 4:3).

HOW ARE YOU YOU SUPPOSE TO PRAY?

There are many ways to pray and many different forms and words to use, depending on the situation. However, to get you started (and give you some real basics), just repeat the prayer, given below. (And use the outline, given along with it, in parenthesis, to branch out into other things to pray about.) And, like most things, as you practice it, it will get easier. And you will develop more skill and power in your prayers. For this is how Jesus taught HIS Disciples to pray:

Our Father, WHO art in Heaven, Hallowed (honored--holy) be YOUR Name! (1. Praise HIM and thank HIM for what HE has done.)

Your Kingdom Come! (2. Recommit yourself to God and the establishment of HIS Kingdom in this world.) Your Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven! (3. Submit yourself to God's Will--and set your mind on being HIS servant, to help work out that Plan of HIS.)

Give us this Day, our daily bread! (4. Make requests for the things you need--and be sure to pray for the needs of others.)

And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us! (5. Pray for God to forgive those who have misused you. Yes, pray for your enemies!)

And let us NOT be lead unto temptation! (6. Pray for Divine protection and spiritual armor against the tricks and traps of the wicked around you.)

But deliver us from the Powers of Evil! (7. Pray against the Devil and his workers of iniquity--that they will not be able to overcome you.)

For YOURS (Oh, Lord) is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, for ever, and ever! AMEN!

So, now you have understanding of the basics of prayer. Now, just don't sit there, blank. Get to using them. Say that above prayer! And repeat it a few times if you have to, untill you get it down. Then let God lead you as HE would, into developing your own personal prayer life with HIM.

[Fire Shield]

THE NEXT STEP...

No one likes to have a conversation with someone who talks all the time, and never listens. Consequently, just as you have now learned to talk to God, the next step you need is to learn to listen--and to hear HIS Voice speaking to you. The main way that HE speaks to Believers is through HIS Word, the Holy Scriptures--for they are HIS Love letters to you! So, learn to read the Bible. And learn to listen to what HE wants to say to you, there.

To get READ!!! (click here):

NEED MORE DETAILS ON SPIRITUAL PRAYER?

So, you are an aspiring Seminary Student, huh? Or, are you just curious and would like some more information on Prayer and talking with God? Well, we do have more details about it, so follow the links below, if you want to know more:

To get a more detailed PRAYER Articles (click here):

USEFUL RETURN LINKS TO OTHER SITES IN OUR REALM

Transfered in from another Site in Our Web? Well, use these handy links, below, to get back to the Main Literature Menu of the Page that you jumped here from.

RETURN to ZDK Main Menu

NORTHMEN for Intermediate Articles

VIKINGS to Quick Facts Sheets

APPIRU for Ishmalite Literature

EMUSPATEL to Messianic Articles

KRY - ASTARIA for Future World Literature

FURTHER CONTACTS...???

Joining us? Didn't find what you wanted? Or, have a comment or suggestions? Well, if you really do need to reach us, use one of the normal means, below:

Realm Revival Course
ZDK (Shaddox) Foundation
P.O. Box 44
Underwood, WA 98651 U.S.A.

Phone: (509) 493-1674

And, E-Mail us at: zdkf@gorge.net (Please, mark subject box REVIVAL!)

COPYRIGHT 1999 (Net) by Daniel Shaddox. All rights reserved.
Appiru, Astaria, Emuspatel, Gahtsk, KRY, KUFOL, Meshianites, Nartan, Nordanity, Nordesel, TAD, and ZDK are all trademarks of Daniel Shaddox.

Published by Lampstand Media
the media division of the ZDK (Shaddox) Foundation, P.O. Box 44, Underwood, WA 98651 U.S.A.

Or, E Mail us at: zdkf@gorge.net

Phone: (509) 493-1674

(NOTE: limited permission to duplicate this article is extended to ZDK members, for the expressed purpose of recruiting (or teaching) new members. Be sure that your use of it is properly registered with us!)

Dated: 5-20-99 . . . Updated 6-26-99