The power behind Jesus’ ability to perform many miracles, signs and wonders came from His ability to pray. Hence his disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray.
Referring to the Bible, The Lord’s Prayer in Matt 6:9-13; gives us a framework on how we should pray but before we go into ‘”How to Pray”, we need to be aware of who we are as God’s chosen sons and daughters.
1 Peter 2:9-10, tells us that we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, that we may proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvellous light. Who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
So, in approaching God in prayer; we must believe that He exists, that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11: 6) and that we should boldly go before His throne of grace, to obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need (Hebrews 4: 16).
We therefore approach God from an attitude of Reverence, Thanksgiving and Praise:
Reverence – He is a Holy God and sovereign. He is above all gods and nothing is too difficult for Him.
Thanksgiving – What His Son Jesus Christ accomplished for us on the cross of cavalry. By shedding His blood for all humanity, for the forgiveness of sin and reconciliation to God our Heavenly Father.
Praise – because we have nothing but praise and adoration of who God is and not necessarily what He can do for us. Such an attitude invites the presence of God in our midst. Then we can begin to pray to Him.
There is a framework of how to pray in Matthew 6:9-13, commonly known as the Lord’s Prayer but I will like to focus this article on the three dimensions of prayer based on (Matthew 7:7).
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you”.(NIV)
Asking
The asking realm involves us praying for needs for ourselves, others and the nations. It is the fundamental realm of Prayer, as it is pure needs led.
1 John 5: 14 – 15 says, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us and if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”(NKJV)
Philippians 4: 6; also reminds us that we should be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let our requests be made known to God. (NIV)
Such prayers like petitions, supplications and the prayer of an agreement are mostly involved in this realm.
Seeking
The seeking realm involves us seeking God for Himself, getting to know Him, as we spend quality time in His presence by studying and meditating on His word day and night (Psalm 1: 1-3). Cultivating an element of intimacy with God and being transformed into the image of His son Jesus Christ. Worship and adoration are mostly involved in this realm. The more we get to know Him, the more we want to worship and adore Him.
Knocking
The knocking realm is the highest dimension of Prayer. Being involved in the seeking realm where we have become more like Christ and dying daily to our fleshly or carnal nature, we are now in a position of total authority and power to speak and decree things in manifestation. Like Jesus did when He walked the earth two thousand years ago.
Satan cannot differentiate between Jesus Christ and ourselves. We no longer have anything in our character or behaviour that belongs to him.
We begin to experience Ephesians 2: 6, where we are made to sit with Christ in heavenly places.
Our prayers take on a more authoritative role, ensuring that the Kingdom of Heaven is manifested on earth as it is in heaven. We are now putting on the full armour of God, so we can stand against the wiles of the enemy ( Ephesians 6: 10 ).
In this realm of prayer, not only are we fighting against the enemy, but we are also bringing about changes in the atmosphere, pulling down strongholds in families, cities and nations as we boldly proclaim the decrees and proclamations of the word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit. Spiritual warfare and intercession are mostly involved in this realm.
Within the three realms of Prayer, the Holy Spirit, our helper leads us, even at times when we do not know how to pray. (Romans 8:26)
Finally, as previously mentioned, Prayer is an essential ingredient in cultivating our relationship with God. The intensity and effectiveness of our prayers should benefit us always irrespective of whether it is personal or corporate.
God Bless
Sister Dale
