Why and How Should We Pray?

SF, Stagecoach, NV

Dear Brothers, Sisters, Prodigals and Unsaved,

The very first thing, you should always do before you start reading the Bible, or any Christian material [including mine], is ASK the Holy Spirit to guide you in understanding what’s being said.  He’ll teach you “What to DO, or NOT DO.”  The Holy Spirit is OUR TEACHER and will never steer you in the wrong direction!

Whatever category you are in above, YOU were still created by Abba [Daddy-God].  You become empowered when you accept Jesus as your Lord.  All your sin is washed away, and you'll feel so FREE - and best of all, IF you sincerely asked the Lord for forgiveness and accept Jesus into your heart - ALL your sins are WASHED AWAY into the Sea of Forgetfulness, which means He will no longer remember.  That's FREE INDEED!

WHY PRAY:  First, let’s see HOW NOT TO PRAY…

[James 4:2-3 NASB] 2 “You lust and do not have; [so] you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; [so] you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend [it] on your pleasures.”

• A very good reason is because you want something or somebody you can’t/shouldn’t have, and probably kill someone for it.  Abba’s command is “Thou shalt NOT KILL [murder].  That would be another problem for you to repent of  - should you kill someone to get what you want.  Here, I’d like to specify that Abba has no problem, finding you a mate - but He won’t send you one to just “shack-up” with - Abba is into, “till death do you part” in fact the Bible says “He hates DIVORCE.  So if you’re looking for a mate, you might ask Him who is your best mate and please send one to you.  
• [Romans 7:2 NASB] For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband.”  NOTE: This is not just for a woman, reverse the names to your gender.
• Then the next reason you won’t get what you want is because you DO NOT ask the Lord.  That’s one of the reasons, You DO NOT get answered prayer.  Even little children tell Jesus/God or their parents what they want for a gift at the celebration of Christmas or their birthdays.  So, NO ASK - NO GET!
• Don’t ask for something that is bad for you, or that will go against any of the “Fruit of the Spirit” we talked about this last Sunday.  Abba WILL NEVER go against His own Will or Word!
• FYI, I’ll have to admit, without asking, just thinking about how nice it would be to get a new car, rather than start paying a lot of mechanical bills, when my car was 11 years old.    Guess what - He gave me a new car FREE - I must have been a good girl, or He has a lot more traveling for me to do and in these mountains in NV, He wanted me to feel safe. 
      Here’s a few more Scriptures to back up these reasons.
• [Matthew 6:5 NASB] "When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.”
• [Matthew 7:6 NASB] "Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”

Basically this means, Do not waste good things [effort/time] on people who will not appreciate them. This proverb is adapted from a saying of Jesus from the Gospels, “Cast not pearls before swine.” Jesus appears to be warning his disciples to preach only before receptive audiences, meaning they are looking for what they’re missing - or there’s got to be a better life somewhere.

NOW - HOW SHOULD WE PRAY?

[Romans 8:26-27 NASB] 26 “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for [us] with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to [the will of] God.”

• OK, the first and best way, when you don’t know how to pray and you’ve received the Gift of Tongues [1 Corinthians 12] know, that you could be speaking in a foreign language or a Heavenly language [groanings].  Both would be from the Lord.  This is best used, when you are unsure of what you want to pray for.  This is also very helpful, when you’re praying for someone and you’re not sure of what they really need.  Abba always knows what any of us need.
  This is also very helpful when you are interceding for someone or a nation.
• The Lord will ALWAYS HEAR YOUR PRAYER.  It’s His promise, doesn’t matter if you pray in the Spirit, or in you native tongue.  Why?  Here’s 3 reasons: He knows your NAME, THOUGHTS [MIND] AND HEART.
• [Isaiah 43:1 NASB] “But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!”
• [Revelation 2:23 NASB] “And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.”
• [Psalm 139:2 NASB] “You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar.”
• So never doubt you can get away with ANYTHING… He’s got ALL our NUMBERS!

Prayer is the means, by which we approach God. ... Jesus' disciples have no doubt noticed, Jesus' prayer time [i.e., 3 am - 6 am estimate] and in this passage they ask Him to teach them how to pray (Luke 11:1). Jesus starts His instruction by saying "when you pray." For the follower of Christ, prayer is not a matter of IF, but when.  This is what’s called THE LORD’S PRAYER:

• [Luke 11:1-4 NASB] 1 “It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples." 2 And He said to them, "When you pray [pray like this], say: 'Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. 3 'Give us each day our daily bread. 4 'And forgive us our sins, For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.’"
• Many versions say “He said, pray like this”  So this Scripture teaches you the steps you should take:
• 1 - Everyone needs to learn “HOW TO.”
• 2 - Acknowledge your Father in Heaven, for Who His Is - HE IS HOLY.  It’s HIS KINGDOM/Home that we’ll be going to.  IF you are unsure you can acknowledge His Fruit of the Spirit - that’s His Character and His Goodness toward us.
• 3 - This day, give us our daily bread.  NOTE: this is not just literally food, but also, the spiritual food you’ll need to walk in Him daily.  Remember the song?  "1 day at a time, sweet Jesus.  That’s all I’m asking of you.  Help me today, show me the way, one day at a time."   We’re told in the Word, that there is enough evil in each day, that we shouldn’t worry about tomorrow.  Both in Scripture and this old song.
• 4 - Forgive my sins.  As I forgive those who have sinned against me.  There’s a reason not to carry grudges - they make you ill.  Plus if you don’t forgive, Abba cannot forgive you.  Remember my favorite scripture, [Luke 6:38].
• 5 - Don’t lead me into temptation  - He knows how hard it is for us in the flesh, not to go with the flow in the world [enemy].  He’ll keep you on the straight and narrow road - IF YOU OBEY HIM.

There are so many goodies in the Bible to help us, in any situation we might be in.  Your best bet, is to START reading the Bible and before you do, ASK the Holy Spirit to explain it to you as you read.  This will help you to learn His voice and find the answers or understanding you’re looking for.

I just found out from Google Plus, that I’ll have to move this blog page to another internet provider.  I have till April 2, 2019, but they'll start eliminating some things as of February 2nd.  I’ll let you know when and where I find a new site.

So my prayer this day, is for you, to pray for me to find another place for this blog, that covers the 30+ nations you blessed ones are in.  And also LOOSE a Ministering Spirit who knows computers and blog set-ups - because I don’t.  Someone else set this one up for me and they’re no longer around.  

Blessings to you and your family,

Your Sister in Christ,

Sandy F. - The Lord’s Servant