In this piece, I want to share with us on something that has been titled: Rediscovering the Principles that Govern Heartfelt Prayers. Prayer is the only means through which we communicate with the father. Prayer is not a frivolous or mindless activity. It is rather a spiritual exercise that takes us into the realm where God can listen and interact with us. Therefore, prayer is a two-way communication channel in which man speaks with God and God also responds to man.
James 5:16-18
“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.”
If you read that verse 16 in the Amplified version, it says: “Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].”
WHAT THEN IS A HEARTFELT PRAYER? If you read the book of 1 Samuel 1:9-18, the Bible showed a good example of what a heartfelt prayer looks like. The Bible says:
“So, Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the Lord. 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. 11 Then she made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.” 12 And it happened, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth. 13 Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore, Eli thought she was drunk. 14 So Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!” 15 But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.” 17 Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.” 18 And she said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So, the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.”
Heartfelt prayers are prayers that originate from the heart. If you read verse 13 again, the Bible says: Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore, Eli thought she was drunk.
- The Principle of Relationship (John 15:7)
If you read John 15:7, Jesus said categorically the following words to His disciples: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” Prayer begins from the place of having a relationship with God. Having a relationship with God begins from the place of KNOWING GOD, and choosing to SURRENDER OUR LIVES to Him. Now, we must understand that many people know God, but not all who know God wants to have a relationship with Him. If you read Romans 1:20-24, the Bible says:
“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 4 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”
So, from here, we can clearly see that not all who know God wants to have relationship with Him. But everything we enjoy in God begins from the place of having a relationship with God. So, praying heartfelt prayers begins from the place of having a relationship with God.
- The Principle of Praying in the name of Jesus (John 14:13-14)
If you read John 14:13-14, Jesus said: “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” Now, if you look at the word ‘whatever’, Jesus was not apologetic by using it. Whatever actually means: ANYTHING WHATSOEVER, as long as it is in the will of God for your life; you can pray about it in the name of Jesus and it would be granted you. Why should we pray in the name of Jesus? Because Jesus Christ is our High Priest. Hebrews 8:1-2 says: “Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.”
Jesus is our High Priest, and He is at the right hand of the father. So, when we pray heartfelt prayers, through the help of the Holy Spirit (because the Holy Spirit guides us when it comes to praying the will of God), Jesus administers the answer to us and then we receive it the result.
- The Principle of Mindedness [Mathhew 6:6]
Whether we pray in tongues or we pray with words, the most critical aspect of a heartfelt prayer is that our minds must be there. There are many today who pray to God absentminded. One of the things that we must cultivate to do when we are praying is to shut out every form of distraction that will now allow our minds to be focused on God while praying. In Matthew 6:6, Jesus said: “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”
- The principle of Desire [Mark 11:24 KJV]
Desire is the offering you bring to God when you go into the place of prayer. As a matter of fact, you don’t commence a prayer exercise until desire has been established in your heart. If you read Mark 11:26, the Bible says: “Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” It will amount to a fruitless exercise to go to God in the place of prayer and do not have a desire in our hearts. When you see most people who pray and get distracted every time, it is simply because there is no desire in their hearts or the desire is not strong enough to demand a response from God.
- The Principle of Specificity [Mark 10:46-52]
Most of us don’t get what we want in prayer simply because we don’t know what we want. Now, even though God knows what we want and need per time, He still wants us to ask for them and be specific.
“Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” 50 And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. 51 So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.”
The advantage of praying specific prayers to God is that it helps us to know immediately God has answered that prayer request. So, don’t just pray generally, be specific when you pray.
- The principle of Consistency [1 Kings 18:41-46]
“Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” 42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, 43 and said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” So, he went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” And seven times he said, “Go again.” 44 Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So, he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’” 45 Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So, Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel. 46 Then the hand of the Lord came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.”
- The principle of Praying According to His word
I have come to realize that it pays to pray back the word of God to Him than looking for the right words to muster together before pray. Once I am able to find what I want to pray for spelt out in the word of God, that becomes the anchor Scripture for that particular request. Ephesians 6:17-18 says: “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—"
Amen!
Thanks for the gift of your time, We are Obayomi Abiola Benjamin and Gboyega ADEDEJI!
Feel free to share your thoughts or testimony in the comment box below. I promise to respond to them as soon as possible!