Day2
P.R.A.Y.
P. Is for Preparation
For the next 4 weeks we will be doing a deep dive into prayer.
James 4:3
“And if you ask, you won’t receive it for you’re asking with corrupt motives, seeking only to fulfill your own selfish desires.”
James (Jacob) 4:3 TPT
Cross references
1 John 5:14; 1 John 3:22; James 1:6-7
Preparation
In the original Greek language the word used for corrupt or amiss means sick or weak.
When we pray without giving thought to what we are actually asking, we are praying sickly, weak prayers.
Our prayers must line up with God’s will if we expect them to be fulfilled.
What is God’s will?
God’s will isn’t hard to know. His will is His Word!
If you want to pray a strong prayer, humble yourself.
Seek Him by searching His Word for an answer to your need.
A weak prayer would be asking God to provide for your basic needs such as daily food, clothing or regular expenses. He already promised to provide that. Consider the lilies and the sparrow.
Matthew 6:25-34
If you are full of worry or fear for those things…. Consider thanking God for providing those things and praising Him for His faithfulness rather than begging Him for what He has already promised.
A strong prayer is a bold prayer. One that needs faith to be answered.
Instead of praying for God to pay your utility bill this month, Thank Him for paying your bill and ask Him for such an overflow that you can pay someone else’s utility bill.
Or rather than paying your mortgage payment, ask God to pay your house off!
Or even to increase you so that you could not only pay yours off, but also pay off someone else’s!
These are bold, strong prayers that take faith. Only God could make them happen!
These faith prayers take preparation to boldly pray.
They take stepping outside of your own selfish motives and humbly asking God to open your heart to the needs of others.
Your faith must be built up by hearing and hearing God’s Word.
Action Step:
What are you filling your ears with all day long?
How will you prepare for bold faith-filled prayers?
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