Jesus Christ Teachs us to Pray

---

Almost everything we do, we  had to learn to do it. Praying is no different.  Someone needs to teach us how to pray, Luke 11:1. Even if you know how to pray, read this article it will greatly enrich your prayer life. How to Pray: The Seven Steps of a Christian Prayer, is modelled after the prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:1-4.

Since the Father knows what we need before we ask Him why do we need to ask? (Matthew 6:8). The answer is one of the reasons we pray.

Some time ago, not very long, a former colleague of mine told me prayer is simply thanking and asking the Lord for things. I thought about that conversation a decided to write this article. Hoping, by doing so,  to help someone who maybe having similar thoughts. Thanking and asking the Lord for things is a part of prayer, but prayer is fundamentally worship. When we pray we surrender our will to the Lord Jesus in adorati0n of His greatness, majesty, holiness, power and love forever.

When you pray use the seven steps listed below to enrich your prayer.

Step 1 – Identify to Whom You Pray

---

 Christians are not the only people who pray but we are the only ones praying to the Lord Jesus Christ. The essence of prayer is worship. If we do not state to whom we pray we may be worshiping some other gods. We want our prayer to be focused to be effective. Every known god has at least one name.  The name of our God is Jesus the Christ, that is, the Messiah. We access the Father through Jesus. So identify to whom you pray and declare where he is, (Matthew 6:9).

For example, say something like, Lord Jesus the risen Saviour who is in Heaven,  you are the only living God. All other gods are dead.

Step 2 – Worship the Name of Jesus as You Pray

---

Say, words like holy, righteous, true, supreme, all powerful to describe the name of Jesus. The words you use should express the holy,  righteous and majestic  nature and quality of the name of Jesus. Pray the scriptures. Recite scriptures like Revelation 1:8,  which express worship for the name of Jesus. Better yet, have your Bible open to chosen scriptures and read them audibly or aloud as you pray.

Say, for example, Lord you are “Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending”, the first and the last, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Why?

• Jesus is king, (Phil., 2:10).
• Do everything in the name of Jesus (Colo., 3:17).
• The Lord expects us to glorify His name, (2 Thessa 1:12).
• The name of Jesus is supreme in heave and in earth, Philippians 2:10.
• We are saved through faith by the Name of Jesus, ( Acts 4:12).

Step 3 – Acknowledge the Kingdom of God is Imminent

---

Where is the kingdom of God? The Kingdom of God is within the believer, Luke 17 : 21. Whenever a believer speaks about the kingdom, the kingdom of God is come to the person who hears these words. Do not confuse every kind of speaking with speaking about the Kingdom of God. This speaking is different, with authority and the power of God,(1 Cor.,4:20). So at this stage,  the person who is praying is saying, Lord use me to witness to someone today about the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is “at hand”, imminent because it is in your mouth, words away.

For example, pray saying these words, Lord today give me the boldness to tell someone about the Gospel of Jesus Christ  and your kingdom.

Step 4 – Pray the Desire of the Lord Heart be  Same on Earth as it is in Heaven

---

Pray that the will of God on earth will agree with His will in Heaven. Basically, the will of God is the desire of His heart. The Lord made man to worship Him, (Revelation 4:11). The entire Heavenly population worships God around the clock, (Revelation 4:8). This is happening right now in Heaven. This is the will of the Lord for the earth. The will of the Lord is that the peoples of the earth worship Him as the entire host of Heaven does so too. By so doing, His will be done in earth as it is in Heaven.

For example, pray these words, Lord, give me the boldness to tell someone about the Gospel of Jesus Christ today, so more people on earth will learn to worship you.

Step 5 – Ask the Lord for Food for Today and Everyday

---

This is two fold. Here we are asking for natural, as well as, spiritual food, the Word of God. Everyday we need food to eat to remain alive but we also live by every Word of God, see Deuteronomy chapter eight verse three, (Deuteronomy 8:3).

For example, pray, Lord Jesus give me a revelation of your Word today. This is praying for enlightenment from the Lord God.

Step 6 – Acknowledge and Confess Our Sins – Pray For Forgiveness

---

Confess your sins to the Lord Jesus Christ and ask his forgiveness for them. Declare that you forgive all persons who have done you wrong or harm. Say their names as you confess that you forgive them.

For example, pray, Lord Jesus I am a sinner. I am a liar. I try so hard not to lie but I do. Lord, please help me to stop. Jesus, Mary is not speaking to me but I have done nothing. I forgive her. Give me courage to speak to her nevertheless Lord. Forgive me of all my sins as I forgive Mary, and Micheal  too.

Step 7: Pray for Guidance in Decision Making

---

We may get involve in evil because of bad decisions we make. When we pray request guidance in decision making from the Lord God. Pray for the ability to resist temptation.

Worship the Lord for His everlasting kingdom, for His everlasting power, and for His everlasting glory. Worship Him as you pray because He is forever.

For example, pray, Lord Jesus we thank you and make all these requests of you because we know the kingdom of Heaven is yours forever. Lord Jesus, we thank you and make all these requests of you because we know you have all power  in heaven and in earth  forever. Lord Jesus, we thank you and make all these requests of you because we glorify you and your name  forever. We agree with you on all these things.

In summary, prayer is speaking to God from your heart, in worship mode. Prayer fulfils the will of God because it represents worship  of God. Do not pray using   “vain repetitions”. Neither is your prayer effective or heard by God because of “much speaking”.  By saying, “much speaking”, the scripture is not referring to length of time in prayer. Jesus was talking about religious people, of his time, who were praying on the streets, saying many words as show to attract the attention of people. Personal prayer is private and done in secret, (Matt., 6:6). You can be in a crowd and praying and no one knows because we do not have to speak to pray. We can pray in our heart or spirit. Corporate prayer is different. This is similar to when all Israel and Moses prayed to God together  .  May we continue to pray to the Lord Jesus Christ as often as you can. May we continue to pray for “all men”, unceasingly.

Finally, prayer replaces the building of altar and offering of sacrifice to God as worship. When Noah came out of the ark he did not pray. The first thing he did was to worship God by building  an altar to the Lord. See Genesis 8:20. The scripture says the  “LORD smelled”  the sweet fragrance from the altar.  This is what prayer has replaced. The altars we build now are getting down on our knees or prostrate before God. See these scriptures for clarity:

• Our prayers are precious and are sweet “odours” to God,  Revelation chapter five verse eight, (Rev., 5:8).
• Our prayers are  mixed with incense and “offer” as sacrifice up to God, (Rev., 8:3).

This model of prayer is complete for it contains elements from all four main types of prayer: supplication; prayers; intercession and giving of thanks, (1 Timothy 2:1). This is the format Jesus Christ taught his disciples. The Lord’s Prayer, as it is popularly known, is not for repeating, as is, because by doing so we would not tell the Lord God the contents of our hearts. This we need to do, to confess our sins to Him.

You should combine prayer and fasting for best results. Learn how to fast.

Let us continue to pray, to be instant in prayer.

Further Reading(s):
How To Pray A Christian Prayer – Different Perspectives.
43 Best Prayer Tips
God Does Not Hear Sinners Prayers?
The Prayer Of The Sinner, Does God Answer It?
Prayer, Christian Prayer, Why Do Christian Pray To Jesus Christ?
Christian Prayer, How Important Is It In Your Life?
First Fruit Jesus Christ Requires All Our First Fruits
The Lord’s Prayer
Biblical Covenants: From Creation to The Flood – The Covenant of God With Noah And What it Means For Us
The Three Things You Must Know About The Test For The Covenant of Love

---

Tagged as: how to pray, king, name of jesus, pray, prayer, precious, sacrifice, sweet odours, worship