Pr ayer conversations with God DYNAMIC PRAYER Prayer is talking to God. As His child, you must speak, talk, and pray to Him. It is important! T he Bible is filled with accounts of answered prayers. Moses pleaded with God to change His mind and not destroy rebellious carnal-minded Israel (Numbers 14:11-19). Hannah, who was barren, implored God to give her a child of her own (I Samuel 1:5-11). David beseeched God to forgive him for committing horrendous sins (Psalm 51). And, before He was taken to be crucified, Jesus asked God to protect His disciples (John 17:5 - 11). God answered their prayers. He will also answer yours. But, there are conditions. You must approach God His way, not your own. You need to know how to pray, when, how often, where, and what to pray for. T he answers are In God's Word. Ask in Faith: You must believe and have faith. Hebrews 11:6 -"But without faith it is impossible to please him:". He who comes to God must believe that He is - that God exists - "and that he is rewarder of them that diligently seek him." You must believe God exists and that He will hear you. T hat takes faith. Jesus said, "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." Matthew 21:22. James added, "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord." James 1:6-7. Faith is your proof that God will deliver His promise. It is your guarantee that He will come through for you. Scripture says "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1. God is faithful to His promises. In Zechariah 1:3 he says, "...T urn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts." Be diligent: Let God know that you are serious about your request. Keep in mind that God seldom answers prayers in the way or time frame people expect. God does things His way and according to His timetable. If something is important to you, come to God again and again, but not in a nagging way. Come with sincere, heartfelt petitions. Pray for God's will: In the world, most people pray for selfish reasons. Some ask God to bless them in winning the lottery or that their enemies will get their "just desserts". Consider James 4:2 - 3 "Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: 35
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