Entdecke die Kraft des Gebets

1st step

Be authentic before God - be honest "Let us therefore come near with a true heart." Hebrews 10:22

Push open the casements of your inner being so that the Spirit of God can come in. Lead the Holy Spirit through your inner dwelling from the attic to the darkest basement compartment. Become true, say only yes or no, and prove God right in everything. Stand by yourself and your life, don't make excuses. Wait, take your time - time spread out over days showing God how real your concern is.

"Pour out your heart to God; he is our confidence." Psalm 62:9

God is greater than the most glorious and powerful thought of our imagination. He is absolutely exalted above all. So when you come before him, be impressed with the glory of God. Then tell him how glorious he is - because you are coming before God.

"Pour out," that word hits the nail on the head, Yes, you may pour out before God's throne. No "pious" phrases now please, but dump it all out, like a full shopping bag you empty. Everything falls out, the items bought (and stolen), the wallet, the receipt, the crumbs from the bottom of the bag, just everything - tutti quanti.

Bodycheck

Do you really want to meet Jesus Christ? Do you want to allow God in His greatness in you? Are your worshipful words genuine? Can you tell Jesus what moves you? If not, say it in all honesty - pour it out and pray like David: "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know how I mean it. And see if I am in an evil way, and guide me in an everlasting way." Psalm 139:23,24

2nd step

You can't do it without faith - unreserved "yes" to God

"Let us draw near in perfect faith." Hebrews 10:22 "...without faith it is impossible to please God" Hebrews 11:6

The second step into the presence of God is called faith, trust. In chapter 11 of Hebrews (the chapter of faith), the Bible explains what faith is

"Now faith is a firm assurance of things hoped for, and a not doubting of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

This faith is not "I know" but the relationship out of which confidence and assurance grows. Faith in God means, "I have a relationship with God. I live with Him. "Trust that God is close to you - now.

"I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:20

Take a half hour and draw what all that entails.

Trust that God really hears you

"The LORD hears when I call to him." Psalm 4:4

Petitively join in perfect faith (faith is the relationship you have with Jesus) that Jesus Christ is listening to you without reservation and always fresh!

Trust that God does indeed understand you.

"For we do not have a high priest who could not sympathize with our weakness ...

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace in time of need." Hebrews 4:15,16

"Surely no one casts me out!" - this statement is to be taken seriously. It speaks of disappointing experiences, broken promises, fears and frustrations. A glib remark, a quippy look - so many things can make you lonely. But as you pray, you may know that Jesus understands you. The Bible shows us that he is the high priest.

Trust that God will fulfill his promises.

"Whatever you ask in your prayer, only believe that you will receive it, and it will be yours."

"And when you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." Mk. 11:24,25

The moment your prayers are no longer occasions or petty recitations of unbelief, the fog disappears and you see God's promises. In such moments you reach out and know they are already fulfilled.

"What God promises, that He is able to do." Romans 4:21

Trust that God will not make mistakes.

"He leadeth me in the right way for his name's sake." Psalm 23:3

3rd Step

With skin and hair, take me whole - Consecrate yourself to Jesus

"Let us draw near, sprinkled in our hearts." Hebrews 10:22

"Give your bodies as a sacrifice, living, holy, acceptable to God." Romans 12:1

"You take me Jesus, all for yourself." - I know you don't enjoy me telling you this now, but if you practice the preceding, the 3rd step of prayer is the consequence.

If you long for a profound awakening, the start of the day must not be the sound of your radio station's voice. The start of the day must not be reaching for the newspaper or for some book. I admit that this hasn't always worked out, nor has it always been possible. But it was my firm resolve when I understood Colossians 1:18b, "that in everything He - Jesus Christ - might be first."

"Prayer and devotion are connected like soul and body, like heart and life. There is no real prayer without devotion, and there is no real devotion without prayer." (Power through Prayer, E.M. Bounds, © Herold-Schriften-mission, Leun, page 5)

By the sprinkling of blood, utensils were consecrated to God in Israel (Hebrews 9:19-21). While this act did not change the utensils, it did change their use. If they were general utensils before, after the consecration they were used exclusively for service before God.

"But He, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through, and keep your spirit, together with soul and body, unblemished, for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1. Tessalonians 5:23

The biblical view of man offers us practical guidance in how to proceed.

Spirit:In the space of my spirit, I express my longing to be completely filled with God's Spirit today.

Soul: I pass through my mind (concentration, memory), expressing that I want to obey God's will with my will, and open to Him the space of my feelings, asking to be kept, for I do not want to be ruled by my feelings, but to serve God with my feelings.

Body: Let my body also be a temple of the Holy Spirit this day. In conclusion, "Now I give you, Jesus Christ, the right to use me - how and where you want, without asking me."

4th Step

Liberation in the Throne Room of God

"Let us draw near free from the evil conscience." Hebrews 10:22

When you follow the prayer steps pointed out, suddenly some long forgotten thing from the past may rise up and conscience may come forward. Please don't make the mistake and let grass grow over it, because a guilty conscience is stinking rot that corrupts the assurance of faith.

"But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1. John 1:9

On the other hand, there are people who have oversensitive consciences. Or they think that only with a guilty conscience toward God can they live in right humility before God; this is wrong. God's children live out of freedom from an evil conscience.

"Yet even when our conscience accuses us and pronounces us guilty, we may trust that God is greater than our conscience. He knows us intimately." 1. John 3:30 (Hope for All)

5th step

Pure refreshment

"Let us draw near, washed in the body with pure water." Hebrews 10:22

This is not about filth in the sense of murder and manslaughter, but about cleansing from the dust of everyday life - worry, busyness, thoughtlessness, senseless daydreaming, etc. It is like when we wash our hands: though we do not see gross dirt on them, we wash them from time to time, and that is refreshing.

"You are clean because of the word I have spoken to you." John 15:3

God's word is food.
"Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." Matthew 4:4, G

God's word is your super GPS
"Therefore we should pay the more attention to the word we hear, so that we do not drift past the mark."

God's word is proof
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son." John 3:16

"But these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; that believing ye might have life in his name." John 20:31

God's Word is the MAG-Lite (flashlight) of the Lord
"Your word is a lamp to my foot and a light to my path." Psalm 119:105

God's Word is the Lord's garden hose
"Jesus has cleansed the church by the bath of water in the word, that he might set it before me as a church that glories." Ephesians 5:26, 27

My tip: "Pray-reading" - pray half aloud or silently with your Bible open. Read, listen, pray, pause, maybe write. It is prayerful reading, reading listening, listening writing, or vice versa. All in itself is being before God in prayer, responding and responding to what God is saying to you right now. Let it cleanse and refresh you.

Conclusion

"My life with God is an ongoing adventure, and it all starts with prayer. Regular prayer, early in the morning, alone with Him." Bill Hybels' phrase is my life experience, too. In five steps into the "tête à tête" with God: Here you will find energy for you and your team. Just do is! Move toward God.

Source credits:

Author: Matthias Schole

Content, cover image, copyright: www.besj.ch