Cornerstones of Prayer

Never stop praying. 1 Thes.5:17 [NLT]

Prayer is talking to God the Father, in the name of God the Son and by the power of God the Holy Spirit. To attain excellence in prayer whether as an intercessor or a child of God, you must be competent, sacrificial and devoted.

Competence: In Matthew 6, Jesus outlines what you should do and not do when you pray, as well as technicalities for prayer. No one was born with the skills required for prayer or the understanding of right scripture to use in prayer. You have to develop these skills by spending time with the Holy Spirit who is the authority in talking to the Father. Asking, Seeking and Knocking are three levels of prayer also outlined by our Lord. Study the Bible, learn from the prophets of old. Learn also from your devotion time, how God places things in your heart to talk to Him about. Mediocre prayers yield average results.

Sacrifice: Some things cannot be overcome but by prayer and fasting. Sacrifice is fuel for prayer. Fasting is a form of spiritual discipline targeted at obtaining the right energy level and focus required for prayer. Prayer is going into your closet; shutting your mind out of the counsel of men and seeking God regardless of how long it takes get a response. Abraham walked in habitual fellowship with the Father – Habitual!

Devotion: You only learn how best to talk to God when you walk with God. Prayer requires heart and the right heart can only come from a relationship with God. Pray about anything and everything, don’t back-off, give the Lord no rest until you breakthrough.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, please teach me to speak my heart to the Father. To stay focused and pray according to the mind of the Father so that I will not pray amiss. Teach me to pray without ceasing, in all seasons and for every occasion, in Jesus Name.