One of the most powerful and effective methods of prayer is simply praise. Praising God for what He has done and who He is truly humbles us, and makes us understand more deeply all that He is. In Exodus 15 we see that when the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, and were miraculously delivered from the Egyptians that the first thing they did was sing a song of praise to God. Moses and the entire congregation sang a song to the Lord, “The Lord is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise Him; my father’s God, and I will extol Him.”- Exodus 15:2 God enjoys hearing the praises of His children; not because He’s own some power-trip, but because then He knows that we understand. We understand and acknowledge His greatness and mercy.
There is power in our praise, and it moves God into acting on our behalf. II Chronicles 16:9 says, “For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is His…” God wants to help us, but first we must acknowledge that we want/need His help. “Ask, and it shall be given to you…”-Matthew 7:7
One of my favorite stories from the New Testament is found in Acts 16. Paul and Silas were imprisoned for their testimony about the Lord, and as they started singing praises to God His heart was so moved that there was a great earthquake, and they were released from their chains. There is power when we praise God. Prayer is not a time when we should go to God and give Him our “grocery list”, but prayer is the time when we thank Him for who He is, and what He has done. It is not just a time to doll out your requests.
Another vital aspect of prayer is intercession. As Christians we should be just as concerned with the needs of others as we are with our own. When Jesus was asked by the Pharisees’ what the greatest commandment is He responded by saying, “…You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind…The second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”-Matthew 22:37-39
We have been ordered by God to care as much about our neighbor as we do ourselves. Like the old saying goes, You may not like them, but you have to love them.” That means you must be willing to lift them in prayer, and bring others before the throne of God.
In Acts chapter 12 is the story of Peter’s miraculous release from prison. Like Paul and Silas Peter had been arrested because of his testimony for the Lord. The news had gotten around to the other disciples, and they were meeting, holding a prayer meeting for Peter in the house of Mary. Before the meeting was over an angel of the Lord came to Peter, and released his chains. The Bible says he was chained and sleeping between two guards; Peter was somehow able to get out of prison without disturbing the guards, and he went to the house of the prayer meeting. No one there could believe that it was him, but it was because there is power when we pray for each other. James 5:16 says, “…pray for one another that you may be healed…”
When we pray we should also seek Gods’ will for our needs God desires to give to us our needs. Now, I’m not saying that God wants you to have a Lamborghini or a million dollars, but God always wants the best for you.
In the first chapter of I Samuel we read how the Godly woman Hannah used to go to the temple of God every year on her pilgrimage to Shiloh, and how she prayed fervently for a child. The priest Eli saw her one year, and he told her that the Lord had heard her request; and He was granting her the petition. The next year when she went to Shiloh she had the child of her birth with her. Hannah was so grateful for what God had done that she dedicated her son, Samuel, to the Lord. Samuel became a prophet for the Lord, and he anointed King David over Israel. And David is the King from whose bloodline Jesus came.
We as Christians are commanded by God to make our petitions to Him. Philippians 4:6 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication let your requests be made known unto God.” The Bible says we don’t have because we don’t ask. God is ready to give to us in His will and timing, and God will always give you better than you ask.
I hope you remember this simple, P.I.P., formula. Praise God for what He has done! Intercede on behalf of others! Make your Petitions known to God!
Father, I Praise you for what You have done, and continue to do. I ask that You would meet the needs of all people who read these words. And I ask Father that You would grant me my requests, so that You may be glorified by my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Yes, You Can Ministry 