How Should I Pray? Learn to Talk With Your Heavenly FatherSample

Prayer is Worship

John 4:23-24
"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

God wants us to worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Sometimes people think that worship only means making music and singing to God. But that is not the only way to worship God.

Prayer is also worship when it is accompanied by thanksgiving.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

As we discussed yesterday, powerful prayer is not a desperate wish list we present to God—complaining, whining, and begging to get our way. We now know that it’s not effective to string together a bunch of pretty words without standing firmly in faith on God’s Word.

To worship 'in spirit' means that we do not pray from our flesh, with selfish desires that do not align with His will, but from our spirit—a deep heart-to-heart connection with God.

To worship 'in truth' means that we know God’s will and stand on it. His Word is truth, and we can pray according to His Word by declaring His promises and thanking Him for them in advance.

How do you apply this to your daily life?

Instead of worrying…
Pray: "Father, Your Word says that I don’t need to worry, but I can bring everything to You in prayer (Philippians 4:6-7). Therefore, I lay this before You and receive Your peace. Thank You that You will work all things together for good! (Romans 8:28)"

Instead of doubting God's will to heal you…
Pray: "Father, Your Word says that by Jesus' stripes, I am healed (Isaiah 53:5). I speak healing over my body and thank You that Your healing power is at work in me!"

Instead of allowing fear in your thoughts…
Pray: "Father, Your Word says that You have not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). Therefore, I refuse to allow fear to take over my thoughts and thank You that Your peace reigns in me!"

When you know God’s will because you know His Word, and pray according to His Word, you can be confident that it will happen!

1 John 5:14-15
"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him."

God wants us to always rejoice in Who He is! This is how we delight ourselves in Him.

In Psalm 37:4-5 it says:
"Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass."

God wants us to come to Him with a thankful and joyful heart, because "everything has already been given to us" in Christ. He wants us to believe what He says and trust in Him.

Instead of praying with uncertainty or begging as if God is far away, we can come to Him with the certainty of His love.

Worship God today from your spirit, full of thanksgiving, by aligning yourself with the truth of His Word!

Activation:
Do you pray in accordance with God’s Word?
Choose a Bible verse today that you can stand on and use in prayer.