Lord, Teach Us To Pray
Part 6: The Posture of Prayer
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A few weeks ago we talked about the Pattern of Prayer. The recognized pattern of prayer is extracted from the Model Prayer which Jesus taught to both His close personal disciples and the multitudes who followed Him.
Not only does prayer have a recognizable pattern but prayer also has a prescribed posture. So for tonight, why don’t we look at:
The Posture of Prayer
Key Scriptures: 1 John 5 NKJV
14 ¶ Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
What makes God hear one prayer and not another? Note that phrase in verse 14 …
1. ‘… according to His will …’
I tell my grandchildren how important it is, when we are together, to ask Granddaddy for toys and candy first before they ask their parents. They know that if Granddaddy hears them, whatever they ask, they know that I will always be favorable to their reasonable requests. (Especially if it is something that I have always wanted to do for them and already have it purchased and waiting for them to ask for it.)
God’s will is a no-brainer. We can search His Will. His written will has been preserved and handed down to us by our forefathers. Both His former will and His updated will. (Old and New Testaments)
And now, as Hebrews says:
Hebrews 9 NIV
16 In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it,
17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living.
18 This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.
The blood of bulls and goats paid for the first will, Jesus’ blood pays for the new will and testament:
Hebrews 9:15 ¶ For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. (NIV)
At any rate, we can search the Will and Testament of God our Father and stick to the provisions of that will when asking for our inheritance. If it’s in the Will, it is ours for the asking, providing we meet the criteria of the will’s requirements. Namely …
2. Right Standing With God
We know that God is no respecter of persons, however, even though He does not respect our person, He does respect our posture.
1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil."
Before we pray, or attempt any spiritual thing, from witnessing to communion, it is vital that we are right with God.
Our posture in prayer needs to be a posture of right standing …
A Posture of Righteousness
Lets look at some spiritually practical things we can do to achieve this posture of righteousness.
Remember now, our first hurdle to getting prayers answered by God is to pray prayers God will hear.
Two things which insure God will hear/entertain and answer our prayer are:
First: We Pray In Accordance With God’s Will
* We are not asking for something that is not ours.
Then: We Have Right Standing With God
2 Chronicles 7 NKJV
12 ¶ Then the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: "I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.
13 "When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people,
14 "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
15 "Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.
This response from God is provoked by Solomon’s prayer of dedication and petition upon the completion of the building and outfitting of the Temple.
Lets dissect what the Lord is saying here.
First God tells Solomon that He had heard his prayer. I am sure that if we can get God to hear and personally consider our prayers, we have a much greater chance of them being answered in our favor.
Elements Of A Right Prayer Posture
1. Humility
* Our recognition of and dependence on God
2. Focus
* Pray when we pray
* Not just vain repetition
* Seek God’s face and not just His hand
3. Repentance
* Clean hands and pure heart
* There are many wicked and ungodly ways
* Just come back to God
Then! Then will God hear from heaven and move on our behalf.
Sometimes the first prayers we to need pray are for us!
We see that there is a recognizable pattern of prayer, a recognizable posture of prayer, could there also be a recognizable place of prayer?
2 Chronicles 7:15 "Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place. (NKJV)
Why not let that be your own question to God this week as we continue our study: Lord, Teach Us To Pray
Pray the will out of a dependence on God. Sincerely seek His face and return to Him. God will hear and answer your prayers.
