We all have hopes and dreams for our love ones, whether it’s for their salvation or their health or for other concerns. While it’s the most important thing can do is pray. Some people thing “My prayers don’t matter.” They feel as if their prayers simply evaporate into space. But we need to remember that we have a powerful God, and He promises that when we pray in Jesus Name, He will answer.
If you are wondering if you are, “doing it right,” or wondering why haven’t seen any fruit (answered prayer). Here are some simple important principles that I’ve learned over the years.
First thing firstIs to Consider how to spend your time with the Lord. Many times we come to God with a list of requests, But, it’s always best to praise God for who He is and what He has done. If someone came to and the first thing that come out of their mouth was “I Want.. I Want, would you fill their requests, or think “WoW, what a self-centered person?” Start your prayer time by thanking God, flow what He has already has done.
Then present yourself before God, “Lord I have given my life to You. You are in charge of every single thing. I want to hear You speak to me. Let the words of your mouth and the meditations of your heart be acceptable in His sight (Psalm 19:14). We sin every day as a human beings so be sure to confess your sins. Our unconfessed sin will hinder our prayers (Psalm 66:18). Proclaim Him Lord over your life and then come to Hin with your needs.
- Beyond a list. Having a list when we part helps us to remember things, but when we are going from reading our lists into real praying, sometimes it’s as our words start rolling our. We need to make sure our hearts know what to pray.
The Holy Spirit will help us in our praying (Romans 8:26) We can ask Hin for help. I pray “Holy Spirit, help me in my praying. Show me the words I need to pray, let my words come from the heart.
When we do this, we will experience fervently in our prayer. You can actually feel the burden of pain that other people are feeling. The more you pray, the more you’ll see things from God’s perspective.
I had a friend that was diagnosed with brain cancer, I was praying, but he was really suffering. I prayed, “God please heal him. I would love to have him healed and whole again. Don’t take him from us. But, Lord, if it is Your will that he goes to be with You now, I pray that your will be done,”
We always have to put God’s will in the forefront of our thoughts. I have seen people make demands on God. When they didn’t get what they wanted, they were angry with God.
- A life-changing Encounter. When you pray for unsaved loved ones, pray exactly as you would pray for a believer.
Pray that God will bless their lives with hope and health. Pray for them to be able to discern the truth. Pray for the attitude of their relationships. There is no way the person to be saved, or healed if no one around them has hope and faith for them, they will, have hope and faith themselves,
Let them know that you are praying for them. Most people would like to hear they are being prayed for. Even if they don’t believe in God.
My church offers a prayer chain you can be put on. So, the members can pray for others. It not a mandatory thing. If you don’t want it, you don’t have to participate. The requests for prayer are sent out in a group text. There is great power in praying together with other whether in person or people praying in one accord. Be wise what you want to share with the group.
Making an impact. When we pray for others, our prayers can enable them to hear God better. When our prayer get sent out into the atmosphere it makes a clear noise. It may seem as if your prayers are not doing anything, but they are – even if you don’t see the person respond right away. Some people may seem like they have a hardened heart toward the Lord. But, we can know that our prayers have an impact because of the power the Holy Spirit is flowing when we pray.
When we don’t see answers. It’s heartbreaking when we pray and pray and don’t see any fruit before a person dies. But if praying was all we could have done. All we can do is hope that we will see them in heaven.
Even when people lose consciousness, they may have awareness that no one sees. If you’ve been praying, remember That; your prayers were heard.
- Don’t give up. Don’t become angry with God because your prayer was not answered. We do not know God’s ways. His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:9).
From Pity to Praise 