Monday, December 24, 2012

Prayers that Work (Ac. 4:23-31)

Is anyone else tired of prayer that doesn't seem to work?  Here is a pattern that works.
  • Know what God has done (v. 24).
  • Know what God has said (vv. 25-26).
  • Affirm that God's sovereignty (vv. 27-28).
  • Mention brief, specific requests (vv. 29-30).
  • Stay for the after-glow (v. 31).
The key to this pattern is time. 
  • You need time in God's Word.  Without that, you don't know what God did or what He said. 
  • You need time to pray.  Rushed prayers lack something.  Just because you prayed the right words doesn't mean you prayed with the right heart.  Heart work takes time. 
  • You need time after you say, "Amen."  Don't be in a hurry to leave God's presence when you're done speaking.  What if He wants to speak?  What if He wants to start doing what you asked? 

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