Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom (Luke 12:32).
How To Pray – Prayer is not a struggle
It is important to know how to pray and prepare for the new year.
Sometimes, when you listen to some Christians pray, it’s obvious they haven’t really understood the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They tend to paint a picture that portrays struggling in prayer; an idea they got from the Old Testament.
But we’re in the New Testament now, and Jesus, the One we’re following, never struggled in prayer.
Follow the footsteps of Jesus
Each time Jesus prayed, His words were simple and profound, full of faith and confidence. He prayed from the standpoint of His oneness with the Father. He had no consciousness of lack or need, and He wants you to have the same mindset.
Imagine His comforting words in this scripture: “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). To think He’s even done it already takes it to a whole new level. He’s already given you the Kingdom.
God has given you the kingdom
Understand that the lesser is included in the greater. If you already have “the kingdom,” then you have everything that’s in the kingdom. In His Kingdom, there’s life, righteousness, love, joy, wealth untold, divine health, peace, etc.; all these are already yours.
That means that the struggle to get God to do any of these or more for you is unnecessary. They aren’t even things you should pray for; they’re part of your inheritance and rights in Christ.
Understand that you have the keys already
If, for instance, you’re giving someone entry and rights to your house, you don’t carry the house to that person, be it a studio apartment, a bungalow or a three-storey building. You do so by giving the keys to the house to the person.
Likewise, you have the keys to the Kingdom of heaven, which means you have access to both spiritual and earthly blessings.
“And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19).
The Kingdom didn’t come to you empty; it’s loaded with goodness.
Once you understand this, your consciousness and perception in prayer changes.
You will walk through life with boldness, knowing that the world is yours. Then, like Paul, you’ll always be thankful to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the Kingdom of light (Colossians 1:12).
Pray by the authority of the Word of God.
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us (1 John 5:14).
God’s Word is His will expressed to us; therefore, praying according to His will is praying the Word. This is a very important element in prayer that not so many understand and practice: praying by the authority of the Word of God.
When we pray, it’s important that it’s on the basis of the revelation and insight given to us by God through His Word. We must act our faith in prayer, on the basis of the Word of God; if God’s Word covers the subject, then we’re audacious in faith to receive answers.
When we pray according to His will—His Word—He hears us.
1 John 5:15 says, “And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” This means that when you pray according to His will (His Word), He hears and answers your prayer.
Your prayers must be in line with the Word of God
Some people, while praying, just talk, and don’t care whether or not what they’re saying is in line with the Word of God.
Your prayers must be consistent with the Word to be effective. Don’t just pray; pray the Word.
God already gave His Word, to show us everything that He’s given to us, everything that He’s made us, and everything that we can do in Christ Jesus.
Thus, when you pray, until and unless your words are in sync with His divine provisions in Christ, you’ll be praying amiss.
He’s revealed to us how to ask; how to pray and what our requests can cover, so you can have faith when you pray to Him. And your faith grows as you learn the Word of God. The more of God’s Word you know, the more faith you’ll have, and the more accurate and effectual your prayers will be.
As you prepare and pray for the new year, apply these truths. You are sure to get results.
God bless you.
Further Study
Romans 8:26-27, Matthew 6:7-8, Psalm 27:1-6, Matthew 24:35, Jeremiah 1:12