By Pastor Chinedu Emmanuel

You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. – James 4:3

Prayer is communion with God. Praying aright simply means seeking to establish the will of God in prayer. God cannot work outside His will. If you ask anything according to His will, He answers. The Scripture says the purpose of prayer is to establish the will of God on earth, as it is in heaven, and not to establish our own pleasure at the expense of God’s will. The word of God reveals His will. so, we must take time to study his word. We should use His word as our prayer guide because the Holy Spirit will only perform the word of God.

John 15:7 “But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!”

MOSES PRAYED WITH GOD’S WORD

Let us use Moses as a case study and review how he prayed to God regarding leading the children of Israel to the promised land.

Exodus 33:12-14“One day Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Take these people up to the Promised Land.’ But you haven’t told me whom you will send with me. You have told me, ‘I know you by name, and I look favorably on you.’ If it is true that you look favorably on me, let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully and continue to enjoy your favor. And remember that this nation is your very own people.” The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.”

Moses reminded God of what He had said to him and now asked for His presence to go with them. Moses was also asking God for the revelation of His will so he can fulfill God’s will and instruction. Always confirm that what you are asking for is approved of God and is His will. Your request should be in line with what the Lord Jesus already paid for and other things approved by the Scriptures. Then you have grounds like Moses to say this is what you said in your word about this situation, I am now asking that you do it for your own glory and that my own joy shall be full just as you said in your word.

So start by studying and meditating on the scriptures that relate to what you are praying for until it registers in your heart as true and not a mere idea.  Meditate on His word and feed on it until you see it in your spirit as true, then you are ready to pray with it but not before that. Faith to believe and receive will then be ignited.

In an emergency where you have no time to search and meditate on scriptures, the Holy Spirit will draw out of you the reservoir of His word and bring it to your remembrance. The Scriptures say He will bring all things to your remembrance. What you remember is what you already knew. An emergency situation is not the time to start searching for scriptures to use. You cannot learn to swim when you are drowning. That is what many do and they fail because they become overwhelmed by the situation.  Then they get desperate; fear comes in and they become vulnerable. This is also why it is very important to study the Scriptures ALWAYS. Don’t enter into His presence with an evil heart of unbelief. Instead, go with full assurance of the faith produced by the entrance of His word.

YOU MUST HAVE A DESIRE                                 

You may find it hard to believe but some people have no true desire when they pray, especially when they pray for others or their nation. You must prove that you need what you’re asking for, badly, otherwise, you won’t have it. If you are not really desirous of what you are praying for, how do you expect God to give it to you? To prove that you really want it, seek it with all your heart.

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN GOD HAS ANSWERED YOUR PRAYERS?

“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

The peace of answered prayers is truly inexplicable. the peace cannot be attributed to what we see with our natural eyes. When we insist on walking by sight, we will only create disbelief thereby destroying and weakening our faith in God. When we don’t see answers immediately, we get agitated, this shouldn’t be. Hold fast and keep that which God has given you.

When you give thanks, don’t waver. Faith and patience are inseparable. Ask in faith and wait for the manifestation of what you asked for. You are not waiting for God to do it but for it to manifest for it is already done.  Remember, “faith is the substance of things hoped for, evidence of things not seen yet” Hebrews 1:1. The carnal man cannot receive anything from God because unless he sees it, he does not believe. But it is more blessed to believe before you see.

Pastor Chinedu Emmanuel is the Senior Pastor of Fountain of The Living Word Church East Orange, New Jersey.