Adding to your Prayers

“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;” Colossians‬ ‭4‬:‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Most of us recognize the importance of prayer. Prayer is where we lay a hold to anything we see in God’s Word. The Apostle writes in verse 2 “to continue in earnest (devoted) prayer”, which means our prayer life should be an ongoing cycle. A lifestyle. It should never stop. When prayer is a lifestyle, "its an attitude".

An attitude that recognizes dependency on God and acknowledging His constant presence.

A christian who doesn’t pray is like a person who wants to withdraw money from a bank account without ever making deposits. often times we use pray like a "get out jail free card"; when we get in trouble; then we pray.

Here is a faithful and well known saying, " Little prayer little power; much prayer, much power”

James says it like this.... “the effective fervent prayer of a righteous person makes power available” (James 5:16) Prayer makes the power of God available.

In order to fulfill the will of God at any level or in any circumstance...prayer is necessary! It is the foundation of every successful endeavor . One minister said, every “failure in life is a prayer failure “.

*Prayer is irreplaceable.

You can't substitute a life of prayer with education, connections and money. PRAYER IS IRREPLACEABLE! In Jeremiah 33:3, God says, " Call unto me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know." Education, Connection and money can only take you so far and can only open so many doors. Jesus said in John 15:5,"without me you can do nothing".

Our pray life distinguishes us in the world, because it gives us access to Almighty God!

Not every person has the privilege to stand before Almighty God and pray and KNOW that God hears, listens and acts on their behalf. (1 John 5:14-15)

If you are a child of God, Hebrews 4:16, says you have the Right and the privilege to approach the throne of God in prayer and EXPECT to receive His grace/power.

God wants to do more in your life and through your life than you could every dream or imagine....PRAYER IS THE KEY! (Eph 3:20). The power that is at work in you or through you will be in direct proportion to your attitude towards prayer.

*Prayer is not a short cut to God’s deliverance or his answer.

In (Dan 9:23) it says the moment he prayed; the answer was on the way.

How many have given up; while their answer was ON THE WAY!

Satan, the pressures of life, your emotions and your thoughts and others people's opinion will be the primary reason many give up on the manifestation of their prayers.

For many, the failure in prayer is not that we don’t call on God; but we don’t “ wait on God

Adding to your prayer

In Genesis 12, we read about Abraham having a conversation with God.

Abraham built altars wherever he prayed and communion with God. Every-time Abraham found himself in a different place he built an altars, and met with God. Abram had a lifestyle of Prayer!

In the “process of prayer” God gives Abraham a promise of a heir; even though in the natural it was impossible and didn’t make sense...Abraham kept on praying! (In prayer we can discover the Will of God and sometime what God shows us; doesn't make sense, because it is beyond our ability)

There is a lesson regarding prayer that you can learn from Abraham in Romans 4:20. As Abraham prayed, God showed him things that were beyond his ability and comprehension. Abraham kept on praying; even when he didn't understand; BUT He add something powerful to his praying.

THANKSGIVING!

“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant (be watchful or to stir oneself) in it with thanksgiving;”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭4‬:‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Thanksgiving is a confession of Praise and Gratitude.

Thanksgiving looks back on what God has already done, considers His faithfulness, and PRAISES Him in ADVANCE for what He is going to do!

When you ADD thanksgiving and praise to your prayers…it moves you into the presence of God ( enter His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with Praise Ps 100:4) He inhabits the praises of His people (ps 22:3) God shows up when you add thanksgiving and praise to your prayers!!

We shut off the power of God when we pray and then turn around and complain!

Add to your prayer Thanksgiving and praise!

“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant (be watchful or to stir oneself) in it with thanksgiving;”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭4‬:‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Examples:

When Paul and Silas was locked up in jail….no way out…Acts 16:25-26 says they prayed and sang praises (thanksgiving to God….all of a sudden God showed up

David said in Psalms 7:17 " I will give thanks to the Lord because of His righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.

Isaiah 40:31 "But those that wait on the Lord, shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faith.