Resolutions That Stick: Prayer

As we head further into 2022, let's keep planning, and attempting to make and to keep some resolutions that stick.

Last time we were together we discussed the importance of resolving to be a better student of the Word of God. I can't say enough about how important it is to not just read, but to digest the Word of God. It's real, it’s living, it's never changing! If you only make one resolution this year, please let it be to make 2022 the year you begin a life long journey of studying God's Word.

Now, let's suppose that there are some among us who are adventurous. Let's assume there are a few people here who desire a challenge. A challenge to study their Bible just isn't "enough" for them, they need more. Well, let's talk about prayer.

Proposition: God wants you to have a meaningful prayer life in 2022

Interrogative: Right where you are sitting today, I want you to ask yourself:

“How can I have a more meaningful prayer life in 2022?”

TS: Let me share with you some simple steps to a more meaningful prayer life:

Step One: Preparation for Prayer 1 John 1:9; Psalm 66:18; 2 Chronicles 7:14

Just like with Bible Study, your prayer life will rise and fall upon the strength of your planning

How can I "plan" to pray?

It's not so much having a plan in place as it is simply being prepared yourself for the work of prayer

First, we must prepare ourselves

Psalm 66:18 says "If I regard (consider, show respect towards) iniquity (sin, wickedness) in my heart, the Lord will not hear me"

The first preparation we must make before we pray is concerning ourselves. Is there any unconfessed sin in your life? If so then God will choose not to hear you when you pray!

If we say with David "Search me o God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts” then we turn to 1 John 1:9 and confess those sins to God and walk away fresh and clean

When we are prepared to pray, we are ready to pray, unhindered, and clear

What is my plan for prayer?

Remember that God is a God of order and wants all things done decently and in order, this includes prayer

How many times have you begun to pray only to become distracted, disorganized, or disoriented?

Just like with your Bible study you must have a plan, for Bible study it was SPECS, for Prayer it is ACTS:

A - Adoration - tell God how much you love Him and adore His mercy and love and devotion to you

C - Confession - Confess your sins to God

T - Thanksgiving - what has God done in your life for you to be thankful for?

S - Supplication - bring your requests/intercessions before Him

Step One - Be prepared to pray! Step Two - Remember to have a…

Step Two: Purpose in prayer 1 John 5:14; James 4:3

Merriam-Webster defines purpose as "The aim or intention of something". When a person takes a hunting safety class one of the first lessons they are taught is gun safety. Treat all weapons as loaded, never aim at anything you do not intend to kill. Is there purpose in your prayer life? Would you take a firearm out in public and aim it wildly around you? Would you carelessly discharge a pistol into a crowd? NO! Why then when you pray do you simply "utter words"?

One of the biggest failures we have in our prayer life is the failure of trusting God.

This is most evident when there is no clear purpose in our prayer life.

Some of the best reasons we should pray with a purpose are found in the following verses:

1 John 5:14 - if we are prying in accordance to the will of God, we have assurance he is hearing us

We need to determine what is the will of God, to do this we need simply to distinguish between our Needs and our Wants

We need money to survive - God knows this and God wants to meet that need, that's in accordance to His will.

We, however, probably do not require millions upon millions of dollars to survive each month. Praying for such ridiculous funds is most likely not in God's will

James 4:3 - when we pray with a purpose that purpose must be or God's will to be done and for God to be glorified in our lives

James said "ye ask and receive not because ye ask amiss…"

"amiss" means to ask wrongly for something

It is important to understand God wants us to bring our desires to Him, but He wants us to ask properly

If you're requests are selfish and greedy, then don't expect God to answer your prayer!

Remember when you pray, you are praying to a God who is:

real

Who loves you,

Who is interested in you and

Who wants to not only hear what you say, but to answer any requests you may have.

When you pray, pray with a purpose! Be specific. Be genuine. Be ready. Be willing to wait.

Not only must we be prepared to pray and know what our purpose is, but the final step...

Step Three: Place of prayer Matthew 6:5-6

Where you pray is up to you.

Matthew 6 mentions a "closet".

The word in the Greek language refers to a first-floor chamber of a house used for storage or privacy.

Strong's offers the definition as a secret chamber

Most of us are familiar with the movie War Room.

In this movie, an elderly, godly lady advised her friend to devote an entire closet for prayer. In this prayer closet, there was nothing but a light bulb and a chair. On the walls were lists of prayer requests and answered prayers. This is where the aged woman fought her battles!

I am not saying that you need to clean out a closet in your house and turn it into a prayer closet, but I am saying that you need to have a prayer closet, either literal or figurative.

Bro. Tom Hill had a place in the woods behind his home where he spent hours in prayer alone with God.

Your closet may be in your bedroom,

it may be in the early morning hours around your table,

it may be in your car on the way to work,

it may be walking in the woods or your neighborhood.

I don't know where you pray the most effectively, but I encourage you to find your prayer closet and to meet God there daily!

There is just one more step toward a meaningful prayer life I want to share today:

Step Four: The Power of Prayer

A good friend of mine once said that the secret to prayer, is praying in secret.

Jesus rose early in the morning to pray to God, He went alone to the wilderness, He retreated to a remote mountain top, and when He prayed in Gethsemane He prayed alone.

When you get alone with God, when you enter His presence, when you feel His power, you will know what an awesome God we serve.

Conclusion: The subject of prayer is worthy of its own sermons series.

I am convinced that if we took a poll right now of everyone sitting in here about the effectiveness of their prayer life, everyone would agree there is room for improvement.

Why don't we right now, today, as a group of believers join in a commitment with one another and before God to make 2022 the year that Parks Crossroads Christian Church becomes a praying church.

When was the last time someone walked this aisle and mad a public profession of Jesus?

When was the last time the fires of revival burned in this church?

When was the last time you personally saw God move in a mighty way in this church?

One last question: When was the last time you prayed for it?

Every head bowed, every eye closed. Don’t ruin this moment. But right now, right where you are, let me ask you, are you ready to see God do it again? Do you believe He can, believe He will? Christian, will you commit yourself to praying this year to see people come to Christ, to have revival, to see God move? If that’s your heart today, then why don’t you come to this altar and before God and man, let it be known that you are ready to see God move!

Maybe today you’re here and if you were honest with yourself you would have to say that you don’t have the assurance that you’re saved. Why don’t you come today and get that taken care of?