INSPIRATION FOR YOU
How to Pray for an Hour
An hour each day-for one year. That's more than 45 eight hour days! Imagine arranging your schedule to allow for 6 weeks each year to pray. And what a difference it would make! More prayer, more power. Little prayer, little power.
"The greatest victories to the church of Christ or to the individual Christian are not those that are gained by talent or education, by wealth or the favour of men. They are victories that are gained in the audience chamber with God, when earnest, agonizing faith lays hold upon the mighty arm of power." E. G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 203.
Here's a wonderful way to help you stay on course. If you take only five minutes for each of these prayer methods, you will have spent one hour. You'll come away refreshed, steadied, encouraged, empowered, because He has promised, and He is faithful.
- Praise - Recognize God's nature. Psalm 63:2
- Waiting - Silent soul surrender. He will quiet your heart. Psalm 46:10
- Confession -Temple cleansing time. He brings peace. Psalm 139:23
- Scripture praying - Word-enriched prayer. Jeremiah 23:29
- Watching - Developing holy alertness. Colossians 4:2
- Intercession - Remember those around you, and the world. 1 Timothy 2:1,2
- Petition - Share your specific personal needs with God. Matthew 7:7
- Thanksgiving - Confess specific blessings of all kinds. 1 Thessalonians. 5:18
- Singing - Worship in song. Use prayer songs. Psalm 100:2
- Meditation - Ponder words of Scripture and Spirit of Prophecy. Joshua 1:8
- Listening - Receive spiritual instruction from God. Ecclesiastes 5:2
- Praise - Begin and end prayer with the focus on God. Psalm 52:9
Praying with the Heart
The Bible teaches that sin will even stop God hearing our prayers (Psalm 66:18). It teaches, among other things, that if we pray with doubt we will not get an answer (James 1:6-7).
Here's how to be heard:
1. Pray with faith (Hebrews 11:6).
2. Pray with clean hands and a pure heart (Psalm 24:3-4).
3. Pray genuine heart-felt prayers rather than vain repetitions (Matthew 6:7).
4. Make sure that you are praying to the God revealed in the Holy Scriptures (Exodus 20:3-6).
God's Promise
"Our compassionate Redeemer is watching you with love and sympathy, ready to hear your prayers and to render you the assistance which you need....
"He who gave back to the widow her only son as he was carried to the burial is touched today by the woe of the bereaved mother. He who wept tears of sympathy at the grave of Lazarus and gave back to Martha and Mary their buried brother; who pardoned Mary Magdalene; who remembered His mother when He was hanging in agony upon the cross; who appeared to the weeping women and made them His messengers to spread the first glad tidings of a risen Saviour--He is woman's best friend today and is ready to aid her in all the relations of life." Ellen White, Adventist Home, p. 204.
Heather Haworth, British Union Women's Ministries director
