THE POWER OF A PRAYING YOUTH This booklet on prayer helps bring out the essence of prayer to the life of a youth. Having the knowledge about prayer is essential to building a successful prayer life. PAUL.N. KAMBI
THE POWER OF A PRAYING YOUTH CONTENTS: PART ONE...2 Understanding the art of prayer... 2 PART TWO...6 The importance of prayer to a youth... 6 PART THREE 10 The foundation of a successful prayer life. 10 PART FOUR 14 6 Obstacles to Prayer and How to Overcome Them.14 1
PART 1 UNDERSTANDING THE ART OF PRAYER. It seems God is limited by our prayer life that He can do nothing for humanity unless someone asks Him. John Wesley. What is prayer? Has there been a perfect and ideal definition of prayer? In this series, The Power of a Praying youth we are going to bring out the essence of prayer to the life of a youth. Having the understanding of what prayer is, is vital to having a successful prayer life. Most at times, most young people have gone in prayer without knowing what prayer is. Not only for the youth but also for every other person to whom prayer seems a hard nut to crack, this series will help you learn how to pray, understand what is required of you and be able to have a successful prayer life. Many authors have defined prayer in different ways which all combined bring about the true meaning and essence of prayer. The simple definition of prayer is communication with God. I came across the quote by John Wesley, It seems God is limited by our prayer life that He can do nothing for humanity unless 2
someone asks Him. and it reminded me of how Myles Munroe once defined prayer. He said, Prayer is giving heaven the license to operate on the earthly realm. It is giving God the permission to operate on earth. Prayer therefore is more than just communication with God. Mere communication may not involve giving permission. Communication can be one way, it may not involve action. We have to understand that prayer is about allowing God to do his will in our lives. As Wesley said, without praying, God will do nothing. God is always limited to the prayers that you make. This is the reason we are instructed to pray without ceasing. Once you stop praying then, you hinder God from operating in your life. The prayer lives of many youths have died off since there is no understanding of what prayer is. The initial step of having a successful prayer life is by first knowing what prayer is. Look at this example. A referee or even a football player cannot go into the pitch without adequate knowledge of the rules of football. If he does so, he is bound to break the rules of the game. Same to prayer, we have always gone to prayer without really knowing what prayer is. We have not seen the impact of prayer in our lives because we have not approached prayer in the right way. We have broken the rules. 3
C Lambert said, Christian prayer in its new testament meaning is prayer addressed to God as our father, in the name of Christ as the mediator through the enabling grace of the Holy Spirit. In our prayers therefore, we have to go before God as our father. We have to understand that the most important aspect between a father and the son is the relationship between them. When the relationship between the father and son is distorted, the son will not be able to ask anything from the father. As Christian youths, our relationship with God has always to be in good state. With sin our relationship with God is at jeopardy. This hinders our prayers. This is why there has been a call for purity among the youth. I remember sometime back there was a purity campaign for the youths. Youths were required to devote themselves to purity until marriage. Why was this important? It was to help us as the youth be able to have the right relationship with our father. The most important secret to a successful prayer life is having the right relationship with our father. I was listening to a preaching by Pastor Bitok, he said something of high importance, God will not interfere with man s free will. God will do everything within the confines of humanity. This therefore means 4
that prayer is very important to a man. Without it, then God won t act. The reason why as youth fail to ask from God is because we have not developed the right relationship with our father. Am glad that at the end of this series we shall be able to know what is needed of us pertaining prayer. Do you ever feel like it s too hard to pray? Do not feel discouraged. You are not alone. Sometimes we think God is not listening, we feel like He is too far from us. Realize all he wants is for us to draw near to him, he shall make everything possible for us. We have a helper, the Holy Spirit who will teach us all things. 5
THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER TO A YOUTH. PART 2 I thank God for helping us understand the secrets to prayer. I believe that you are going to be motivated to pray. I would like us to understand the importance of prayer in the life of a youth. When you understand the importance of something then you won t accept to lose it so fast. Most youth have failed to understand the impact and advantages of prayer. Let me be honest, the reason most of us never embrace prayer is because we have not yet known its value/importance in our lives. Why should I pray yet I am ok? I have not been sick why pray? Well, prayer can become hard or even confusing. Tim Down asks, Is it hard to pray to an unseen, infinite, omniscient being? You bet! In the current world where everything is bathed in material answers, the most frequent answer a Christian will give for praying is, For God to answer my prayers. This is the reason in situations where we don t get answers we want or we find no answers, then the essence of prayer loses its taste. A person says, I don t know why I should keep on praying Why pray? 6
When we understand the importance of prayer, we find the motivation to pray. Prayer causes things to happen, it alters destinies. Trust me prayer is the most powerful force on earth. Prayer is a deterrent to sin in our lives. Prayer prevents sin. I may say, it inhibits or discourages the sinful nature. True freedom from sin is rooted in prayer. I need you to know that sin and its bondages are rooted in forsaking the love and worship of God. Prayer in this context helps you maintain the love and worship of God thus helping you stay on track. Prayer is a weapon of spiritual warfare. Brothers and sisters, we should prayer because we are in battle. The devil is planning day and night on how to suppress the kingdom of God. Without prayer we won t make it. As a Christian youth, your life is precious but without prayer, you are bound to fall. Ephesians 6:10 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provide]. How do you stay strong in the Lord? It is by union with him through prayer. You can only draw your strength from the Lord by prayer. A prayerless Christian is a powerless Christian. If you do not pray where will you get the power to fight the enemy? 7
As youths we have to put on the full amour of God (Ephesians 6:11) for we do not wrestle with blood and flesh but against dark powers and principalities. For you as a youth to stand in salvation draw your power from the Lord in prayer. Prayer helps us know God better We cannot serve well without adequate knowledge of who God is. For us to therefore know the truths about God, prayer is key. Through prayer, the Holy Spirit teaches us everything regarding the kingdom. When you seek more of God in prayer then you are bound to know more about him. Jeremiah 33:3 Call to me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand). When you call unto God, he will fill you with knowledge. You can have access to the heart of God therefore knowing him better. Prayer helps us determine the will of God After knowing who God is, it will be easier to understand and know what his will for our lives is. Through prayer the Holy Spirit reveals the perfect plan of God for our lives. Prayer help us accept Gods will. Always spend time in prayer allowing God to fill you with the knowledge of his will. 8
Prayer is the key to our success. As I said in part one, God is limited to the prayer we make. A person who prays more is bound to realize more blessings from God. How do you expect God to bless you yet you never pray? So unfair. John 15:7 If you abide in me and my words in you, ask for whatever you wish and it will be done for you The desire of God is to answer us favorably. He has our absolute best in mind and his agenda is to satisfy the desires of our hearts but this happens only to a heart that prays. CONCLUSION: Since we have known the importance of prayer in or lives, let s purpose to partake the advantages that come along with being a prayerful person. Pray without ceasing, you will see the impact within no time. Always remember: Prayer is A deterrent to sin. A weapon of spiritual warfare. Helps us know God better. Helps us determine the will of God. The key to our success. 9
THE FOUNDATION OF A SUCCESSFUL PRAYER LIFE. PART 3 I thank the almighty God for this far. As we go on, we get to understand prayer thus giving us the courage also to seek more of God through prayer. I believe that it s only through prayer that our lives are going to be transformed. M.E. Andros said, There is no other activity in life as important as that of prayer. Every other activity depends upon prayer for its best efficiency. Every house has a foundation beneath. The quality of the foundation determines whether the house will stand or fall. No matter how beautiful a house is, it s bound to fall if the foundation is weak. Remember the two builders, one built his house on sand and the other on the rock. When the storm came, the one on the sand fell. Why? The foundation was not firm. The foundations we set will determine if our prayer lives will be a success or failure. Most youths tire and give up their prayer lives so easily because they have not known how to set their foundations right. What therefore constitutes the foundation of a successful prayer life? 10
Recognize who your enemy is. This is the first element to having a successful prayer life. No soldier goes to war without knowing who they are fighting with. For us as youths to conquer, we have to be certain who we are fighting with. This will help us fight smart. Realize the devil is our number one enemy. With this in mind, you can set up a strategy of prayer to counter attack him. Always have adequate knowledge about the enemy. Be well armed as you go to pray. Ensure you have put on the full armor. Pray according to God s will Having known the enemy we are fighting, pray according to God s will. Always see what s happening from God s perspective. The greatest mistake is going to prayer with an already made up mind. That way, you won t be open to God s will. 1 John 5:14-15- This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. Always pray for the mind of God. What we forget is that the mind of God and man are far apart. For life to flow as intended, pray for the perfect will of God. Prayer is not asking, prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at his disposition, and listening to his voice in depth of our heart. Mother Teresa 11
Have a pure heart Having a pure heart means that you get rid of everything that defiles your heart. Praying with a heart that is lustful, full of hate, un-forgiveness or pride won t have any effect. Who will ascend the hill of the Lord or stand in his holy place? Only those with pure hearts. (Psalms 24:3-4). A pure heart does not pray with wrong motives. I have heard some people pray for others to die. Some pray so that others may fail in business for them to excel. Realize that only the prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. What is your motive? What drives you to pray? Have a pure heart. Pray without ceasing (Persistence) We are commanded to pray without ceasing. Why? Persistence. Without persistence, prayer is going to bear no fruit. Some of us pray once and expect answers. The process of seeking is not easy. This reminds me of that woman who went to the judge with persistence until she got justice. (Luke 18:1-8) If this woman never persisted then justice could not have been found. In prayer there is no giving up. Pray pray and keep on praying. Remember, God is limited to the prayers we make. He cannot act until we pray. He who kneels the most stands the most. 12
Always be thankful Having a thankful heart wraps up the foundation of a successful prayer life. Without being thankful to God, prayers won t be effective. Always go before God with a thankful heart. With thanksgiving let your petitions be known to God. (Philippians 4:6). Do not always go to God with complains of how things are not working how you intend. Be thankful for the small things God as done in your life. The problem is that we always wait until something big happens and we forget to be thankful for the small things which matter the most. Having a bitter heart breaks the flow of prayer. A thankful heart opens up to blessing. Always remember, the foundation of a successful prayer life consist of: enemy. Lay your foundation well in that when the storm comes, you will be able to withstand. Learn to pray in and out season. When everything else fails, prayer works. Where will you hide in time of trouble? Seek God in prayer, he will hide you in his pavilion. 13
6 OBSTACLES TO PRAYER AND HOW TO OVERCOME THEM. PART 4 Prayer has not been an easy journey. You can testify to the challenging obstacles that come when it comes to prayer. This will help you in getting the flow and also make your journey to a successful prayer life easier. We have gone to God in prayer but sometimes our prayers are not answered. Sometimes we never feel like praying. Knowing the deterrents to prayer will help you have a more successful prayer life since you will be able to tackle the enemies to prayer. What are the hindrances to prayer and how can I overcome them? 1. Un-confessed sins. Isaiah 59:2 But your sins have separated you from God; your sins have hidden his face from you so that he won t hear. This is the most obvious hindrance to prayer. Our God is holy and we are called to be holy as he is. Having un-confessed sins in our hearts act as a barrier to us reaching God. 14
HOW TO OVERCOME: The only way is for us to have a repentant heart. Always go before God and repent the sins you have committed. All that you realize is against the will of God. Repent also for the sins you may have committed without your knowledge. David is said to be after Gods heart because of his repentant nature. He says, If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would have not listened Psalms 66:18. 2. Having idols in our lives. You shall not worship any other god but me. This is a command. Having idols in your life replaces God in your heart. As youths, our phones, laptops, boyfriends, girlfriends and many more have become idols in our lives. By idols I mean the things that have deviated our attention from God. Prayer cannot be effective when idols have been set in our lives. Ezekiel 14:3 Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put the stumbling block of their iniquity and guilt before their faces; should I permit to be inquired of at all by them? HOW TO OVERCOME: Do not let the things in your life carry you away to the point they replace the place of God. Let me ask, how many hours do you spend on your phone compared to praying, studying the word or being in service for God? Do you own a phone but not a bible? 15
3. Living according to the flesh. Living according to the flesh rather than the spirit hinders our desire and ability to pray effectively. Despite being saved, the flesh has its own demands that are different from those of the spirit. Without being careful, the flesh can gain control of out motives, attitudes and actions thus corrupting our relationship with God. HOW TO OVERCOME: The answer to this is by being led by the spirit. Romans 8:13 For if you live according to the human nature, you are going to die, but if by the spirit you continuously put to death the activities of the body, you will live. 4. Un-forgiveness. For God to forgive us, we also have to be forgiving to others. An un-forgiving heart bears the root of bitterness within. This chokes our prayers. We were saved by grace, meaning it was something undeserved but God still forgave us. How do you expect God to pour blessings to you or hear your prayers if you are not forgiving? A refusal to forgive hinders our prayers. HOW TO OVERCOME: The story in Matthew 18:23-35 about the unforgiving servant teaches us that God forgave us beyond measure, he expects us to forgive others as he forgave us. Do not hold grudges in your heart. Be fast to let go. 16
5. Selfishness. When our prayers are driven by our selfish desires, we ask God for what we want but not what he wants thus hindering our prayers. Selfishness always tends to gratify our own desires. We have confidence in approaching God if we ask according to his will. He hears us (1st John 5:14). Selfishness produces a hardness of heart towards others. In prayer, God s will should come first then pray for the need of others. HOW TO OVERCOME: When in prayer, we should consider others better than ourselves and always be concerned about the interests of others (Philippians 2:3-4). Pray with right motives. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures (James 4:3) 6. Unbelief and doubt. Going to God without a secure belief of his character and assurance in his ability to answer prayer hinders our prayer. Without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and he rewards those who earnestly seek him (Hebrews 11:6). Always pray knowing that God will answer. After praying, thank God for answering your prayer. HOW TO OVERCOME: Always know that God have the ability to do exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask for. 17
Regardless of the situation you are in always believe that God has the answer to your prayers. Trust in Him. CONCLUSION: I believe you have known the things that have hindered your prayer from being effective. Always keep praying asking God for help where you feel unable. Prayer becomes effective when we overcome the obstacles above. Always confess your sins, remove all idols in your life, live not according to the demands of the flesh, have a forgiving heart, do not be selfish and pray believing and eliminate all doubt. 18
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