Prayer Conditioning

~ 7 Keys to Prayers That God Will Hear ~

The small book of James provides 7 Critical Factors for an effective prayer life in just four verses.

1.  Submit To God  ~  “Submit to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).  A Christian who realizes that he is more loved by God than he ever imagined will find it easy to “love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). 

2.  Resist The Devil  ~  “Submit to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).  A Christian with a realistic view of himself will realize that he is more sinful than he ever dared to believe. 

3.  Draw Near To God  ~  “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8).  When you love someone you seek to be with that person.

4.  Cleanse Your Hands  ~  “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8).  When you love someone you want to do things which please that special person.   

5.  Purify Your Heart  ~  “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8).  When you truly love someone your entire focus is on them. 

6.  Weep Over Your Sins  ~  “Lament and mourn and weep!  Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom” (James 4:9).  When you really get to know someone your thoughts become like their thoughts—and you see things the way they see them. 

7.  Humble Yourself  ~  “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:10).  As you do the first six things you will be humbled and one of the results will be an effective prayer life (James 5:16). 

Summary  ~  Let’s put it all into context.  “Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from?  Do you think they just happen?  Think again.  They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves.  You lust for what you don’t have and are willing to kill to get it.  You want what isn’t yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it.  You wouldn’t think of just asking God for it, would you?  And why not?  Because you know you’d be asking for what you have no right to.  You’re spoiled children, each wanting your own way.

“You’re cheating on God.  If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and His way.  And do you suppose God doesn’t care?  The proverb has it that ‘He’s a fiercely jealous lover.’  And what He gives in love is far better than anything else you’ll find.  It’s common knowledge that ‘God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble.’  So let God work His will in you.  Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper.  Say a quiet yes to God and He’ll be there in no time.  Quit dabbling in sin.  Purify your inner life.  Quit playing the field.  Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out.  The fun and games are over.  Get serious, really serious.  Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet.

“Don’t bad-mouth each other, friends.  It’s God’s Word, His Message, His Royal Rule, that takes a beating in that kind of talk.  You’re supposed to be honoring the Message, not writing graffiti all over it.  God is in charge of deciding human destiny.  Who do you think you are to meddle in the destiny of others?” (James 4:1-12, The Message).

Additional Note  ~  Appling these Prayer Conditioning techniques clears the air between you and God. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

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