Prayer that Connects

We recently completed an election cycle in our area, and our phone rang often with recorded messages from candidates and endorsers of candidates soliciting our vote.  While the recording featured the voice of the candidate, and even though the candidate did at one time speak the message to which I listened, it would be misnomer for me to say I “spoke” with that candidate or the candidate with me.  The call provided me the “opportunity” to hear a message from the candidate.

Often, our prayers amount to little more than a recording that we replay with God so that we can claim we have spoken with Him  Unfortunately, I can think of too many times when I spent the time I allotted for prayer merely reading off a menu of things I wanted to say to God and that I wanted Him to do for me.  I want a more meaningful conversation and fellowship with God than some impersonal “pre-recorded” prayer that I offer Him; and He deserves much more respect and attention than that also. 

There is a difference in saying a prayer and praying.  Today, I want to share with you some elements of prayer that I believe will help you connect with God in a meaningful way and focus on God’s presence in your prayer time.

Seven Elements of Prayer that Connects with God

1.  Praise

Praise focuses on the character and nature of God.  When we praise God, we declare our recognition of His attributes and qualities that make him worthy of worship.  We do well to begin our times of prayer focused not on our prayer needs, but instead on the ONE to whom we pray and His value in our lives. Psalm 150:6

2.  Thanksgiving.

While praise declares our recognition of who God is, thanksgiving expresses our gratitude for what God has done, is doing, and will do.  Thanksgiving takes the time to admit that every good and perfect thing we have has come from the Father.  We teach our kids to say “please” and “thank you,” and we would be careful to say thank you to God. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

3.  Confession.

Prayers should include two kinds of confessions.  First, we should confess our sins.  While the blood of Jesus has provided forgiveness for our sin, the Bible instructs us to continually confess – simply admit – when we sin, knowing the He has already provided our forgiveness.  This confession removes barriers that develop when we presumptuously approach Holy God when we are keenly aware of sinful actions and attitudes we have harbored. 1 John 1:9

In prayer, we should also confess our dependence on God.  At it’s core, prayer is a declaration that we cannot succeed on our own, and that we need God to guide and nourish our lives.  Prayer admits, “I need help.  I cannot do this alone.”  God loves it when we realize that obvious truth.

4.  Intercession.

Intercession takes place when we bring the needs of others to God and addressing them before we bring our own needs is an act of unselfish love for others.  We pray that God would make His presence known in their circumstance, that He would do what He deems best, and that the one FOR who we pray would better come to know the One TO whom we pray. 1 Timothy 2:1

5.  Supplication.

Supplication involves our petition to God for our own needs and burdens.  God delights that we bring our concerns to Him, because in doing so we recognize His worth and value and our lack of self-sufficiency.  Just as we pray for others, we pray that in our circumstances, God would help us see Him more clearly and grow closer to Him.  James 1:2-11 gives us a good understanding of how we should pray about our circumstances.

6.  Submission.

After we have prayed, it is important that we declare our surrender to God’s answers.  He may choose to answer our prayers quickly just as we prayed them, delay an answer, or answer differently than we expected – maybe even denying a request.  Submission declares that God’s way is best and is a promise to accept God’s answers and walk in obedience to Him, and is an essential element to praying. Matthew 6:10

7.  Listening.

I have often wondered how many times I prayed and asked God for something, quickly said “amen” and closed out my prayer, then got up and went my merry way JUST AS God was about to answer me.  Prayer is not a monologue or an occasion for me spill my guts before God and then move on.  Prayer can instead be a dialogue in which God and I communicate with each other.  Jeremiah 33:3

As you pray the next several days, enjoy these elements in your prayer time and focus on communicating with God.