Principles for More Powerful Prayers

Part II

Prepare your Heart to meet with God. In this series on principles for more powerful prayers, we began by examining the importance of attitude as we approach the throne of God. Not only does our state of mind, or attitude, matter, but the condition of our heart also matters. Jesus told his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). How well our Lord knew the disciples–and us! We have good intentions, but we don’t follow through. We make resolutions and we don’t keep them. We can probably all name someone who has declared that he or she will begin exercising or some other lofty aspiration, only to find that the admirable goal ends a short time later, because of the lack of will power. Don’t laugh—we are all affected by this, or Jesus, our Creator, wouldn’t have said it. Flesh may be caught up in worldly passions, but God looks on the heart. (I Sam. 16:7): ^“For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” Our hearts, or spirits, are where the Holy Spirit dwells within us and where we connect with God himself.  Our spirits are the foundation of the Kingdom of God on earth. The very breath of God was breathed into our spirits at creation, when man became a living being. It is our spirits that live eternally. Although separated from God because of sin, when we become believers, the Holy Spirit reunites our spirits with His and we become God’s children (Romans 8:16) once again. It is the heart, or spirit, that God looks at when he looks at us. We must prepare our spirits, building and strengthening them with scripture, and by doing so, develop the very mind of Christ, as we are His brothers and sisters. When we pray back scripture, we are praying the very thoughts of God that were preserved through time for our benefit. In order to do this, let’s study some examples of prayers recorded in the Bible for our benefit.

One of the most moving prayers in the Bible is Psalm 51. This psalm describes King David’s response to the prophet Nathan’s rebuke of his behavior following his affair with Bathsheba and his commandment that her husband, Uriah, be sent to the front lines in battle. David’s heart was broken when he confessed his sin, and was ecstatic when he received a new heart from God in response.  “Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness; according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions,” he prayed. (Psalm 51:1) David continued confessing his sin and his desire to be cleansed from it and then prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” (V 10) And, “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.” (V 12) As he sensed God’s response, he vowed to “teach transgressors they ways,” (V 13) and “my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.” (v 14) As he wrapped up his heartfelt prayer, David cried, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” (V 17). Oh, to pray with a heart like David! His heart moved God’s heart of hearts.

Another prayer that was recorded for our benefit was the prayer Mary prayed upon the angel Gabriel’s revelation that she would conceive Jesus: “Behold, my soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my saviour. For He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden; for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For He that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is His name. And His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with His arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.” (Luke 1:46-54) Mary’s beautiful prayer not only indicated humility and obedience, but also foresight and trust. Oh, to have a heart like Mary! I can scarcely imagine being a young, poor peasant girl and receiving this news with the same response. And yet, God bestowed His glorious grace upon her, and will bestow that same grace to you and to me if we seek Him with all of our hearts.

Check back soon for Part III!