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Prayer Tips

by Elizabeth Marks  
1/08/2007 / Devotionals

I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; 1 Timothy 2:8 NKJV

Do you want to bless God and make Him smile? Take the advice of this verse.

Pray everywhere Does that mean just on Sunday when I go to church? It includes Sunday, but its all in compassing. Everywhere we go, we are to pray. We pray when we get up in the morning, while we eat breakfast, drive to work, while at work or school, when we need to make a decision, when we experience trials, when we are happy, when we are sad, when we come home, when we sit around, and while we lie down. What ever condition we find ourselves in and where ever we may be at the time, we pray. Prayer is communication with God. Its a constant turning our thoughts to God, where ever we are, in that moment. Dont forget its two-way communication. We talk, yes, but we also pause to allow us to listen when God speaks to us.

Lifting up holy hands Have you ever seen a person during a worship service raising their hands over their head? Those folks are reaching up to God during worship. Theyre setting aside what others may think about them and focusing soling on God, giving Him their all. The lifting up of hands is a physical expression of thankfulness, worship to and gratitude towards God for who He is. We know that by our own efforts we can not make our hands holy. We have been cleansed by Christs death and resurrection. Because of that we have holy hands, stretching out to touch God in all His goodness and glory.

Without wrath and doubting Have you ever prayed with anger or hatred or bitterness towards another living being? Do you remember what some of Jesus disciples did when a Samaritan wouldnt receive Jesus into his house in Luke 9:51-55 NKJV: And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did? Jesus response was You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. 56 For the Son of Man did not come to destroy mens lives but to save them. Based on this, we are not to pray destruction upon anyone.

We are also not to doubt when we pray. James 1:6-7 NKJV But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; Instead of doubting, we are to pray as though we already have whatever it is were asking for. Look at Mark 11:24 NKJV Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Lets review what weve learned from todays verse:
1) We are to pray everywhere. Prayer is two-way communication with God. Talking to God is important, but equally important is listening to what God says to you through prayer.
2) Recognize our hands are holy because of Jesus. We praise and worship our Lord and Savior by raising our hands. Its not the only way, just one of the ways we express worship.
3) Prayer should not be with wrath or doubting. Instead pray as though we have whatever it is were asking for, and then it will be ours.

Lord, we thank you for your great sacrifice to make us holy in your eyes. Thank you for saving us. Thank you for hearing our prayers and accepting our worship of you. We ask that all may come to know you as Lord and Savior. We ask this without wrath and doubting. In Jesus name Amen.

So hows your prayer life? Are you in constant contact with God Almighty through prayer? Hes just a thought away. Are you listening when you pray? Are you believing you have already received whatever it is youre praying for? Start today. Hes waiting to hear from you.

Copyright Elizabeth Marks, author of ThinkOnIt Devotions, has a heart for encouraging believers with God's Word. Please visit http://www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com for more devotions, bible studies, book reviews and more!

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