LORD TEACH US TO PRAY
(Ten Commandments of Prayer)

Prayer is an important aspect of the Christian life. Jesus prayed every day, and the results made the disciples want to learn to pray. Hence, they approached   [Jesus] one day and said unto him, "Lord, teach us to pray as John taught his disciples." – Luke 11:1.

Prayer is communion with God, just as a new-found love or a beloved marriage needs constant communication to enjoy each other. The more we commune, the more intimacy is developed. However, we must learn to commune with God in prayer. This is the request made in Luke 11:1 by a disciple of Jesus.

For effective results in prayer, let me share with you some of the 10 critical principles or commandments needed to be considered in our prayer life.

 

1. If prayer is a communion with God, then we must approach our prayer place with joy.
For the Christian, prayer should be a joyful experience rather than a burdensome one. This is because in prayer we come to commune with the Greater One. However, I must say that there are times we come to prayer and we feel dry, or weighed down, and sometimes it feels like we are spiritually blotted such that we feel no fire or inspiration to pray. When you find yourself in such a situation, bring yourself to your knees and pray. Pray to first rebuke and reject any weight as indicated in Hebrews 12:1. As a result, since we are surrounded by such a large crowd of witnesses, let us set aside every weight (a mass bulging from its load, hindrance, or difficulty).

 

2. Prayer must be based on the Word of God. Nothing moves God but one thing – what He has said.
God is not a man that he should lie, nor the son of man that he should repent. Has he said it and will he not do it? Or has he spoken and will he not make it good? Numbers 23:19. God likes to hear you speak back to Him in His own words or use what He has said to negotiate your request in prayer. Moses did that beautifully in Numbers 14:14–20. Because the children of Israel had rebelled against Him, God had decided to wipe them off the face of the earth. They had said that the Promise Land is indeed good, but there are giants there. Hence, they can’t dispossess it to possess the Promised Land. They demonstrated a lack of confidence in God. When Moses heard of God’s intention, this is how Moses prayed to God.

Num 14:15-21 - Now if You kill these people as one man, then the nations which have heard of Your fame will speak, saying, ¹⁶ 'Because the Lord was not able to bring these people to the land which He swore to give them, therefore He killed them in the wilderness.' ¹⁷ And now, I pray, let the power of my Lord be great, just as You have spoken, saying, ¹⁸ 'The Lord is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation.'*   ¹⁹ Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, according to the greatness of Your mercy, just as You have forgiven these people, from Egypt even until now."

God responded to Moses' prayer by saying:

²⁰ Then the Lord said: "I have pardoned, according to your word; ²¹ but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord —

If you speak God’s word back to Him He will answer your words in prayer to Him.

It is prayer that permits heaven to intervene in the life and situation of a man who has been given a freewill.

 

3. When we pray we must also receive our prayers lest we will not see results.
This is what Jesus taught:

Mark 11:24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Christians know how to pray and pray for long hours. We have not been taught to receive answers to prayers. Always remember this—God has said that before you call [or ask], he will answer, and while they are speaking, I will hear (Isaiah 65:24). This means that before anyone of us prays, the answer is already provided. Once you ask of God, also receive from Him. For instance, he who prays, "Lord, I ask that you strengthen me with might according to your glorious power." That same person must receive in faith, "Lord, thank you, because you have strengthened me with might according to your glorious power”. Then, step out there with the awareness of His strength in you and see if it does not manifest in your life. Glory to God.

 

4. Prayer is effective when your spirit is involved.
Many Christians pray, but with only their words. Such prayers are empty. Pray with your spirit. This is why it is important to be in a quiet place where you can shut the door and shut the world out and be with God. So, solitude is required for intimacy, and intimacy is required for change. Matthew 6:6

 

5. When you pray don’t let your mind wander.
This experience is common among many Christians. As you communicate with God in prayer, with your eyes closed, see God. As you communicate with God in prayer, also see the solutions you are asking for. See the solutions coming to you. See the changes happening for you. Imagination is necessary for creation. As far as you can see, that is what God will give you. (Genesis 13:14,15)

 

6. If you talk to God you should expect Him to talk back to you.
It is not every time that God does what we ask in prayer or effects the changes we desire. Change occurs as a result of our faith in His word. As a result, it is important that when we pray we make time to listen to God’s voice. It is not proper to go into prayer and you are the only one who spoke. Are you saying that communion is one way? Of course not. Therefore, make time to hear his voice. Let God talking back to you be as important as you pouring your heart and burden before Him. In Acts 13 verse 2, this is what happened:

Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

Let us learn to be quiet and still [in our mind and our spirit] long enough to hear from God when we go to pray. This is a powerful exercise you must cultivate in prayer – listening to God. When God speaks, especially through dreams, and you do not understand, don’t throw it away. Seek understanding (see our dream page for insight into dreams and how to interpret them).

 

7. Raise an altar when you hear the voice of God.
When we pray, God sometimes speaks to us in a dream or other ways. However, when God speaks to you, raise an altar for the Word, and it shall come to pass. Anytime Abraham heard from God, he built an altar.

Gen 12:7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants, I will give this land." And there he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.

Abraham did that to express his faith in the spoken word. He will build an altar and then offer a sacrifice unto the Lord and by that he is saying that I consider what You [God] have said as a done deal. In like manner, take a seed offering and give it to the Lord as a token of your faith.

 

 8. Burdens, groans and stirrings are in their own class.
There are times the spirit of God moves us to pray. We get a stirring to pray. Other times it can be a burden in your spirit such that you feel so uncomfortable but to pray. When there are burdens, stirrings, or groanings, you have to pray until you get a release from those burdens or stirrings. The Spirit of God gives us burdens to intercede when sometimes evil things are going to happen to people close to us or even unknown people. Keep praying or groaning until the burden is lifted, or the stirring ceases, or the groaning is assuaged. (Matt 26:44)

 

9. When you stand to pray forgive.
If there is any unforgiveness in our lives, God will not hear us. The reason is that whatever flows from God to us is by grace. If we are not gracious to those who have offended or hurt us, we also do not deserve the grace of God. So let grace flow from you to others, and God’s grace will continue to flow from Him to you. (Mark 11:25, 26)

 

 10. When you go to God in prayer for counsel, be sincere; don’t attempt to twist His hand.
It doesn’t make sense to God that you want Him to help you make a decision yet you come to Him in prayer already decided. In other words, "Lord, I don’t know which one is good for me. However, I hope you will answer by saying "this one is good for me." It doesn’t apply to God. All those who tried to use God to endorse their lust were unsuccessful. (Jeremiah 42 & 43).