I listed to a sermon tape a few weeks back titled “Seven Laws of Prayer” by Ron Dart. If you’d like to listen to it, CLICK HERE!
Ron Dart is probably one of the best Bible teachers I’ve ever listened to, and has a way of explaining things in a way that makes it easy to understand.
Anyway, he was clear that he wasn’t teaching “THE” seven laws of prayer, but just seven laws of prayer.
So, let’s take a look at those seven laws of prayer:
1. We all must die.
This is an important point, because often we are praying for others that they be healed from some injury or sickness. Now, it’s a good thing to pray for people to be healed and live, but remember, we all must die at some point. It’s very clear in Hebrews 9:27, that all men must die once. So, it’s okay to ask God to prolong your life or the life of a friend or loved one, just keep in mind that we all must die at some point and time.
Reading “2 Kings 20″ made me look at asking God to prolong one’s days in a different light. I would always ask God for healing for someone, but now with a caveat that says, “If it’s advantageous to that person”. A very righteous Hezekiah was granted an extension on his life, and I think in the end he probably wished he hadn’t. If you’re not familiar with the story of Hezekiah, I would suggest reading 2 Kings 20, and you will understand better what I’m talking about.
2. Prayer without works is vain.
If you are anything like me, you find many opportunities to pray for others. Now after you have prayed for someone, is that it? Do you move on with life and forget all about it, or do you follow up? Do you go and visit the person you’ve prayed for in the hospital? Do you send them a card or call them to check up on how their doing? Do you give them another thought?
I do realize that it’s not always possible to do that with all the people you pray for, but do you do it with the ones you can? If we want God to bless someone through prayer, should we not do the same in whatever way we can?
3. You need help to pray.
Romans 8:26
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
I imagine most of us have our own routine for prayer. But after we thank God for our blessings, and make our petitions to Him, what then? I don’t know about you, but sometimes I run out of words before I want to end my prayer time. That’s when we need to just let our spirit do the talking for a us. I think sometimes the feelings in our heart go far beyond what were able to muster in words.
4. You are God’s servant, not the other way around.
Now I’m not going to bad mouth anyone, but asking God to provide a close parking spot because we don’t feel like walking a little is not the kind of thing we should be bothering God with. Or asking God to provide a cab or all green lights because we’re in a hurry.
What if you asked God to grab you a cab, and by doing so you caused someone who really needed it to have to wait. The same with a parking spot, what if you’re wanting a really close spot because you don’t feel like walking keeps someone who truly needs that spot from getting it. These are small things I realize, but God is not our genie in a bottle to be at our beck and call for such things. God deserve more respect than that.
5. Absolute honesty is required.
David is a perfect example of honesty in prayer. When he was hurting and afraid, he told God how he really felt. “Break their teeth” “Put gravel in their mouths”. God knows how you feel, be honest. If you are feeling hateful toward someone, or are deeply hurts inside, tell God how you really feel. He knows anyway. Don’t try and be pious and ask God to bless the person who hurt you when that’s not really what you want. Tell Him the truth and ask Him to heal your hurt and anger. Then as He helps you overcome your hurt and anger, you can begin the process of forgiveness.
6. Prayer takes time and meditation.
Prayer isn’t something to be rushed through. Prayer is a conversation with God, not a time to race through a bullet point list of needs with God. Also, prayer isn’t just a time to speak about what’s on your mind, but a time to let God speak to you. The way we do that is with meditation. No, not meditation where you sit on the floor with your legs crossed chanting. The meditation I’m talking about is thinking deeply about the things of God. Trying to wrap your mind around things like what’s life really about. What does that scripture really mean, and how can I apply it to my life. Sometimes I think we spend more time meditating on our favorite TV shows than about are relationship with God.
7. When it comes to words, more is not better.
God understands us better than we could ever understand ourselves. Have you ever gone to God in prayer, and felt a wave of emotion come over you where you couldn’t speak? I have. I think it’s when we realize just how fortunate and blessed we are, and how much He has done and sacrificed for us. It can be humbling and overwhelming. And as a picture is worth a 1,000 words, a deep feeling of reverence toward God is worth so much more. God cares about sincerity and has never been impressed with long lofty prayers full of thee’s and thou’s.
Matthew 6:7
And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
God accepts no less than truth and sincerity when you come before Him. He knows that none of us is perfect, and we all have many flaws. So, He would rather have you sit silently and reverently before Him than speaking many lofty words trying to impress Him.
Do you have any laws of prayer that you could add? I’d love to hear them if you do.
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