ANB 12, How to pray

Hello everybody, God has really been showing me so much lately in the area of my
words and what I say. Obviously, prayer is the most important part of what comes out of
my mouth. I bet a staggering amount of the population prays, but tragically not
everyone's prayers are answered. In truth there are many reasons someone may say their
prayers aren't answered, but a major reason for a "no" answer or no answer at all is that
people don't pray in line with the Word of God. So today I would like to show you one
way of prayer that is totally in line with God's Will and Word, one which WILL bring
results. Let us begin with some scriptures, and then we will see how they teach us to pray,

"Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten My Word to
perform it." (KJV) Another version says, "for I am watching over My Word to perform
it." (RSV). Jeremiah 1:12

We know that the Bible is God's Word. How does God feel about His Word. "[God] has
magnified [His] Word above all [His] name." Psalms 138:2. God honors His Word above
His own name. That means above all, God's Word is true. God will honor His Word
before He honors anything else. God honors His Word by ensuring that all it ! says comes
to pass.

To ensure that God's Word will come to pass, the Bible tells us He is watching over His
Word to perform it. That means wherever that Word is, and whenever that Word is
spoken, God is honoring that Word and watching over it to ensure its complete
performance. So what does that do for us? Let's look at two more scriptures:

"As for Me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee,
and My Words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out
of your children's mouths." Isaiah 59:21.

"And I have put My Words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of Mine
hand, that I May plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto
Zion, Thou art My people." Isaiah 51:16

So not only is God's Word out there with Him watching over it to perform it, but He has
given us those Words so we can use them. So we can be His people. And what happens
when I speak God's Word, because He's watching over His Word, He's now watching
over my words.

God gave us the Bible for many reasons, not the least of which being so that we could
know Him better. But He also gave us His Words so we could use them. God's Words
will all come to pass, so as soon as I put them to work in my life I will see them come to
pass in my life, for God is watching over His Words to perform them.

Let's take one example. Let's say you have a cold. Here is how you should pray over it.
Father God, you see this thing on me, now YOUR WORD SAYS that "You will take
sickness from my midst (Exodus 23:25)" and "by Jesus stripes I have been healed (I Peter
2:24)." Now please remove this sickness, and I declare in the name of Jesus that I have
been healed. Thank you Lord. In Jesus Name I pray, amen.

If you have a situation in your life, speak the Word of God over it, then watch God
perform His Word over that situation. Can't find the scripture? Bible.com is a great
search tool. You can also buy a large book called a concordance ("Strongest Strongs
edition) for twenty dollars which lists every word in the Bible and everywhere to find it.
It also has Hebrew and Greek meanings of the words which are fascinating.

See, that is a surefire way to be in line with God's Will in your prayers and give you more
faith in His sure response. Praise God. Want more proof?

"So shall My Word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto Me void,
but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent
it." Isaiah 55:11 He just told us He sent the Word to us for us.

So is that all you have to do. No. You MUST have faith that what you said will come to
pass. Read Mark 11:23-26. Also read James 1:5-8 on the importance of Faith in your
prayers. We will get into those verses at another time. Remember also, "Faith comes by
hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." Romans 10:17. So read the Word, Speak the
Word, go to Church, that is how to hear the Word, that is how we get faith. Your Word
filled prayers are faith filled prayers, now pray the Word and receive what you pray.

"Let God be true and every man a liar." Romans 3:4 God's Word is true. Speak the truth.

P.S. If anyone needs a church home in or around Tampa, my father preaches every
Wednesday at 6:30 pm and Sunday at 10am at 19302 Gunn Highway, Odessa, FL 33556.
He's an awesome man of God and he'd love to see you, not to mention how God would
feel. If you can't make it, live somewhere else or would like to hear more, let me know
and I'll get you on his mailing list, He sends out free cds of his sermons to all who want
them. Praise God.