By Johnson V
PRAYER time is not only a time of yearning, but a time of learning. It is a time of submission, when you wait on God, to impress on your spirit, what He wants you to do. When you pray, God will change your life.
Prayer requires obedience and submission. Good prayers are always prayers of submission; submit your will to God, and allow His will to be established in you. Pray according to the will of God and develop holy thoughts, from the concept of the Word of God.
The Bible says in 2Samuel 15:22 But Samuel replied:“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifice as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
Obedience is important in prayer life. Many of our prayers are not answered because of our disobedience to the Lord. If we cannot obey, what is written in the Bible, God cannot speak to us on unwritten issues. We must have a character of obeying God. Without obedience, our prayer life will be cut off from God.
The bible says in the book of Romans; do not make room for the flesh. Don’t make room for you to commit sin. Don’t put yourself in a position, where you will commit sin. Avoid it from the root. Have a habit of obedience; listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, for the promptings of the Holy Spirit will always be in accordance with the Word of God.
In Ecclesiastes 5:4 the bible says, “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfil it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfil your vow .It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfil it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? Fulfil your commitments to God. Do not forget your commitments towards him, for He remembers your vows towards Him. An incomplete promise towards God hinders your answers for prayers.
Check your life, are your prayers not being answered? Then check where the disobedient factor in your life is. Where have you not obeyed God and His plan for you?
Prayer and obedience means, to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and obey the mandate of a prayerful life. Pray in obedience and expect your life to change accordingly. After prayer, know that God is involved in that matter and behave like God is involved. Expect His presence in it. The Bible says in the Gospel of John 11: 39-42, Take away the stone,” he said.“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odour, for he has been there four days.” Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
Today, tell your dead issues, to rise up in the name of JESUS. When you talk to God, behave like you have spoken to Him. You are a child of the heavenly father, when you have spoken to Him, walk in the authority and the peace of your father. He changes you, before changing your circumstances.
The writer is the pastor in-charge of Bethel AG International Worship Center in Bangalore, India. More columns.
