Dimensions of Prayer
 
Lesson - 5
 
 
Prepare to enter God’s presence
 
Introduction
By preparing to enter the presence of God, we can offer effectual prayer (Munroe, 2012, p. 75). The following steps in preparation will be useful to offer effectual prayers unto our God.
 
Steps in preparation
 
1. We must repent of our sin
  1. In the old testament, there was always a sacrifice for sins, before people can enter the presence of God. In our times, we are asked to repent of every sin we might have committed and accept the forgiveness that come through the blood of Christ.
    1. Nytpauhfkk; 16:3. MNuhd; gupRj;j ];jyj;Jf;Fs; gpuNtrpf;fNtz;ba tpjkhtJ: mtd; xU fhisiag; ghtepthuzgypahfTk;> xU Ml;Lf;flhitr; ru;thq;f jfdgypahfTk; nrYj;jpg; gpuNtrpf;fNtz;Lk;.
      Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering.
  2. We must confess our sins and then He will forgive us
    1. 1 Nahthd; 1:9. ek;Kila ghtq;fis ehk; mwpf;ifapl;lhy;> ghtq;fis ekf;F kd;dpj;J vy;yh mepahaj;ijAk; ePf;fp ek;ikr; Rj;jpfupg;gjw;F mtu; cz;ikAk; ePjpAk; cs;stuhapUf;fpwhu;.
      If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
    2. 7. mtu; xspapypUf;fpwJNghy ehKk; xspapNy ele;jhy; xUtNuhnlhUtu; If;fpag;gl;bUg;Nghk;; mtUila Fkhudhfpa ,NaRfpwp];Jtpd; ,uj;jk; rfy ghtq;fisAk; ePf;fp> ek;ikr; Rj;jpfupf;Fk;.
      But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
  3. Some areas to consider:
    1. Not going to church, contradicts the Word of God
    2. Not giving God His portion (tithing), contradicts the Word of God (Mal 3:8-10)
 
2. We must be true and honest.
  1. God desires truth in our inward parts. There should be nothing hidden or covered.
    1. rq;fPjk; 51:6. ,Njh> cs;sj;jpy; cz;ikapUf;f tpUk;GfpwPu;; me;jf;fuzj;jpy; Qhdj;ij vdf;Fj; njupag;gLj;JtPu;.
      Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
  2. We must keep our hearts should be pure and our hands clean.
    1. rq;fPjk; 24:3. ahu; fu;j;jUila gu;tjj;jpy; VWthd;? ahu; mtUila gupRj;j ];jyj;jpy; epiyj;jpUg;ghd;?
      Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
    2. 4. iffspy; Rj;jKs;stDk; ,Ujaj;jpy; khrpy;yhjtDkhapUe;J> jd; Mj;Jkhit khiaf;F xg;Gf;nfhlhkYk;> fglha; MizaplhkYk; ,Uf;fpwtNd.
      He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
 
3. Cleanse with the Word
  1. We must what we listen to. We become what is in our mind. If our mind is filled with the Word of God, we will start becoming what wants us to become. We must cleanse ourselves by meditating on the Word of God.
    1. Nahthd; 15:3. ehd; cq;fSf;Fr; nrhd;d cgNjrj;jpdhNy ePq;fs; ,g;nghONj Rj;jkhapUf;fpwPu;fs;.
      Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
  2. Word of God makes us pure, by instructing our hearts to do what is pure and correct. For example, we will stop lying, when we starting meditating on the scripture that says, “do not lie”.
    1. nfhNyhnrau; 3:9. xUtUf;nfhUtu; ngha; nrhy;yhjpUq;fs;; gioa kD\idAk; mtd; nra;iffisAk; fise;JNghl;L>
      Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
  3. By hiding (meditating and memorizing), our mind will be able to avoid sin automatically without our knowledge. We need to make sure we are in the Word of God when we come to God; We must read the Word and we must obey the Word.
    1. rq;fPjk; 119:9. thypgd; jd; topia vjpdhy; Rj;jk;gz;Zthd;? ckJ trdj;jpd;gb jd;idf; fhj;Jf;nfhs;Sfpwjpdhy;jhNd.
      BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
    2. 10. vd; KO ,Ujaj;NjhLk; ck;ikj; NjLfpNwd;> vd;id ckJ fw;gidfistpl;L topjg;gtplhNjAk;.
      With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
    3. 11. ehd; ckf;F tpNuhjkha;g; ghtQ;nra;ahjgbf;F> ckJ thf;if vd;dpUjaj;jpy; itj;J itj;Njd;.
      Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
 
4. Worship and Praise God
  1. We must enter the gates with thanksgiving and praise. When our heart is pure, and sins are washed, it is time to praise Jesus.
    1. rq;fPjk; 100:4. mtu; thry;fspy; JjpNahLk;> mtu; gpuhfhuq;fspy; Gfo;r;rpNahLk; gpuNtrpj;J> mtiuj; Jjpj;J> mtUila ehkj;ij ];Njhj;jpupAq;fs;.
      Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
  2. Worship God in spirit and in truth
    1. nfhNyhnrau; 3:16. fpwp];Jtpd; trdk; cq;fSf;Fs;Ns rfy Qhdj;NjhLk; gupG+uzkhf thrkhapUg;gjhf; rq;fPjq;fspdhYk; fPu;j;jidfspdhYk; Qhdg;ghl;LfspdhYk; xUtUf;nfhUtu; Nghjpj;J Gj;jpnrhy;ypf;nfhz;L> cq;fs; ,Ujaj;jpNy fu;j;jiug; gf;jpAld; ghb
      Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
 
5. Separate yourself from the world
  1. We must separate ourselves from the normal environment and normal activities and set aside time for God. Multitasking should be discouraged since God requires undivided attention.
    1. 2 nfhupe;jpau; 6:16. NjtDila Myaj;Jf;Fk; tpf;fpufq;fSf;Fk; rk;ge;jNkJ? ehd; mtu;fSf;Fs;Ns thrk;gz;zp> mtu;fSf;Fs;Ns cyhtp mtu;fs; NjtdhapUg;Ngd;> mtu;fs; vd; [dq;fshapUg;ghu;fs; vd;W> Njtd; nrhd;dgb> ePq;fs; [PtDs;s NjtDila MyakhapUf;fpwPu;fNs.
      And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
    2. 17. Mdgbahy;> ePq;fs; mtu;fs; eLtpypUe;J Gwg;gl;Lg; gpupe;JNgha;> mRj;jkhditfisj; njhlhjpUq;fs; vd;W fu;j;ju;nrhy;Yfpwhu;.
      Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
 
Conclusion

Our prayers are effective, when we prepare to enter the presence of God. By repenting from sin, by being true to God and by reading/meditating God’s Word, we will be able to enter the presence of God each day. We must be in presence of God all day, by renewing our mind and by being connected to God all through the day through Prayer.
References
Munroe, M. (2012). Understanding the Purpose and Power of Prayer. Whitaker House.

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