Dimensions of Prayer
 
Lesson - 8
 
 
Steps in Prayer (Part 1)
 
Introduction
Prayer has to be learnt and practiced. It takes effort and time to pray in the right way. Prayer is not just a list of things to ask for. It includes waiting on the Lord, listening to Him, and worshipping Him, and petitioning Him so that the will of God will be done in our lives. The following steps can help in improving our prayer life.
 
Recommended Steps in Prayer
 
1. Become Silent
  1. We must enter a quiet place, eliminate distractions in order to effectively pray. Our body and our mind must be focused on God. One should not be worried about anything else while in prayer.
    1. kj;NjA 6:6. ePNah n[gk;gz;Zk;NghJ> cd; miwtPl;Lf;Fs; gpuNtrpj;J> cd; fjitg;G+l;b> me;juq;fj;jpypUf;fpw cd; gpjhit Nehf;fp n[gk;gz;Z; mg;nghOJ> me;juq;fj;jpy; ghu;f;fpw cd; gpjh ntspauq;fkha; cdf;Fg; gydspg;ghu;.
      But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
 
2. Adore Him
  1. We must adore Him. Our God is a great God who created us and the things we see in the world. He deserves our adoration.
    1. rq;fPjk; 95:1. fu;j;jiuf; nfk;gPukha;g; ghb> ek;Kila ,ul;rzpaf; fd;kiyiar; rq;fPu;j;jdk; gz;zf;flNthk; thUq;fs;.
      O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
    2. 2. Jjpj;jYlNd mtu; re;epjpf;F Kd;ghf te;J> rq;fPjq;fshy; mtiu Mu;g;gupj;Jg; ghlf;flNthk;.
      Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
    3. 3. fu;j;jNu kfh NjtDk;> vy;yh Njtu;fSf;Fk; kfhuh[DkhapUf;fpwhu;.
      For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
    4. 4. G+kpapd; Moq;fs; mtu; ifapy; ,Uf;fpwJ; gu;tjq;fspd; cauq;fSk; mtUilaitfs;.
      In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.
    5. 5. rKj;jpuk; mtUilaJ> mtNu mij cz;lhf;fpdhu;; ntl;lhe;jiuiaAk; mtUila fuk; cUthf;fpw;W.
      The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.
    6. 6. ek;ik cz;lhf;fpd fu;j;jUf;F Kd;ghf ehk; gzpe;J Fdpe;J Koq;fhw;gbaplf;flNthk; thUq;fs;.
      O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
 
3. Confession
  1. Confession is agreeing to what God says to us and what God says about us. As we adore Him, God will point out the mistakes that we had done. All we need to do is to “agree” with God and make a commitment to keep His commandments. We must listen to the Holy Spirit who continuously helps to mend our ways. When we agree with God, God is willing to forgive our sins.
    1. I 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. King david acknowledge all that God pointed out to Him. He agreed with God and promised to walk Holy again.
    1. rq;fPjk; 51:1. NjtNd> ckJ fpUigapd;gb vdf;F ,uq;Fk;> ckJ kpFe;j ,uf;fq;fspd;gb vd; kPWjy;fs; ePq;f vd;idr; Rj;jpfupAk;.
      To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
    2. 2. vd; mf;fpukk; ePq;f vd;id Kw;wpYk; fOtp> vd; ghtkw vd;idr; Rj;jpfupAk;.
      Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
    3. 3. vd; kPWjy;fis ehd; mwpe;jpUf;fpNwd;; vd; ghtk; vg;nghOJk; vdf;F Kd;ghf epw;fpwJ.
      For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
    4. 4. NjtuPu; xUtUf;Nf tpNuhjkhf ehd; ghtQ;nra;J> ckJ fz;fSf;F Kd;ghfg; nghy;yhq;fhdij elg;gpj;Njd;; ePu; NgRk;NghJ ck;Kila ePjp tpsq;fTk;> ePu; epahae;jPu;f;Fk;NghJ ck;Kila gupRj;jk; tpsq;fTk; ,ij mwpf;ifapLfpNwd;.
      Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
  3. When God forgives us, there is no more condemnation. We are free.
    1. >Nuhku; 8:1. Mdgbahy;> fpwp];J ,NaRTf;Fl;gl;ltu;fshapUe;J> khk;rj;jpd;gb elthky; Mtpapd;gbNa elf;fpwtu;fSf;F Mf;fpidj;jPu;g;gpy;iy./span>
      There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
    2. 2. fpwp];J ,NaRtpdhNy [PtDila Mtpapd; gpukhzk; vd;idg; ghtk; kuzk; vd;gitfspd; gpukhzj;jpdpd;W tpLjiyahf;fpw;Nw.
      For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
 
4. Give Thanks (Thanksgiving)
  1. Since our heart is forgiven, we can give thanks to God and give Him praise. Give thanks to Him for all the good things that God has done and for all things that He is going to do. King David gave thanks and praise to God after He was forgiven
    1. rq;fPjk; 51:14. NjtNd> vd;id ,ul;rpf;Fe; NjtNd> ,uj;jg;gopfSf;F vd;id ePq;fyhf;fptpLk;; mg;nghOJ vd; ehT ck;Kila ePjpiaf; nfk;gPukha;g; ghLk;.
      Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
    2. 15. Mz;ltNu> vd; cjLfisj; jpwe;jUSk;; mg;nghOJ vd; tha; ck;Kila Gfio mwptpf;Fk;.
      O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.
 
5. Supplications (Specific requests to God)
  1. After thanksgiving, and while we give Him praise, God wants us to make supplications (specific requests) to God. The petitions we make to God will be answered, since God is able to meet all our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus.
    1. gpypg;gpau; 4:6. ePq;fs; xd;Wf;Fq; ftiyg;glhky;> vy;yhtw;iwAq;Fwpj;J cq;fs; tpz;zg;gq;fis ];Njhj;jpuj;NjhNl $ba n[gj;jpdhYk; Ntz;LjypdhYk; NjtDf;Fj; njupag;gLj;Jq;fs;.
      Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
  2. We can use the names of God, while making petitions.
    1. if we need healing, we can call on ‘Jehova-Rapha’
    2. if we need peace, we can call on the name ‘Jehova-Shalom’
    3. if we need provision, we can call on ‘Jehova-Jireh’
  3. God will make all things abound, so we have everything we need to fulfill His plan for our life.
    1. II nfhupe;jpau; 9:8. NkYk;> ePq;fs; vy;yhtw;wpYk; vg;nghOJk; rk;G+uzKilatu;fshAk;> rfytpj ew;fpupiafspYk; ngUFfpwtu;fshAkpUf;Fk;gbahf> Njtd; cq;fsplj;jpy; rfytpj fpUigiaAk; ngUfr;nra;a ty;ytuhapUf;fpwhu;.
      And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
 
Conclusion

When we include all elements of Prayer, our prayer can be rich and fulfilling. May the Lord take you to the next level in Prayer.
References
Munroe, M. (2012). Understanding the Purpose and Power of Prayer. Whitaker House.