Lord Teach Us to Pray

Prayer

How do we pray for the soul – yours and other believers?

How we pray for the soul (mind, will, emotions) is governed by how we believe God acts. For e.g., if we believe God restores our souls so that we make new and right choices, then we will ask God to make those changes. However, not everyone believes that God can restore our souls, and not everyone thinks about the way they pray. Many believers do not think about what view of God is behind their praying. We must learn to pray according to the word of God. The psalmist understood that God revives and strengthens us according to His Word. (Psalm 119:25,28)

Here are some biblical ways to pray, and you can use them to pray for yourself, your children, spouse, elders, and for all the church.

1. The first thing my soul needs is an inclination to God and His word. Without that, nothing of any eternal value will transpire in my life. I must want to know God, His word, and draw near to Him. Where does the “want to” come from? It comes from God. Psalm 119:36 teaches us to pray, “Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to selfish gain (covetousness).”

2. Next, I need the eyes of my heart opened, so that when my inclination leads me to the word of God, I see what is really in my heart. I am prone to fill my heart with my own ideas. Who opens the eyes of the heart? God does. Psalm 119:18 teaches us to pray, “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law.”

3. Then I need for my heart to be enlightened with these “wondrous things,” perceive God’s glory in them and not just interesting facts. Who enlightens the heart? God does. Ephesians 1:18 “that the eyes of your heart be enlightened.”

4. When the light of Christ shines on my heart, I am aware that my heart is fragmented, parts remain in the dark, while other parts are enlightened. That is why some believers are extremely anointed in some areas but struggle in other areas. Where does that wholeness and unity of spirit, soul, and body come from? From God! Psalm 86:11 teaches us to pray, “O Lord, I will walk in Your truth, unite my heart to fear Your Name.”

5. What I really want is satisfaction in God and not in the world. Only God can satisfy us because that is how God has created us. Psalm 90:14 teaches us to pray, “O, satisfy us in the morning with Your loving kindness, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.”

6. Satisfaction and fulfilment are desirable things. But I do not just want to be happy in my own little private world with God. I want my happiness to be as full as possible for spreading to others. I want to be strong in joy. This will make me durable in the face of adversity. Where does the strength and durability come from? It comes from God. Ephesians 3:16 teaches us to pray, “that God would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner man.”

7. Finally, I want my strength in Christ to produce good fruit, so that the glory of God will be seen in my life. Who produces these virtuous deeds? God does. Colossians 1:10 teaches us to pray, “that we will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”

All this I pray “in Jesus Name” because God gives these things to me only because Jesus died for me and removed the wrath of God, so that the Father might “freely give me all things” (Romans 8:32).

You can begin praying today using these, Scriptures. Whether you are a new believer or have walked for some years with the Lord, the word of God is settled forever in the heavens.

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