In order to achieve a good and beautiful heart, we need to listen to the Word of God, keep it in our hearts, and practice it. For this, we have to receive strength through prayer (Ref: 1 Timothy 4:5). Although you learn the Word, if you do not pray in the inspiration of the Spirit, you cannot be supplied with wisdom and strength that enable you to discover and apply the Word to yourself. Then, by looking into the following three criteria with which you can check if your prayer is acceptable to God, we hope you will lead a powerful Christian life.
POINT 1. Do you pray in the inspiration of the Spirit recalling the Word of God?
Prayer is communication with God in spirit, so if we offer up prayer in the inspiration of the Spirit we can reach the understanding of the will of God even in a split-second. This is because the Spirit who searches all things even the depth of God teaches us. Therefore, the help of the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential in gaining the knowledge of our 'self' and changing our heart into the truth.
Just as John 14:26 reads, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you," we should pray in the Spirit's teaching and His help. Only when we become filled with His inspiration and strength during prayer can we receive power to be changed.
Here, in order to offer up such powerful prayer, we must have the Word of God planted in us first. Put differently, we should listen to the Word, engrave it in our hearts, spiritually digest it, and pray. When we pray recalling the Word, the Spirit can shed His light in our hearts and teach us about ourselves.
Suppose you pray to accomplish spiritual love. Instead of praying, "Let me remove hatred and let love come into my heart," it is better for you to pray, "Love is patient. I have learned that patience refers to not holding in anger, but the quality of being patient because the heart does not have anything that needs exercising patience. Even if someone hates me, gives me a hard time, or curses at me, I have to understand and forgive him; it is love. Let me cultivate such love in my heart."
When we pray while keeping the Word of God that was explained in sermons, the Spirit gives us realization. He brings back to our memory something done impatiently or if we had a grudge against someone who hates us.
When we pray the Holy Spirit even reminds us of and teaches us about what we could not realize in the busyness of everyday life. Therefore, we can be changed in the power and help of the Holy Spirit who provides knowledge of our 'self' by offering up such prayer.
POINT 2. Do you specify what you need to God in prayer?
When a blind beggar named Bartimaeus kept calling Jesus, He said to him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" Then he answered, "I want to regain my sight!" Jesus had known everything about the man but He asked him what he wanted Him to do and he answered specifically (Mark 10:46-52).
In another case recorded in Mark 9:17-27, a man brought his son who was possessed by a spirit to Jesus. Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him." And he asked for His help saying, "Help us!"
Let's say you are faced with some troubles in your business and you need a helping hand. Right then, someone asks you, "What can I do for you? I want to help you". In this situation, none of you would reply, "Help me just as you please". Instead, you may state explicitly what you need and the reasons you need it. In the same manner, we need to pray with specific detailed contents to God.
The same applies to casting off sin and evil. Jealousy and envy are not just gotten rid of when we pray, "Let me throw away jealousy and envy." You must lay down yourself before God, try to remember what you did and felt, and pray in a specific way.
If you want to be a perfect man who does not stumble in what he says, you might as well pray like this: "I want for myself not to use violent language. I do not want to make any excuse for my mistakes. I desire to stop joking around. I do not want to talk behind others' backs." When you pray specifically like this, God can pour His grace upon you all the more.
POINT 3. Do you offer up prayer that moves God's heart?
In Luke chapter 18 there is a parable of an unrighteous judge. Even the unrighteous judge ended up bringing about justice for the persistent widow when she constantly bothered him to gain legal protection from him. With the parable, the Lord said, "Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?"
An earnest prayer touches God's heart. When we pray fervently in earnest with all our hearts, will, mind and dedication, God gives us strength and grace.
Furthermore, it is important to offer up prayer with the heart of goodness. This is because the fragrance of prayer of goodness can touch the heart of God. To offer prayers of goodness acceptable to God, we need to cultivate goodness in us and try to pile up goodness upon goodness every moment of our lives. Only when the words and actions of goodness become piled up in our life can we give prayers of goodness.
Let's say you pray for your misbehaving child. If you ask God to change him with uneasy feeling like embarrassment, frustration, or resentment, it is not the prayer of love. You have to repent first of your own wrongdoing, saying, "I failed to set a proper example as a parent. It has affected him and that is why he has such a shortcoming." If you repent and then pray for your child with love, it can change your child.
Even if you are in trials, the prayer worthy of being accepted by God is the prayer offered with a humble heart and with thanksgiving so that it can bring to you a change. It must not be a prayer full of lamentation, sorrow, or self-condemnation.
We hope you will specify your hearts' desires in your prayer in the inspiration of the Spirit, offer up an earnest prayer of goodness, and lead a powerful Christian life in God's blessing.
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