How to Have a Dynamic Prayer Life - The Christian Online Magazine

The Christian Online Magazine -

1 John 5:14-15

- "And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that,
if we ask any thing according to His will, he heareth us: And if we
know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions
that we desired of Him."

1 John 3:21 - "Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we
confidence toward God."

Can anyone have a dynamic prayer life? Or is it only reserved for
Preachers and Leaders?

How is it that some prayers are answered and others are left
unanswered? Is it because we do not have enough Faith?

Over the past 30 years Faith became a Movement in Christianity. Over
the TV, radio, and in the pulpits of various churches, we could hear
Preachers quoting Matthew 17:20 - "...If ye have Faith as a grain of
mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder
place..."

Another popular Scripture was Mark 11:23 - "For verily I say unto you,
That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be
thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall
believe..."

Faith is an important ingredient in getting answers to Prayer. However,
it is not the only item involved. There are other things that must be
taken into consideration.

In Galatians 5:6 the Apostle Paul speaks of Faith in this manner - "...
but Faith which
worketh by Love."

Galatians 5:7-8 - Then he goes on to say to the Galatian believers -
"Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
This persuasion cometh not of Him that calleth you."

We see from these Scriptures that Faith must be coupled with Love. But
what exactly is this Love that the Apostle Paul is referring to?

The answer lies in verse 7 - "Ye did run well; who did hinder you that
ye should not obey the Truth?"

The Love he is referring to is the Love for the Lord Jesus that is
demonstrated by our obedience to His commands.

In John 14:15 Jesus is recorded as saying - "If ye Love Me, keep My
commandments..."

In John 14:23 He says - "...If a man Love Me, he will keep My words..."

Again, in John 15:10 He says - "If ye keep My commandments, ye shall
abide in My Love..."

So we see that our Love for God is proven by our obedience to Him. To
say that we Love God yet walk in disobedience to His commands is to prove
that we are liars -

1 John 2:3-5 - "And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His
commandments. He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His
commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth
His Word, in him verily is the Love of God perfected: hereby know we
that we are in Him."

What about the believer who claims to have such Great Faith, yet walks
in disobedience? What about the one who daily confesses all the promises
of God, yet has secret sin in his life? Does he really have Genuine Faith
that can move mountains? Are those mountains going to move simply on
declaration of Faith or does there have to be Love working with it -
Love that is demonstrated by obedience to God?

Can we mock God by using His Word as a "Lucky Charm" so to speak, yet
live our lives contrary to His dictates?

Galatians 6:7 - The Scriptures tell us - "Be not deceived; God is not
mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

Galatians 5:6 - No, the Apostle Paul explicitly pointed out that
Genuine Faith works by Love. In fact, we don't have True Faith unless we have
obedience to God. For it is only in the atmosphere of Obedience to God
that Genuine Faith operates. Otherwise, what is present is a sham and a
fake, and is not very impressive to God in the least.

Prayer is the beautiful language of all of God's children. As the
songwriter said - "What a privilege to carry, everything to God in
prayer."

How can we be certain that our prayers will get through to God? How can
we be sure that God will hear us when we call and then answer us?

The Apostle John in his First Epistle gives us two perfect guidelines
to follow in order to have a powerful prayer life. He assures us that we can
have "Confidence toward God" -

1 John 5:14 - "And this is the confidence that we have in Him..."

1 John 3:21 - "...Then have we confidence toward God."

This "Confidence" is boldness to approach the Throne of Grace. It is
cheerful courage, liberty of speech, outspokenness, openness, and
frankness in making our petitions known. It is assurance - granted that
there are two principles at play each time we approach God's Throne.

#1 ACCORDING TO HIS WILL

What many Faith teachers left out in teaching God's people how to
exercise their Faith was the Will of God.

1 John 5:14 - "And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if
we ask anything according to His will..."

"According to His Will" - This is the One and Only limitation that God
places on answering prayer for His children. Is what we are requesting
from God His Will for our lives? Some things like Salvation, Healing,
Sanctification, Deliverance, Fullness of the Spirit, and Provision for
one's needs are obviously the Will of God for the Child of God and need
not be questioned. But what about the vague areas such as - Where shall
I live? What kind of career should I pursue? How much money should I be
making? What kind of ministry does God have for me?

To simply pray for God to double our salary, for instance, is sheer
nonsense. God can certainly double anyone's salary, but is that His
Will for every one of His children? God is not obligated to cater to our
fleshly lusts and greed. He knows what is best for us and answers
prayer accordingly. God is not obligated to answer any prayers that are
contrary to His Word or His Will for our lives.

If we always pray for God's Will in mind, 1 John 5:14 tells us - "...He
heareth us." In other words, we can be certain that the answer is on
the
way!

#2 AN APPROVING CONSCIENCE

We are always certain to get answers to prayer when we pray "According
to His Will" and when our hearts do not condemn us. Because we have no
unconfessed SIN in our lives, we are not indulging in secret SIN, and
we are living with purity and holiness of heart, we will feel such
boldness and openness before God every time that we pray. Because we are doing
those things that are pleasing in His sight, we will have such
confidence that God is receiving our requests and Miraculously
intervening on our behalf.

Yes, Faith is important in approaching God. The Scriptures tell us that
-

Hebrews 11:6 - "...Without Faith it is impossible to please Him..."

Nonetheless, it is not the only item to take into consideration. Faith
works by Love, and Love is demonstrated by Obedience. We must always
and evermore desire God's Will to be done in every situation.

Luke 22:42 - "...Not my will, but Thine, be done."

When we pray according to God's Will, and with a conscience void of
offence toward God and men - Acts 24:16 - we will have God's audience
100% of the time. We will then see God's Hand Miraculously intervening
on our behalf. The answer may not always come instantaneously, although it
can and many times does.

1 John 5:14 - But "...He heareth us..." and in due time, He will show
forth His Glory on our behalf.

1 John 5:15 - "And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we
know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him."

"Whatsoever we ask."
"We have the petitions that we desired of Him."
We can be confident of that!