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Tag: Effective Prayer

  • Nine steps to effective prayer

    God loves and cares for you and wants you to communicate with Him always, not when you feel like. Your communion with God should be like the Hart that pants after the water brooks, so let your heart and soul pant after God.

    The Hart is an animal who when is thirsty will forsake everything to look for water to drink. As soon as it finds the water it jumps inside and begins to drink. As the water is so important to the Hart so is our prayer to Him.God is never tired of prayer of His people because He loves fellowship. Prayer is fellowshipping with God.

    Many believers are frustrated because of unanswered prayer. Is it because God is wicked or on holiday? No! After all, He permits us to call upon Him (Jeremiah 33:3). The more you fellowship with Him, the better you are known of Him.

    The reason why certain prayers don’t receive answer is due to the following: (1.) lack of knowledge of the principles of prayer(2.) We abuse His sovereignty and take God for granted forgetting that He is just as loving and also a terrible God if foolishly proved.(3.) We see God as a spare Tyre, only used when needed. (Proverbs 1:24-30). God will always be God. No one can remote control Him.

    Last week we taught on Step Four “Adoration”. Today is the fifth step “Communion.”

    What is Communion?

    Communion means sharing, participation, intimacy, friendship and comradeship. We collectively share the grace after fellowship by declaring (2 Corinthians 13:14). (1.) Jesus – grace (2.) The Fatherly love of God (John 3:16) (3.) A deepening fellowship with the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14c).

    If this three-fold reality is our abiding blessing, then our everlasting salvation will be assured.As you move from adoration into Communion, your prayers are no longer just words.

    True prayer comes from the heart and is based upon relationship. It is the language of heaven, the avenue by which we enter the throne room of heaven and commune with our loving heavenly Father.

    Who are you in communion with? You can either be in communion with God or with the devil, depending on the attitude of your heart (Matthew 5:8). Who do you submit to? Who do you obey? A wicked heart cannot communicate with God. All believers are meant to be in communion with the Lord.

    Communion is communicating with God. Wonderful reader, can you believe the love, faithfulness and awesomeness of God? Isn’t it exciting for a mortal man to communicate with a living God in the supernatural and who at the same time dwells in us in the person of the Holy Spirit?

    Communion is the key and without communion there will be no true breakthrough.

    Who are those that can communicate with God?

    Those who are genuinely born again and filled with the Holy Spirit. No believer can communicate with God without the Holy Spirit. (Romans 8:9, 26-27).

    Total freedom can only come if you are connected to God. You get connected to God as you give your life to Christ.

    Write and share your suggestion,questions and testimony with me through: Pastor Amanda Ogunro, Rivers of Living Water Ministries, 540 Ikorodu Road, Maryland, Lagos. P.M.B 2854, Surulere Lagos, Nigeria. Call 07064733154 or email info@rlwm.org.

  • Nine steps to effective prayer

    A life without effective prayer is a “Doughnut life” – an incomplete life that is devoid of understanding and purpose. Through prayer, communication with God, we know God’s plan for our lives, if not, one begin to go round the mountain without end (Deuteronomy 2:3). That is, a life of repetition without accomplishment. Our discussion today will center on Adoration – step four in the series. This is the next step after you have completely fulfilled the other steps (Thanksgiving, Confession and Supplication). Step Four – Adoration What is Adoration? Adoration means worship. Worship is derived from an old English word “Worthship”. In other words, worship constitutes those actions and attitude that revere and honour the worthiness of the great God of heaven and earth (Nehemiah 8:5-6). Thus, worship is God-centered, not man-centered. Why Adoration? 1. In gratitude for what He has done for us in Christ and through the Holy Spirit. 2. In gratitude for His everlasting love, we are no more strangers or servants but now His adopted son, Abba Father (John 3:16). 3. An acknowledgement that He is our God. 4. Fulfillment of the spirit of promise – the Holy Ghost through His Son. Two key principles govern Christian worship 1. True worship takes place in spirit and in truth (John 4:23) that is, worship must take place according to God’s revelation of Himself in the Son (John 14:6). It involves the human spirit and not just the mind, as well as the manifestations of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians12:7-12). 2. Believers today ought to desire, seek and expect the norm for the church all elements found in the worship experience of the New Testament. God’s blessings for the worshippers When true worship takes place, God has many blessings in store for His people. He promises the following: 1. To be in their midst (Matthew 18:20) and to sit down and have intimate communion with them (Revelation 3:20). 2. To overshadow His people with His glory (2 Chronicles 7:21)(1 Peter 4:14). 3. To bless His people with an abundance of blessings (Ezekiel 34:26). As you have blessings, you also have hindrances: 1. If worship of God is mere form and lip service and the hearts of God’s people are far from Him, then God does not accept their worship (Matthew 15:7-9). 2. A lifestyle of compromise, sin and immorality. God refused to accept the sacrifices of King Saul because he disobeyed His command (1 Samuel 15:1-23). In summary, to adore God is to worship Him, not in the flesh but in spirit (John 4:23-24), (Philippians 3:3a) to esteem Him above all others. After your confession has been made and your petition presented, enter into a period of divine adoration. Look up to heaven by faith (Psalm 29:2). This intimate worship and adoration can be expressed from your spirit. Thus conveying the deep love you have for Him. Sometime tears roll down your cheeks and you become speechless as you gaze into the supernatural (Luke 17:15-16). Total freedom can only come if you are connected to God. You get connected to God as you give your life to Christ. Comments and enquiries to: Pastor Amanda Ogunro, Rivers of Living Water Ministries, 540 Ikorodu Road, Maryland, Lagos. P.M.B 2854, Surulere Lagos, Nigeria. Email at info@rlwm.org.

  • Nine steps to effective prayer

    Prayer is a spiritual exercise which when faithfully done will yield rewarding breakthrough in the spirit which manifest physically to change unfavourable circumstances.

    Today, I will continue with Confession of who you are in the Lord and begin the third step which is Supplication.

    Who are you?

    If you can answer this question carefully and righteously, it will bring absolute deliverance to every area of your life. Let me remind you of who you are, in case you don’t know. You are the redeemed of the Lord, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and from the hand of the enemy (Psalm 107:2). Your confession of who you are in Him will bring immediate deliverance from the hand of the devil. For instance, I usually say “Lord, You bought me with your blood, shed it for me, and died on the cross of Calvary. I am seated at the right hand with you in heavenly places, far above principality, power, might and dominion (Ephesians 2:6). Lord, my life is hidden in you” (Colossians 3:3).

    Do you know what it means to be crucified with Christ? (Galatians 2:20). It means personal attachment to and reliance upon Him. Those who have faith in Christ live their lives in intimate union with Him both in His death and resurrection.

    Now, after confession and declaration of who you are as believers, you begin to confess your needs to God. We are not supposed to be anxious and worry but to confess our need to Him. This is Supplication.

    Step Three – Supplication:

    Supplication means petition (Philippians 4:6). God knows our petitions before we even ask. He is waiting patiently to hear the cry of our heart and if we are patient enough, (not rushing out after presenting your petition to Him), He will speak or be silent. His silence does not mean disapproval. His silence could mean, “I have heard and it is well with you”. Unfortunately, many people do not understand that. After their “give me” and “bless me” list of requests is over, they rush out of God’s presence back to either the television for news, reading the newspaper or browsing on the internet without realizing that the Almighty God is still waiting. Remember God is a person and not an iron. He sees, hears, feels and speaks. Thus He is expecting you to relate with him like a person, He wants you to have a long lasting relationship with Him so as to guarantee the answer to your requests.

    Total freedom can only come if you are connected to God. You get connected to God as you give your life to Christ. You can be born again today by saying this prayer:

    Lord Jesus, I confess to you that I am a sinner. Forgive my sins and wash me with your blood. Deliver me from sin and Satan. I invite you into my heart. I accept you as my Lord and personal savior. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Thank you Jesus for saving me. Write my name in the Book of Life. I am born again in Jesus name, Amen.

    Write and share your testimony with me through: Pastor Amanda Ogunro, Rivers of Living Water Ministries, 540 Ikorodu Road, Maryland, Lagos. P.M.B 2854, Surulere Lagos, Nigeria. Or Call any of these numbers 08023180141,07064733154. Email: info@rlwm.org.

  • Nine steps to effective prayer

    Nine steps to effective prayer

    Dear Reader, last edition I taught on the Eternal Power of Prayer and I believeit has revolutionized your attitude to prayer. You must know that prayer is the foundation of your life;God says my house shall be called a house of prayer, not a house of salvation, healing, deliverance or prosperity as these are got through prayer. You are that house of prayer.

    Prayer is a fellowship, acommunion, a commitment and a command from God(1 Thessalonians 5:17). There is an approach to prayer which means it could be wrongly or rightly approached.

    The Right Approach

    Right approach to prayer ispossessinga believing heart filled with faith according to His will (1 John 5:14-15) and is profitable in all things (i.e. from sickness to health, from bondage to freedom, from barrenness to fruitfulness, from lack to abundance and from poverty to prosperity).

    Wrong Approach to Prayer

    Prayer with an unbelieving and faithless heart isWrong approach to prayer; it’s unprofitable in all things (i.e. no healing, no deliverance, no prosperity only by grace,if prayers are answered).Though the power of prayer is limitless butit does not come very easy except with daily practice and perseverance.God can do nothing without your prayer. You can do nothing without God, and nothing leaves heaven without prayer. Today, I pray as you read this article God will anoint you, make you vessels of prayer. Amen.That is why I will be showing you the Nine vital steps to effective prayer series. We begin today with Thanksgiving.

    Step One -Thanksgiving

    What is Thanksgiving?

    Thanksgiving is gratitude expressed to God for His faithfulness, which is basic element in a believer’s life (Philippians 4:6). We must thank the Lord morning and evening for salvation through His son Jesus; for His loving kindness and grace; and for His faithful guidance andcare. We should express our gratitude for the word of God (1 Thessalonians 2:13) and for His spiritual gifts. All believers must give thanks in the name of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17).

    Thus, for prayer to be effective you must begin by entering into His presence with thanksgiving (Psalm 100:4). Appreciate Him for what He did in the past, present and future.

    Reasons for Thanksgiving

    1. You were one of the many people that had cancer, diabetes etc. others died, but you survived.

    2. Ten years barrenness rolled away, you are now a mother of five children.

    3. You were once a molue and danfo commuter but now you are a car owner.

    4. You were once jobless but now gainfully employed.

    Count your blessings and name them one after the other and see what God has done for you.Think about where you came from and where you are now. Even our Lord Jesus Christ recognized the importance of thanksgiving and rewarded the only cleansed leper for his gratefulness (Luke 17:15-19).

    Give thanks always, eitherin good orbad times – It could be done in the office or at home, before and after prayer. (1Thessalonians 5:18). Make thanksgiving your way of life. Always remember that praise and worship are thanksgiving and weapon in disguise. (2 Chronicles 20:21-24)

    Total freedom can only come if you are connected to God. You get connected to God as you give your life to Christ. You can be born again today by saying this prayer:

    Lord Jesus, I confess to you that I am a sinner. Forgive my sins and wash me with your blood. Deliver me from sin and Satan. I invite you into my heart. I accept you as my Lord and personal saviour. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I thank you Jesus for saving me. Write my name in the Book of Life. I am born again in Jesus name, Amen.

    Join me on the next edition for the continuation of this teaching – Step 2

    Write and share your testimony with me through: Pastor Amanda Ogunro, Rivers of Living Water Ministries, 540 Ikorodu Road, Maryland, Lagos. P.M.B 2854, Surulere Lagos, Nigeria.Or Call this number08093167675. Also Email us at info@rlwm.org.