- WHEN? After sins forgiven
- your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear. Isaiah 59:2 NKJV
- If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 NIV
- Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.”And you forgave the guilt of my sin.Psalms 32:5 NIV
HOW?
- FERVENTLY
- The fervent heartfelt prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16 NKJV/AMP/NIV
- Pour out your heart before Him. Ps 62:8 AMP
Examples
Lord Jesus
And being in agony, He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground. Luke 22;44 NASB
Jacob
Yes, he wrestled with the angel and prevailed; He wept and implored His favor. Hosea 12:4 NASB
Hannah
In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. … I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. 1 Sam 1:10,15
- WITH PERSEVERANCE
- “Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. Mt 7:7 AMP
- be unceasing and persistent in prayer 1 Thess 5:17 AMP
- Now Jesus was telling the disciples a parable to make the point that at all times they ought to pray and not give up and lose heart Luke 18:1 AMP
- as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the Lord our God, Until He has mercy on us. Psalms 123:2 NKJV
- Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly] 1 Thess 5:17 AMP
Examples:
Daniel
At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over. Daniel 10:2 NIV
Then he (the angel) said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. Daniel 10:2 NKJV
Elijah
Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he bent down to the earth and put his face between his knees. 1 Kings 18:42 NKJV
seven times he said, “Go again.” Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’ ” 1 Kings 18:42, 43 NKJV
- WITH FASTING
- this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. Luke 2:37 NKJV
- Then after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them [in approval and dedication] and sent them away [on their first journey]. Acts 13:3 AMP
- TILL PRAYED THROUGH
Pray till you get assurance that God has heard your Prayer
Key Verse
if we know that He hears and listens to us in whatever we ask, we [also] know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted to us] the requests which we have asked from Him. 1 John 5:15 AMP
Example 1: Lazarus
Now a man named Lazarus was sick… So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” … After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” John 11:11 NIV
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” … Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said. So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
SUMMARY
Jesus got assurance from God the Father (See vs 41b) beforehand that Lazarus would be raised from the dead. This is why He told Martha (vs 23) though the actual coming back to life happened only later (vs 43, 44)
Could this not be the reason that He stayed back when He heard that Lazarus was sick i.e. to Pray Through
Example 2: Ezra
21 And there by the Ahava Canal I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. 22 For I was ashamed to ask the king for an escort of soldiers and horsemen to protect us from our enemies on the road, since we had told him, “The hand of our God is gracious to all who seek Him, but His great anger is against all who forsake Him. 23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He granted our request.
31 On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem, and the hand of our God was upon us to protect us from the hands of the enemies and bandits along the way.
SUMMARY
Ezra got assurance from God beforehand (vs 23) that they would have a safe journey, though the journey happened only later (vs 31)
- USING SCRIPTURE
- USING SCRIPTURE EXAMPLES
Key Verse:
- God does not show favouritism Rom 2:11 Acts 10:34 NIV Deut 10:17 ISV
Implication: What God did for anyone else, He can do for you
Example 1:
- Lady healed touching hem of His garment Mt 9:20-22 (Mk 5:39 Lk 8:40)
- Others healed touching hem of His garment Mt 14:36
Example 2:
In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.” 2 Kings 20:1 NIV
Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my people, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the Lord. I will add fifteen years to your life. 2 Kings 20:4-6 NIV
2.USING SCRIPTURE PROMISES
Key Verse
- the word of God, is effectually at work in you who believe [exercising its inherent, supernatural power in those of faith]. 1 Thess 2:13
Implication: When you believe the word, it starts working for you.
See also:
the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word, and hold it firmly/tightly, and produce fruit with perseverance. Luke 8:15 NASB/AMP
Mercy
- I will show you mercy Jer 42:12 NKJV
- Be merciful to me according to Your word. Ps 119:58 NKJV
Things we want:
- The LORD will protect you from all harm Ps 121:7 HCSB
Finances
- Wealth and riches will be in his house Psalms 112:3 | NKJV
Health
- by His wounds you were healed. 1 Peter 2:24 NASB
- Pastor David Cho example
As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes are on the LORD our God until He shows us mercy. Ps 123:2 BSB
With tongues
15What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.
1 Corinthians 14:15 NKJV
With fasting
https://biblehub.com/luke/2-37.htm
Mark 9:29