it's a relationship - share what's on your heart with God

Last time,  I shared how to pray real, heartfelt prayer. I wanted to share more specifics, as well  as how God answers prayer.

Because, if we use our right to go boldly to the throne of grace(Heb.4:16) sometimes if  we are praying with wrong intentions through discussing with the Spirit and letting God guide us, we can still have those same prayers answered once we get our hearts right. "Full House" fans will understand this story. However, even those who never watched the show will see in it an example of true, heartfelt prayer and how God will work in our hearts to help us to be more like Him first.

Yes, we have not because we ask not, but at times we don't have becasue we pray amiss - that is, witht he wrong attitude. We only want to consume something in our own lusts.(James 4:2-3) This goes along with how we must pray with a repentant heart, without sins like coveting or revenge overwhelming our focus on God. It can also come when we compare ourselves to others. God may not have the same plans for us as He does for others. It wouldn't make sense for an eye to complain because it's not an ear - it still has a vital role as an eye.

I have several handicaps and have never made much money. I can't do a lot of things that other people do. But, God has used me in a great way, and I earn rewards in Heaven. The best answer to my prayers for healing or lots of money was "no" for the time being. This was the best plan, as I always knew regarding my handicaps. With my lack of money, I couldn't adopt, but the Lord led me to go forth in faith and start toward it, and I feel certain I have a child in Heaven as I blog about here. Whatever happened, God did answer my prayer, even though it wasn't the way I wanted I was satisfied. There are times when God knows something is not the right timing. He may have something better in store. He also knows the future, and so knows what time is best for things. Friends I know who prayed for years for a child did not have one because God knew their financial situation would become very bad. When it improved, the wife became pregnant and they now have a wonderful boy.

This leads into how we can talk with God and share our burdens. We should do so with all our heart, because God knows our needs and He is just waiting for us to admit we can't do it all ourselves.

God gives us free will. But, we have a sin nature. We are like a child who cannot dress him or herself yet. This toddler would get their shirt buttons wrong, their pants backwards, and things would be so crazy it would appear their socks would go on their ears next. That parent knows they need help, but they don't give it to them because the child refuses. Of course, the parent will not help until the child requests it partly because getting dressed is a necessary skill for them to learn, and they cannot learn it without practice. Whereas with God, our fallen nature means that we can't accomplish the many things we want on our own. Especially because of the spiritual warfare which is out there.

Let me give an example, then, of how we might see something and pray.

I've spoken before about how we need to pray when there is violence somewhere that it will not spread and that people will be peaceful and ISIS will not appear. You can read past blog posts about this. Just asking God once for these things will probably not provide them for us. Remember that the battle is spiritual, and the devil will try hard to stop us.

This means we should share our hearts with Himas this allows us to release our burdens and also gives us a certain weapon in the battle against the devil and his angels.

So, when talking with the Lord about this, you could discuss all of the problems which different cultures have faced in our country, and still face. You could share your heart about the terrible persecution some have undergone, and other things. God doesn't mind hearing you complain, but He wants you to be like Elijah and willing to then listen to that still, small voice and do what He commands - in this case, what His Word sys since we now have His complete revelation in Scripture.

So, as an example, maybe as you are conversing with God, He might point out in your heart something like coveting what other people have. You then simply repent and turn fromt hat sin, praying something like, "Lord, I'm sorry if I'm wanting what someone else has just so i can feel like I'm better than them. I know you love me just as I am. Help me to not covet like that, give me strength for I am weak in that area." And, if you mean that he will easily say "yes" and forgive and cleanse becasue he wants a heart that is willing to be more like Jesus.

Much of why we covet is because we are comparing ourselves to others. Once we become satisfied that God loves us just as we are, that is when we start to feel more confident and not craving the things of this world. Then, we can focus more on eternal rewards which can't fade away. For where our treasure is, there will our heart be also.(Matt.6:20-21) I know i wanted to be a minister for a time and part of that was I felt like I needed to be doing something big in the world's eyes; God showed me that He will love me even if I can't do certain things.

Once we have cleared that up we can go ahead and start sharing with Him about how this person needs justice or how the streets need cleaned up, or how peace is needed in a certain city. As we share with God, it's important to ask Him for a spirit of calm to come over a place, for Him to defeat the spirits of fear and anger which are in other people and to change their hearts, etc.. Because once we have confessed and forsaken something in our own hearts, that is when we can ask God to lead others to do that. It's like climbing a mountain - we can't help someone else up to a level above us, we can only pull them up to our level.

And, of course, instead of just asking, "Lord, give them comfort, peace, etc.," we can say, "Lord, be their comfort, peace, etc." - becasue He is love, he is peace, and so on. he loves each of us even though we are sinners; it was while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.

So, go boldly before the throne of grace, and converse with God. Let Him speak through His Word and that still, small voice, remembering that He will never say or do anything that is opposed to the Scriptures. He will never tell people to loot, for instance, becasue he wants a spirit of calmness and peace. he is a God of order, but He will also step outside the box quite a bit to accomplish His will. Indeed, Jesus did this all the time in His earthly ministry, because He wanted to show that the boxes the Pharisees had created were spreventing His love from being shown.

Just remember that sometimes, the best answer is "no" - but one prayer He will always say "yes" to is the salvation of a soul, one coming to repent and trust Him s Saviour. So, be spreading the Gospel. If you don't know how, just a simple one like Jesus2020.com has the simple plan of salvation. Or, give out tracts - you can find them free at places like American Tract Society and Child Evangelism Fellowship. Just remember to give things out prayerfully. (Also, never put tracs in mailboxes, the Post Office has deemed mail boxes only for the mail. Place tracts in doors, door handles, etc.)

And, above all, enjoy that relationship with the Lord and communicate. Because, He desires a personal relationship with each of His creatures - even sinners like us - because He loves us. And, in any relationship, communication is a key part. ANd, if you don't have that relationship, you are only a single, sincere prayer of repentance to Jesus Christ away from eternal life.