Discover Prayer Part III
Pray the Promises (God’s Will)

(SHARP): NKJ Isaiah 55:10 "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, 11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
Point of View: Praying the scripture (the Promises of God) is the only way to guarantee God will answer our prayer with a “Yes” or a “Yes, but wait.”
Action Step: You must practice praying the scripture.  Stop looking for four leaf clovers in the back yard!  Study the scriptures and thereby be prepared when opportunity or trouble knocks on your front door.
Benefit: Your joy will be made full.  NAS John 16:24 "Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full.

Key Point 1: God watches over His word to fulfil it.

Subpoint 1.1: NAS Jeremiah 1:12 Then the LORD said to me, "You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it."

Subpoint 1.2: NAS 1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

Subpoint 1.3: NAS 2 Corinthians 1:20 For as many as may be the promises of God, in Him they are yes; wherefore also by Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.

Key Point 2: Pray the promises and not just the problem.

Subpoint 2.1: NAS 2 Peter 1:4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

Subpoint 2.2: NAS 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

Subpoint 2.3: Pray the promise not just the problem.  God was aware of our problem(s) before us and provided a promise as the solution long before it came to our attention.  Furthermore, rehearsing only the problem to God makes it grow larger in our hearts.  Praying the promise causes our hearts to believe in God more than the problem.  Remember; whatever you place your attention on will grow larger in your heart – promise or problem.

Key Point 3: The two ditches along the sides of the narrow road of grace based prayer.

Subpoint 3.1: Left ditch: I must always pray “if it be your will.”

Subpoint 3.2: Right ditch: God will do whatever I ask Him to do.

Subpoint 3.3: The narrow road: As I put forth the effort to put God’s word in my heart, then He will change my desires to His desires.  Consequently, when I pray with the help of the Holy Spirit, I will ask according to our Heavenly Father’s will and receive what I ask for in prayer.  (Psalms 119:11; John 15:7)

Point of View: Praying the scripture (the Promises of God) is the only way to guarantee God will answer our prayer with a “Yes” or a “Yes, but wait.”
Action Step: You must practice praying the scripture.
Benefit: You will live life on purpose cultivating a deeply satisfying fellowship with God.  (1 John 1:3).