But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:6
There are so many things in life that you are in control of. The clothes you wear, the food you eat, your cell service preference, the kind of car you want, and even the kind of woman you want to marry. Some things come to you because you have the will to choose them. If you do not wish to have them, you can reject them and opt for something else.
Free will is a gift from God that enables you to have the power to choose the path you wish. God gave Adam and Eve freedom to enjoy everything in the garden except the Tree of Knowledge. He did this to shield them from everything they didn’t have to know. However, because of the free will they had, they allowed themselves to be deceived by the devil and bring sin and destruction upon themselves.
This disobedience opened a door to a series of things they had no control over. You are a descendant of this disobedience who has been saved through Christ Jesus. Through prayer, you can communicate with God so he shepherds and guides you through all the things you have no control over.
This is why it is important to develop the habit of praying for yourself. Developing a one-to-one with God will let him know that despite all the free will he has given to you in this life, you still believe that he and only he knows what is best for you.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
Romans 8:26
There are lots of things you cannot control as you have seen. There are evil people who wish to do to you intentionally and unintentionally. There are spiritual traps that lay in wait for you in your family, your workplace, your residence, and in your everyday life that you cannot see. Never think that just because you wish others well and try to do the right thing always means that the world will also pay you in kind.
People will be horrible to you for selfish reasons and plan evil for you just to get to their own selfish goals. Imagine driving your car in a very professional way so you avoid any accidents on the road and other drivers not paying you the same courtesy. That means it’s not enough that you do the right thing but it is important that others stay in line too so you can have a peaceful drive and reach your desired destination.
This is why as a Christian you must pray for yourself. It is not enough that you control all the physical aspects of your life; you must also control the spiritual aspects of your life that are not obvious to the naked eye. You must develop the habit of praying for yourself in every situation you find yourself in.
When you are in a public automobile, commit yourself to God’s hands because even though the driver might be very experienced and professionally astute, there may be hidden obstacles they cannot avoid. This is why you always need to pray for yourself so God protects you from the unforeseen.
How To Pray For Yourself
Ask, seek, and knock in faith
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
Matthew 21:22
When you pray for yourself, pray in faith. When a prince asks something for his father the king, he asks in the belief that his father will provide it for him because he is powerful and can do anything for him. When you pray, pray with the knowledge that your Father in Heaven already knows what you need and has the power and authority to provide it for you.
Don’t forget however that the Lord will not give you anything that will destroy you. Even though you may pray in faith for something that you think you need, only the Lord knows how that thing will affect your future. Do not pray in doubt. It doesn’t matter how big you think the response to your prayer will be, pray knowing in your heart that the Lord has already answered it
Pray from a pure heart
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Matthew 5:8
You must always have purity in your heart to communicate with God. Do not harbor any impure thoughts or any grudges with anyone or your prayer will not reach the ear of God. If you have a grudge with someone you must settle it before you offer your prayer unto God.
Ask for things that will help strengthen your relationship with God. Pray for heavenly things and things that will not perish. Pray for things that will strengthen your spirituality. Ask God to protect you from the evil around you. Ask him to break all spiritual curses and obstacles that may be hidden from you.
Related Posts
Give thanks always
” Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-19
Let your prayers be full of thanksgiving. The fact that you even have the strength and voice to pray means that the Lord has been gracious and protective of you. Give thanks to God so he knows that you appreciate everything he does for you.
When you give thanks to God it means that you know for sure and believe that all the good things you receive come from the Lord. Let your speech reflect Thanksgiving always. Speak positively about whatever situation you are in knowing that the Lord is in control always.
Confess your sins and do them no more
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective
James 5:16
Get rid of any sins that may be separating you from the Lord. Banish all sinful habits from your life and from your soul and do not return to them anymore. The prayer of a righteous man avails much. When you confess your sins you let God know that you are willing to leave your sinful ways and go down the path of righteousness. He hears your prayer because he knows that you will use his blessings for good. A sinful person can never please the Lord. If you want God to hear your prayers, you must stay away from sin.
Pray without giving up
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
1 Corinthians 9:24
As learned earlier, God may be delaying his answers to your prayer because you may not be ready for his answer yet. There are also times when that answer you want may destroy you in the future. You should never stop praying to God because you haven’t received an answer yet. Never give up on the Lord because he will always be willing and ready to help you. Keep knocking on the door and it will eventually open.
The Lord answers prayers perfectly and he makes sure that his answers do not eventually hurt you in the future. When a child asks for hot soup, the parent doesn’t give it to them right away but they wait for it to cool before so it doesn’t hurt their child. Be patient always and don’t give up knowing the Lord wants the best for you.
Pray in the knowledge of his word
The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.”
Proverbs 15:29.
Before you pray, know that your prayer is in line with the word of God. Do not wish evil on anyone. Live in peace with your neighbor. You cannot claim to love God and hate your neighbor. Before you pray to God you must not harbor any evil intentions towards anybody.
When you know the word and meditate on it always, you will know what to pray for and how to pray. Your prayer will be consistent with the Lord’s word. You will always ask for things that will bring glory to him and not ruin your future.
Praying for yourself is an empowering and transformative practice that nurtures your relationship with the divine, providing solace, guidance, and strength. Embrace the power of self-reflection, gratitude, and divine confidance. The art of praying for oneself allows us to deepen our spiritual connection and find solace amidst the chaos of life. As you embark on this personal journey, may you experience the love and transformative power of prayer in your life. Remember, you are never alone – for God’s presence is always within you.
