"Four Ways to Pray Effecticely" by Pastor Rick Warren July 9, 2019

“Please remember what you told your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations. But if you return to me and obey my commands and live by them . . . I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored’” (Nehemiah 1:8-9 NLT). 

Today I want to talk to you about four ways to pray effectively, based on the life of Nehemiah:

1. Base your request on God’s character. Pray like you know God will     answer you: “I’m expecting you to answer this prayer because of who you     are. You are a faithful God. You are a great God. You are a loving God.     You are a wonderful God. You can handle this problem, God!” 
2. Confess the sins of which you’re aware. After Nehemiah based his prayer on     who God is, he confessed his sins. He said, “I confess that we have     sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! We have     sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that     you gave us” (Nehemiah 1:6-7 NLT). It wasn’t Nehemiah’s fault that     Israel went into captivity. He wasn’t even born when it happened; he was     most likely born in captivity. Yet he included himself in the national     sins. He said, “I’ve been a part of the problem.” 
3. Claim the promises of God. Nehemiah prayed to the Lord, saying, “Please     remember what you told your servant Moses” (Nehemiah 1:8 NLT). Can you     imagine saying “remember” to God? Nehemiah reminded God of a promise made     to the nation of Israel. In effect, Nehemiah prayed, “God, you warned     through Moses that if we were unfaithful, we would lose the land of     Israel. But you also promised that if we’d repent, you’d give it back to     us.”

Does God have to be reminded? No. Does he forget what he’s promised? No. Then why do we do this? Because it helps us remember what God has promised.

4. Be specific in what you ask for. If you want specific answers to prayer, make specific     requests. If your prayers consist of general requests, how will you know     if they’re answered?

Thank you so very much Pastor Rick!

Jesus IS KING!