Lesson 27: Talking with God in Prayer (part 6)

Read: Psalm 68 - www.bible.com/bible/59/psa.68.esv

We must also always pray with confession and repentance. The Bible tells us we must come to Him with a pure heart (Psalm 24:4; 1 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 2: 22; 1 Peter 1:22). We cannot expect God ever to answer our prayers if we are not coming before Him in complete agreement with His agenda. When we harbor sin in our hearts we are never in agreement with His plan (2 Chronicles 6:37; 7:14; Nehemiah 1:6-7; Proverbs 28:13; Daniel 9:4-19; Luke 18:13; James 5:16; 1 John 1:9; Leviticus 26:40-42; Psalms 66:18).

To come before God with a humble spirit is essentially the same as to come with confession and repentance. Here, however, we acknowledge our greatest sin, pride. We cannot expect God to answer prayers originating from a proud heart (2 Chronicles 7:14; 33:12-13, 18-19; Ezra 8:21; 9:5; Psalms 10:17; Daniel 10:12; Luke 18:13-14).

When we are humble, we are then also in submission to God's will. This is another condition of prayer (Job 1:20-21; Matthew 6:10; 26:39, 42; John 9:31; 1 John 5:14-15).


Of course, we know faith is an essential ingredient in prayer. Many Scriptures besides James tell us a prayer not prayed in faith is of absolutely no use. Why would God require this of us? Doesn't He know we cannot possibly have enough faith to believe what we think is impossible? Faith, however, is so important in our relationship with God that it, above almost all other things, determines our success in prayer. If we cannot believe God can do what we ask of Him, we might as well not pray (Psalms 37:5; Matthew 21:22; Mark 9:23-24; Hebrews 11:6; James 1:6; 5:15; Matthew 9:29).

Reverence for God is the same as coming to Him without pride. We must acknowledge He is ever so much greater than we are. Again, if He was not, He could not meet our requests (Psalms 145:19; John 9:31).

When we pray, we must come before God with a heart of forgiveness of others. Many people misunderstand Jesus’ saying in Matthew 6 by believing this statement had something to do with the person’s salvation. It does not. It has to do with a believer's stand before God – how can we expect God to forgive us if we are unwilling to forgive someone else? Is God unwilling to forgive us? Never! It is simply while we hold ourselves in an unforgiving spirit toward others we are not coming before God with repentance and confession. This must never be (Matthew 6:14-15; Mark 11:25).

*Which of the verses in this lesson spoke to you most about the way you pray?