In this blog we'll be taking a look at what goes into a fruitful prayer life, and discover a few reasons that might create a hinderance to those prayers.
The word compares the labor of ministers to gardening in, 1 Corinthians 3:6 "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase." God's ministers plant the seed of God's word through preachings, and what waters the plant is the washing of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5), but what brings the increase? The sun! Just as Abraham was the sun in Joseph's dream (Gen 37:9) and he birthed the 12 tribes, Jesus is the "light of the world" (John 8:12) and he spiritually birthed the 12 apostles!
What would that mean for us in our prayer life? Well, if we want fruit of the Holy Spirit and increase in our lives, we need to get God's light to shine on it.
Jesus tells us that whatever we ask for in His name will be honored, but have you ever considered what is happening when we use His name? Jesus is the Light of the world and when we plug this knowledge into the parable in 1 Cor. 3:6, we can now see that the light of Christ's name brings the "incresase" to the seeds sown. But what does it mean for us to get "increase" on God's seed? One phrase, righteous change.
All of our prayers revolve around seeking a righteous change. We can now phrase our prayer life around this knowledge. If our prayers are void of His word, it would be like someone trying to start a garden without sowing seed. If we speak His word in prayer and use Christ's name, God is watching us garden without watering the plants! If we speak God's word and fill our prayers with repentance, yet ignore the faith in Christ's name, God is watching us trying to grow a tree in a dark basement! And I'm sure you get the scinario God's word is revealing, but there is something we all need to be aware of, moderation.
Moderation goes hand and hand with patience, we know a plant takes time to grow, so we allocate a certain amount of time and resources in hopes it will grow. Our prayer lives are no different, we can't only sow God's word over a situation, or we won't have enough water to water all the plants..
I felt like adding a few common prayer points many people look over, that when applied to the prayer guide above would bring real change!
Giving your burdnes up to the Lord
Forgetting to ask God to bless what you doubt
Talking to God about the sins you're falling to and asking for help to overcome
Proclaiming God's will to be done
Bringing the word into your prayer session
Praying for your covering & those under your covering
Pouring it out before God without fear of getting it wrong