Lord, Teach Me To Pray: And The Journey Continues
Through the years the Holy Spirit taught me how to pray both simple prayers and complicated prayers. I learned how to pray for deliverance and how to cast out demons. Praying for a wounded spirit became easy for me to do. Travailing prayer was just something I learned to yield to. Praying with boldness grew in my life as I became more confident in Him. The prayer of agreement was forever settled in my heart.
But if you can believe this, the hard part for me in learning to pray came when God asked me to go to evangelical ministers’ gatherings and learn to pray with other ministers. Having never prayed in tongues, some of these ministers were very uncomfortable praying with me as a “tongue talker.” I was uncomfortable as well! But little by little I learned to accept their ways of prayer and learned how to work and cooperate within their methods. I must admit that it was not easy to deny my prayer language once I had learned to pray in the Spirit.
God began to show me how to present myself, how to speak, and how to work within the framework given at each prayer situation. Paul said that he became all things to all people, yet he was never ashamed of what he knew, nor did he compromise to the point of error in doctrine. Prayer techniques or methods should not divide us. As Mothers of Nations, we must learn to adjust to all with a heart of love and acceptance. For in reality, prayer is to benefit the entire Body of Christ.
Once I was asked to pray the opening prayer at the Minnesota State Senate. I was given one minute and told that the prayer must be done in a way that was not exclusive or offensive to anyone present. I asked the Lord to show me how to pray at the Senate within the parameters given, and yet touch the hearts of the Senators for them to listen to God.
Paul prayed for the Ephesians to have spiritual insight concerning who Jesus was and to know their calling in that region. Paul asked the Ephesians to seek greater love and to be established in Christ’s love, requesting that all their relationships with God be in order.
AND THE JOURNEY CONTINUES…
Over the years prayer has become a regular part of my daily lifestyle. Whether I go to a special room to pray, pray in a church service, pray in secret, or pray spontaneously for a need, I am always and forever praying in my spirit.
Every day my spirit is making intercession and seeking the Lord. I do not ever stop praying. I just speak out loud occasionally what I am already doing internally. Thank God for the gift of tongues where we can pray continuously.
As you are taught by the Lord how to pray, be aware that learning to pray is a journey with God, learning to serve others. Prayer sets us in an attitude and position of caring about someone else. When I started out praying, I only knew, “Now I lay me down to sleep.” Eventually I learned the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and some of the Psalms. From there prayers began to be birthed within my heart. I learned to pray in tongues, pray deliverance, pray for wounded hearts, pray for others, and so on.
In fact, I am still in the School of the Holy Spirit and learning how to pray and I will continue to learn until I meet my Lord. May you continually grow and enjoy your own prayer journey as the Lord teaches you His ways of a life of prayer. I pray God’s richest blessings to all of you!
Dr. Sharon Predovich
