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When do you normally pray as a born again Christian? Is your prayer life a routine? Do you follow a rigid timetable to pray? Have you been taught only to pray every morning and evening? As a pastor, do you stretch forth your hand to pray for people anytime they ask you?
If you respond, “yes” to these questions I can only infer that you have respect for religious formality regarding prayer. A true Christian prayer is neither a religious activity nor merely speaking words into the air. It is not closing your eyes and muttering words either. A true Christian prayer is not carnal but spiritual.
In the Bible, we read about the heroes of faith praying. Even the Lord Jesus prayed on several occasions. And Scripture instructs Christians to pray. Thus, nearly all Christians around the world pray. Those of us in Africa spend hours to travail in prayer. We have been taught many things to pray about.
However, one thing many appear not to have been properly informed about is discerning the right moment to pray either for ourselves or others. It is not proper to pray just because someone asked you. Remember that true children of God are those who are led by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14).
Moreover, Christians are encouraged to pray at all times in the Holy Spirit (Jude 1:20). This means that the Holy Spirit is involved in our prayers. He inspires, motivates and prompts us to communicate with the Father. The inspiration of the Holy Spirit takes us into what is called the realm of prayer. Born again Christians who pray by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit easily discern the realm of prayer.
This often comes about when our heart is free from unforgiveness, bitterness, resentment, and offense. Our heart is the communication point with God when it comes to prayer. The heart, therefore, ought to be prepared in order to commune with the Father.
Believers offer fervent prayers when they are in the realm of prayer. Here, you realize that your heart and mind are motivated to speak with God. In other words, when you are in the realm of prayer, you experience an urge or a desire in your spirit to pray. It comes spontaneously as you prepare your heart to pray.
That is why I often say that a Holy Spirit inspired prayer is not a struggle; it flows naturally and peacefully from the heart. In fact, it gladdens the heart. When it comes to the things of God, most often, intimation or suggestion from the Spirit comes into your heart that this act be performed. It is a divine green light to pray or act with God and for God. That is the realm created by the Spirit of God.
Now there are three activities that commonly help activate the realm of prayer for believers. The first one to consider is fasting. As a believer fasts with Bible reading by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, his spirit is revived, refreshed and strengthened thereby overpowering the desires of flesh. This makes our spirit sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit to pray.
The second is Bible reading with meditation. Christians who read the Bible meditatively often find themselves in the realm of prayer, leading them to pray in the Holy Spirit. If you want to have illumination on Scriptures and experience God’s manifested presence, leading you to pray, then, make time to think deeply on His Word.
The last thing which we know activates the realm of prayer is praise and worship in songs. Do you realize that many Christians suddenly begin to pray when they actively participate in praise and worship. This happens because their spirit is prepared and led into the prayer realm.
It is sad that many Christians praise and worship God in songs only when they attend church meetings. We must learn to sing songs of praise and worship at home and other place when we want to pray in the Holy Spirit. Ask Paul and Silas, and they will tell you about how songs of praise and worship inspire fervent prayers even in prison (Acts 16:25).
Henceforth, let us not be myopic about prayer. We must be knowledgeable. We must not deceive ourselves into thinking that prayer is just speaking into the air. We need to prepare our heart and ensure that we are in the realm of prayer before we communicate with our Heavenly Father.
To be in the realm of prayer, we need to make quality time to fast frequently, read our Bible with meditation regularly and cultivate the habit of singing songs of praise and adoration to God, especially in our houses.
By James Quansah
