With regards to the high demand and utilization of people that read this prayer; https://miascuisineblog.com/2018/03/20/prayer-is-my-link-my-link-to-god-prayer-is-my-link-i-have-no-other-means/. I have decided to come up with a sequel to assist us with our praying lives. The most viewed article in my blog has been the prayer article. This doesn’t surprise me at all because for us to win any battle, we have to be on our knees praying. What is alarming to me is that the countries with little or no Christian background like Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, China, India, Sierra Leone, Egypt and so forth are the ones embracing it and learning how to communicate with God. Also I’d like to acknowledge countries like Zambia, Germany, Philippines, U.S.A, Uganda, Italy, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, United Kingdom, Spain, France, South Africa, Nigeria and Cameroon for utilizing this article in their journey with God our Redeemer . This speaks to the character of God-Omnipresent and transcends cultural, social and socioeconomic backgrounds. When God wants to use us, He will find us even in locations where Christianity is not practiced. That for me is the Passion of the CROSS. I can’t tell you how ecstatic I am to know the message of the gospel is being preached throughout the world and beyond. Matthew 28:18-20 puts it this way. “Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Prayer is one of the most authentic ways to connect with God, it liberates our anxiety, makes us vulnerable and allows His presence to take precedent in our all consuming world. My church usually says prayer is the engine that drives our church. On a personal note, it should be the engine that drives our lives. Our father wants us to bring everything on a consistent basis to His attention not only when things are going bad or out of control but even when they are going extremely well for us. God shouldn’t be our last resort, rather our first response. Our God is a jealous God and wants to be involved in every aspect of our lives. He would like our thoughts to always be directed to Him irrespective of the position or situation we find ourselves in. “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow it judges the thought and attitude of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Hebrew 4:12-13. 

Our Maker needs to be made a priority through all things, with all things and for all things. If we say He is the Supreme being in our lives, then we have to ensure our actions, words and deeds match that expectation. God knows what we are about to say or ask even before we utter a word. Yet He still wants us to humble ourselves, open our lips, mind and heart in a compromising and uncompromising position with our hands stretched forth and petition our request, praise, plea, adoration to the author and finisher of our faith. “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.” Hebrews 5:7.

Prayer is a link, a communication or conversation to God, with God & for God, there is no specific way to pray, however, there are specific things to keep in mind while praying. 

• We have to know to whom we are praying to – He is the anointed one, Bishop of our souls, Captain of Salvation, Defender of Israel, Eternal Ruler, Father of Light etc. Be honest – strip off your pride, fake eyelashes, toupee, finger nails, fake hair, silicon… just kidding 🙂 in a nutshell, come as you are, don’t hold back anything, remember God is your safe heaven and there is nothing you can hold back from Him that he doesn’t already know. Our God is the only one who will celebrate you and not tolerate you. “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:10. 
• Have a forgiven heart – “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother then come and offer your gift”. Matthew 5:23-24. See no evil, do no evil and think no evil & speak no evil – let your conscience be clear and resolve disputes as they arise. Romans 13 :8 tells us that “Let no debt remain outstanding except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.” 

• Ask for God’s will to be done in your life – Our prayer is that we want God’s purpose to be aligned with ours. For our purpose to be fulfilled, we have to take it to the creator, the maker of heaven and earth. We are to submit to Him by allowing Him to take charge of the things that are not seen by the mortal eyes. It is God who has the final say, His words are true and Amen, He will make all things possible in His time, because Him alone knows best. Speak your mind – Ask God for anything by being honest about what you want and why you want it, not for selfish reasons. Tell Him what you need and thank Him for all He has done. A prayer that is offered with the purity in our hearts points to the position of our heart desires. Matthew 5:8 states, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” 

• Ask for forgiveness and release others by forgiving them as well – we are sinners beyond any ordinary doubt. “Search me, O God, and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and Lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24. Asking God to examine our hearts enables Him to search for sin and reveals it to us, which is called conviction. This will help us get back to the right track through His kindness, which is repentance. Ezekiel 36:26-27 states “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” This shows that God can cleanse us from any sin he finds or if need be replace it with a new heart that is obedient to Him. 

Jesus died for us so we can no longer be slave to sin, our sins have been separated as far as the East is from the West and we are no longer held captive because He didn’t stay dead, He rose again, conquered the grave, so we can no longer be controled by sin. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. The death of Jesus was part of the divine plan to save humanity.” For Christ died for sins once and for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,” 1 Peter 3:18. Is not what we did or didn’t do, rather it was the Father’s will for His Son. “The Father is the architect, the Son the accomplisher, and the Spirit the applier of the atonement.” 

• We pray the word by memorizing scriptures – The Bible is a love letter, an amazing book containing Law, History, Poetry, prophets, Gospel, prophecy etc. It is God’s Living and Active Word and for us to make those words a reality, we have to print them in our minds/hearts to stand firm against the battle that is ahead – the antichrist and its agents. Scriptures are a very useful, powerful and important tool towards our praying/spiritual lives. We might lack words to pray but knowing scriptures by hearts can fill that gap. Is more than a love letter, it is hidden messages against the known and unknown and it fortifies us against any form of attack.

• We have to pray with others – When we pray, miraculous things begin to happen. When we join forces with others, our prayer chain becomes not just about us and our immediate family members, but our community and the world at large. James 5:16 states “ Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” When we are weak in spirit the other person can be strong for us or can intercede on our behalf. The power of two is stronger than one “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12. Remember, nobody gets there alone! Moses needed Aaron, Elijah needed Elisha, Paul needed Silas and Jesus Christ needed Simon the “man from Cyrene, to help Him with the cross to Golgotha.” (Bishop Steve Houpe, 2022).

The enemy is not our friend, so don’t you feel guilty putting him and its agents in its place. When they want to attack, they come with all bow and arrow, spears and javelin, magical mirrors, manipulative languages, wolves in sheep clothings, even poisonous snakes. We should in return “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6: 11-12. We have to withstand its tactics and evil plots, blind and cripple them; if we have to only then we will be able to unleash those strongholds, reclaim our lost possessions and send him back to where he came from – Hell, because that is exactly where he belongs.

Stay tuned for our Firm Foundation Prayer coming soon – is going to be Epic!