BASICS OF PRAYER

Pray with faith

• Do not pray only with doubt and fear.

• Believe that God hears your prayer and is able to answer.

• Prayer should come from trust in God.

Pray according to the Word of God

• Find God’s promises in the Bible that relate to your situation.

• Pray based on these promises.

• The Word of God is not merely information, but something on which faith can rely.

Talk to God specifically

• Clearly tell God what you are praying for.

• Do not limit yourself to a general prayer.

• Bring your specific need before God.

Ask for healing

• In the case of illness, you can ask God for healing.

• According to Hayes’s teaching, illness is not something a person should simply accept.

• In prayer, affirm your faith in God’s healing power.

Use the Word of God against illness

• In times of illness, fear, and hopelessness, remember and proclaim the promises of the Bible.

• Focus on what God has said, rather than only on your symptoms.

Do not allow fear to control you

• Fear should not be regarded as God’s will.

• In prayer, move from fear toward faith and trust.

• Instead of constantly thinking about illness or death, focus on God.

Be persistent

• Do not stop praying immediately if you do not see an answer.

• Continue seeking God and holding on to His Word.

• Faith and prayer should not depend solely on what you see or feel at the moment.

Give thanks to God

• Thanksgiving is an important part of prayer.

• Thank God for His goodness and faithfulness even before you see the desired change.

Forgive

• Forgiving others is part of a life of prayer.

• Do not hold bitterness, anger, or resentment in your heart.

• Strive to keep your heart pure before God.

Live in constant fellowship with God