A deeper prayer life

[Equipped_4_Love]

One thing that I am very desirous of is a deeper, more intimate prayer life with the Lord. I want my prayers to bless Him, to bring me into deeper fellowship with Him, and to impact His kingdom. The problem is this....I feel that much of the time, my prayers are very selfish.

I know that God wants us to pray for others, but whenever I come to the Lord, it's all I can do to move away from the worship phase, and bring others before the Lord. I do pray for others, but I almost feel as if it's something that I have to do, and that, in a way, makes it regimented -- like I'm just bringing some list before the Lord, devoid of passion, although I am sincere when I pray for others.

I really feel like something is sorely lacking in my prayer life, and I can't quite put my finger on it. Much of my prayer involves just unloading before the Lord -- Is this selfish? Shouldn't I be praying for others?

I pray that the Lord would completely consume me, and that He would help me to be a better witness, and the fact that I am such a sinner, and hate much of my thought life, and my attitude lately -- much of my prayers have been consumed by grieving and repenting of that.

I long for a deeper, more intimate prayer life with the Lord, but I really feel like something is lacking. Do you feel that your prayer life is intimate and powerful? If so, could you share what makes for a rich, vibrant prayer life?

My soul longs to be close to God, but it's as though I just can't get close enough to Him. Does anyone else feel that way? It frustrates me so.

[ilovemetal]

i'll reply in relation to where i'm at, and how i came to be there/here.

for a long time, probly a year, i said the same thing as you said. i tried, and couldn't figure it out, but i realized something. me trying, was about 10% of what i could have been giving God. And the moment i spent actual, quality time with Him/the Word/praying i felt 100% new, and strength and love and abolished sin and many things.

for me, (maybe for you) it took a full on dedication of my time to Jesus, i'm talkin work-read the bible-pray-sleep. you can eat too, but for real, it's one thing to say 'i want God' and another to take up your cross, put all the drama of life aside, and give hours to Jesus instead of tv/internet/whatever.

hmmmm. i hope that maybe helps. like i said, that's what it took for me, otherwise, i'd be relying on my own strength and love, which only lasts about a day or two before it's gone, where as Jesus love is eternal, luckily...

[tt1106]

My prayer life went to a whole new level, after my wife and I decided to pray together. I came to an understanding of how important it is.
I had an epiphany when I read Matthew again and see Jesus telling Peter not just to stand watch, but to watch and PRAY. This coupled with his example of retreating to a quiet place and fervently praying has moved me past my hurdles and my relationship with Christ has blossomed because of it. I am working a prison ministry team in October and I will be giving the Prayer talk.
I am really looking forward to it. There are so many OTHERS we could be praying for. Start a prayer journal.

[jes83]

One thing that I am very desirous of is a deeper, more intimate prayer life with the Lord. I want my prayers to bless Him, to bring me into deeper fellowship with Him, and to impact His kingdom. The problem is this....I feel that much of the time, my prayers are very selfish.

I know that God wants us to pray for others, but whenever I come to the Lord, it's all I can do to move away from the worship phase, and bring others before the Lord. I do pray for others, but I almost feel as if it's something that I have to do, and that, in a way, makes it regimented -- like I'm just bringing some list before the Lord, devoid of passion, although I am sincere when I pray for others.

I really feel like something is sorely lacking in my prayer life, and I can't quite put my finger on it. Much of my prayer involves just unloading before the Lord -- Is this selfish? Shouldn't I be praying for others?

I pray that the Lord would completely consume me, and that He would help me to be a better witness, and the fact that I am such a sinner, and hate much of my thought life, and my attitude lately -- much of my prayers have been consumed by grieving and repenting of that.

I long for a deeper, more intimate prayer life with the Lord, but I really feel like something is lacking. Do you feel that your prayer life is intimate and powerful? If so, could you share what makes for a rich, vibrant prayer life?

My soul longs to be close to God, but it's as though I just can't get close enough to Him. Does anyone else feel that way? It frustrates me so.

May I suggest to you, Wielder4Christ an interesting Book written by Dick Eastman it is called "The Hour that Changes the World." In this book he gives a simple 12 step plan of how a believer in Christ can easily develope a prayer routine of an hour daily. I think it will help you greatly.

[Equipped_4_Love]

Metal, tt106, and jess -- This is all good input. Thank you.

I am hoping that you can perhaps touch on if there's anything that we can do, in our prayer life, to bring us into closer fellowship with God...not time-wise, but maybe the content of my prayer?

[karenoka27]

James 4:8-"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you..."

I really prayed about this verse. I wanted so much to be closer to our Lord. I meditated on this verse and asked God what I had to do to draw closer to Him and He to me.
That is prayer. Meditate on Scrpture. Think on it,ask the Lord about it. Find other verses that go along with it.

Another thing is if you want to have a closer relationship to the Lord in prayer,the opportunity will come when you are going through a trial and things are happening that you just don't understand. It is then that many walk away. It really is the time to draw closer to Him. It's not easy,but it is so worth it. Surrendering your understanding over to His because you know that He sees what you can't.
Times like this change your prayer life in amazing ways.

By the way,praying for yourself isn't selfish. It is how we fellowship with Him. When you pray and ask Him for certain things and He doesn't answer the way you would like, it's then you can get to know Him by watching what He does do with your request.

[Equipped_4_Love]

Karenoka;

What you say makes so much sense, and it is very helpful. Thank you so much

[tt1106]

Confession
Adoration
Thanksgiving
Supplication



Read Prayer Evangelism! Great book and lots of great ideas.
For example. Do you pray for your neighbors....your community......your state?

[The-Innkeeper]

I realize I am about to open a can of worms so I will do my best to tame them worms as they come flying out. One poster - I think someone named 'warrior' wrote this:

May I suggest to you, Wielder4Christ an interesting Book written by Dick Eastman it is called "The Hour that Changes the World." In this book he gives a simple 12 step plan of how a believer in Christ can easily develope a prayer routine of an hour daily. I think it will help you greatly.

Now I am asking how is reading a book like that any different then what he is doing already? I mean this wonderful person is asking how to get more personal in prayer not more regimented.

To put it simply - since that is what prayer is --- simple, if we pray in the flesh we will never be personal. There is no intimacy in prayers in the flesh. Praying in the Spirit and praying in the flesh as as different as a couple having sex compared to a married couple making love. One is flesh and the other is spirit.

Praying in the Spirit is about selflessness. It is about the soul being manifested to the Father. It is about Your heart being transparent where you need not make a list of people you need to bring up to the Lord - He already sees your heart about these people without you saying a word. Praying in the Spirit is not just praying in tongues - that is another issue - I just placed this in here to clarify.

The first poster wants to be personal - great - DO IT. However being personal in prayer is not about how long you pray or how many times you pray. It is about a constant open passion for the Lord no matter what is going on in your day. In your struggles - in your joy - in your sorrow - no matter what or where.

My beloved wife can be 1,000 miles away from me and yet our passion is as strong as it is when we are face to face. I hope all in here realize I am not dissing anyone just explaining and answering the first post. Thank you! Hope this helps.

[Bladers]

Innkeeper, exactly....

True Prayer is adoration. It goes beyond singing. Its when you touch God with your heart. It is a spiritual connection of spirits. Your spirit with the Spirit of the LORD.

Then true fellowship begins. When the flesh dies, then the spirit can commune with God.

and i tell you, one hour in communion with the Spirit of God, feels like 10 minutes. But when in the flesh, 10 minutes in prayer feels like One Hour.

I'm still struggling to crucify the flesh in prayer, to get to that point. When you get to this point, you will enter into a new and glorious relationship with the Helper and Comforter, the Holy Spirit.

Oh Lord let all of us get to that point of fellowship for your Glory, in Jesus name.

The point that i am talking about is when the flesh dies in prayer and the Holy Spirit takes over.

[mongoose303]

Im far from an authority on prayer but i'd like to give my opinion...for what its worth.

One thing that I am very desirous of is a deeper, more intimate prayer life with the Lord. I want my prayers to bless Him, to bring me into deeper fellowship with Him, and to impact His kingdom. The problem is this....I feel that much of the time, my prayers are very selfish.

I beleive the fact that you have a desire for a closer more intimate prayer life with the Lord says alot, actually its all you really need to get going and its not selfish at all. But having said that, we have to always be humble and truthful 'cause the flesh is selfish, which is why we have to die to it .

The point that i am talking about is when the flesh dies in prayer and the Holy Spirit takes over.

Bladers as put it well, although that doesnt tell us how this happens .
But yes I know what you mean. My experience in prayer is that for the first few minutes or so (sometimes much longer) its all flesh and I feel like blahhh , but I keep praising and thanking the Lord anyway. I tell the Lord that I dont know what to say, I run out of words and ask Him to help me. And its like I slowly start to fill up with great joy inside and praise and thank Him even more , tears roll down my face as I pray for others with a broken heart .

[Jeremiah333]

May I suggest to you, Wielder4Christ an interesting Book written by Dick Eastman it is called "The Hour that Changes the World." In this book he gives a simple 12 step plan of how a believer in Christ can easily develope a prayer routine of an hour daily. I think it will help you greatly.

That book sounds good. I think I'll try to find it. I would love to be in the habit of praying for one hour daily.

[chad]

Ok so how does someone go from praying in the 'flesh' to praying in the 'Spirit'?

Is it a matter of submitting yourself to God and the Holy Spirit and saying Here I am God, I want a more deeper prayer life, God, Holy Spirit, please show me how to do this. Wait on God, read the word of God and spend time waiting and listening to the leading of the Holy Spirit?

Or are there specific steps that you can take that will lead you from a 'prayer life lead by the flesh' and a prayer life that is lead by the holy spirit ?

To put it simply - since that is what prayer is --- simple, if we pray in the flesh we will never be personal. There is no intimacy in prayers in the flesh. Praying in the Spirit and praying in the flesh as as different as a couple having sex compared to a married couple making love. One is flesh and the other is spirit.

[superwoman8977]

To me prayer is prayer, its not about the prayers of the flesh or the prayers of the spirit. 2 weeks ago I found out I was getting my bonus cut so I would just have to rely on what my income actually is which is gonna hurt..well instead of it starting on the 15th of may it actually came out in Fridays paycheck shocking everyone. I was lost I didnt know how I was going to have gas money or childcare and I started to get worried, then my favorite words echoed in my head .."Be Still and know that I am God." I dont need to worry, nor do I have to have a long drawn out prayer, He knows my needs, He knows the needs of my friends. I pray as I feel led and whom I feel led to pray for, and because of that I have grown closer to the Lord over the last year, a friend sent this to me in a note and I have taken it to heart ever since --"Its not about religion its about the relationship with Him" Oh and by the way the Lord has never failed me. Yesterday I received an email from my company stating that they took out the money on accident and on Friday we will be paid it back it isnt supposed to go in effect till next paycheck so next week I will have money for the sitter and gas, God is faithful!

[Bladers]

Ok so how does someone go from praying in the 'flesh' to praying in the 'Spirit'?

Or are there specific steps that you can take that will lead you from a 'prayer life lead by the flesh' and a prayer life that is lead by the holy spirit ?

One thing to understand is that there are different types of prayer. A few are supplication, intercession, worship, intercession, thanksgiving, praise.

These are biblical foundations of prayer.

The bible tells us to do everything in the Spirit, and have no confidence in the flesh.

The bible says, "Pray all prayers in the Spirit", several times. Jesus told us the Father is looking for those to worship him in Spirit. Jesus made it clear that "the flesh is weak, but the Spirit is willing".

David experienced the most awesome prayer ever, which he describes as "Deep calling unto Deep" (your spirit calling unto the Spirit).

Now the OP wants a deep prayer life. There is no formula to it, but "Surrender". You have to surrender in prayer through worship(adoration), this is where you seek God with your spirit. There will reach a point that you will reach a breakthrough, the Holy Ghost will take over. When you reach that point, OMG. God will become real to you, more real than yourself. There will be deep fellowship, heavenly intimacy. Rivers of God's reality and glory will invade your life.