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Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing your faith you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 ESV
In years past, I asked God to give me a desire to pray. I also asked Him to teach me how to pray.
Jesus did not appear in a dream and give an updated version of the Lord’s Prayer nor did He appear to me as He did to the Apostle John on the Isle of Patmos with a long Revelation.
I’m still hoping for a personal appearance, but God did answer my prayers.
Quietly and subtly, a few years after my prayer for increased desire and effectiveness, I found myself enjoying my relationship with God having no pr0blem getting up early in the morning to pray.
After 49 years as a Christian, I thank God for my relationship with Jesus, a loving wife, a great family, and six grandchildren. I am thrilled by gifting, calling, and ministry as the pastor of the same church through these years; along with the opportunity to travel the world teaching one-on-one discipleship.
Desire and effectiveness!
God answered my prayers. God wants to answer these prayers for you too. During my adventures in prayer, I learned the Three Attitudes for enthusiastic and effective praying. I list them as attitudes, not techniques, as a correct mindset determines everything about praying.
One: God loves you!
Say this out loud three times, “God loves me!” Go ahead, even if you are in a crowded room, three times! You will never desire to pray or be effective in your praying unless you truly believe God loves you.
You should also say, “God, I love you!”
Too many times, I have listened to believers ask, “Why did this happen?” or “How can God love me?” or “I’m not like the Bible characters, I’m just a person who goes to work daily.” Stop it! It is okay to ask questions but do not let the frustration of mystery turn your faith to doubt.
I tell my wife, children, and grandchildren that I love them. I tell them often. Spoken words determine your mindset. Prayer is based upon God loving you and you loving God.
Two: God wants you to ask!
I realized decades ago that God wants to answer greater prayers than I want to ask.
What?
Great praying confronts our fears. Twenty-five years ago, I had no desire to travel on mission trips. Now, I’ve been on dozens of trips and have been blessed with hundreds of answered prayers about and during those trips.
I have traveled to Siberia. Years ago, the thought of going to Siberia would have been a nightmare. But in Siberia, I met the greatest faith-followers of Jesus that I have known.
God wants you to ask. Sooner or later, your greatest prayers will come through your fears. That is where the adventure of effective praying lies.
Three: God has confidence in you!
Dream and act big. Your prayers will reflect your actions. Think small and you will pray small; think big and you will pray big.
The Apostle Paul thought big and his answered prayers changed the world. Paul wrote the following, out of his experience with praying, for you today, yes, for you today:
Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you. Ephesians 3:20 TPT
Read the following again:
One: God loves me!
Two: God wants me to ask!
Three: God has confidence in me!
Now you know the Three Attitudes of prayer. Your mindset forms the foundation of both your desire to be with God and answered prayers.
A final challenge: If you could get one prayer answered, just one, what would it be? Repeat one, two, and three, then ask the request.