Just Remember to PRAY

Do you have trouble praying or praying for someone who has hurt you or who wishes to harm you?

Here are some Prayer tips that might work for you.

I. Set the atmosphere for prayer.

A. Play spiritual music on the stereo
B. Sing
C. Find your quiet place and pray there

II. Make yourself right with God first.

A. Confess your sins
B. Confess why you are having a hard time praying
.......1. He already knows, he want you to hear it.
.......2. Be honest and spill your heart
C. Pray for wisdom and insight
D. Ask others to pray for you
E. Ask someone to pray with you at first

III. It is your duty to pray for your enemy.

A. Read a scripture to help
.........1. Ephesians 3:14-21
.........2. Proverbs 16:1-7.
.........3. Proverbs 25:21 & 22.
.........4. Matthew 6:14
.........5. Romans 12:14
B. Look at what Jesus did when he was being mistreated
.........1. Matthew 26:36-75
.........2. Mark 14:43-72
.........3. Luke 22:47-71
.........4. John 19
C. You can do this

IV. Put this person in prospective

A. See them as a little child
B. See them as a child of God
C. Remember they are only flesh and blood too
D. Satan is after them as well

V. Start simply

A. Asked God to Bless their heart
B. Thank God for the Good that is in this person
C. Do this even if you don't believe it.
D. Ask God for blessings that you would ask for yourself
E. Write down a simple prayer and read it
F. Substitute their name in the blanks.


VI. Reasons to pray.

A. It will do you more good than the person you are praying for
....1. You will release the anger
....2. It will help you sleep at night.
....3. You will not have bad feelings eating away at you.
....4. You will not be sinning.
B. Your inability to pray
.....1. Is a sin
.....2. This means Satan is after you too.
.....3. You are no better than the person that has wronged you
.....4. But you are a good person and good people pray for enemies
.....5. Unforgiveness (God gave me a picture once of unforgiveness. It is like a woman in full labor, in lots of pain ,that closes her legs and says," No! I am not going to give birth". She can rid herself of the pain but chooses not to. It is a choice for you to carry this burden.)
C. You will be blessed
.....1. Your burden will be lifted
.....2. God can and will change their heart
.....3. If not he will take your vengeance (coals of fire)
........a. Don't pray for this reason
........b. or you will not be blessed

VII. Example of simple prayers.

A. Ask God to melt their heart of stone
B. Bless her heart, Bless her heart
C. Heavenly Father, you are all knowing and all wise. I am just a human and do not understand everything that happens. Please give me guidance to deal with your child,XXX. Help me to know what I should be doing. Father, give XXX the wisdom to do what is right. Help XXX to remember that we are all your children and that you want us to love one another and treat each other with love. Give XXX your loving guidance in all s/he does.
D. Smile every time you think about this person
E. Every time you have a bad thought about them
....1. Ask for forgiveness
....2. Say a prayer for them right then and there
....3. This will help you to realize, and control your thoughts
F. Set a specific time to pray for them
....1. When you wash the dishes
....2. When you take a bath
....3. When you are driving
....4. When you watch the birds.
....5. When you do something you really enjoy doing

Even if no one is trying to harm you, some of these tips can help you pray for guidance and blessings for yourself or your family and friends. Adapt them to your own situation just remember to PRAY.