How to pray?

I've learned quite a bit attending Deeper Life Seminar on the subject of prayer and would like to share with all of you. It is interesting to note that through my own little adventure reading the bible, I learned that we can pray in many types of prayer such as:

i. We can speak life in Ezekiel’s manner with such authority and in such graphic detail (Proverbs 18:21 and Ezekiel 37).
ii. We can rebuke and cast out sickness/sins with authority just like Jesus knowing that we are now heirs and co-heirs with Him (Romans 8:17).
iii. We can pray unceasingly to our heavenly Father with our prayers and petitions (Phil 4:6).

We can ask whatever we need and believe in Mark 11:24. And we can stand on God’s word that nothing is impossible with God Luke 1:37).

But in DLS, I learned more! Wow! The best part is during class, we have practical sessions and we pray for people in critical conditions. When it came to our group's turn to volunteer someone, I quickly put my hand up! I mentioned Shaun Ling's dad condition who was then critically ill in ICU that time (the day after CBM). We were learning the prayer of agreement. This is based on Matthew 18:19,

"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven."

We can confidently approach God with our prayers knowing that He will hear us and we will have what we ask Him (1 John 5:14,15). Everyone in the group must be in agreement over something before praying. One person prays in the understanding (English). Then, we thank God because we believe we have received it (Phil 4:6). This is the big part which I did not know. I always thought we thank God AFTER we receive whatever we ask for. Then, we ask the Holy Spirit for a perfect prayer to pray, in this case, complete healing for Shaun Ling's dad. Then all of us, holding hands would pray in tongues together, united as one. From that day on, we continue to thank God for healing Shaun Ling's dad. That's how I pray for Aunty Beverly these days too.

I John 5:14.15
"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him."

Philipians 4:6
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

I was so happy to report back to my group last week that Shaun Ling's dad has begun to stabilise. I was so grateful to them who told me then that they had continued to thank God for healing Shaun Ling's dad throughout the week. I am overjoyed today when Shaun confirmed this morning that his dad has been discharged from hospital and that was a surpirse to them. Praise the Lord! All Glory to God! God is a prayer answering God!

On Tuesday, we prayed for another person who was also in critical condition. One of the girls in our class, Mithiah (she is only 9 years old), received news that her dad in Penang passed away. Then later, another call came in and she heard that he hadn't passed away but he was taken off the breathing machine and just waiting to die. We were learning the Intercessory Prayer. Margaret Falls said it is very important not to ignore the Holy Spirit's prompting when any of us suddenly feel burdened to pray for someone. Also, when following the above steps, and praying in tongues, she said it is possible for us to feel very depressed. It is not our depression but the burden that we are feeling for the person we are praying for. In that instance, we are to bind the spirit of depression (or whatever else you are sensing - lies, deception, idolatry, suicide) and break it in the name of Jesus. This is such a revelation to me. No wonder many of you feel burdened to pray for me and I feel burdened to pray for Aunty Beverly, Caleb and a few others. It is the Holy Spirit prompting us!

Margaret Falls prayed for healing for Mithiah's dad in understanding and also prayed for his salvation as he is an unbeliever. Then, all 60 plus of us, holding hands, prayed in tongues. I was so sad I started to shed tears while praying in tongues. We will only know next week of his outcome.

I used to have trouble with the believing part. The bible says we are not to doubt but believe we have received and it will be ours. I used to think it is a mind game where I try to convince myself that I believe. Now I understand it is not like that. It is because God loves us and we are His children that he says we can approach Him with confidence and He will grant us whatever we ask. We have right standing before God and we are mow His children. We belong to Him. He loves us.

This evening, I received a call from Henry thanking me for praying for his report preparation and meeting today. His counterpart in one of the european countries was so happy with his report that she said she wanted to wave the Malaysian flag for she was so proud to be Malaysian! All Glory to God! Isn't it wonderful to have a loving God who loves us so much, who listens to our prayers and answers them. I am so happy I want to cry. Thank you Lord for you are so real to me. I am sorry I doubted you before. I pray that my friends will desire to speak in tongues because that level of communication with you Oh Lord is that much higher and much more wonderful.