Developing a Passion for Prayer
Lesson 7: Recognize the Attitudes for Prayer
In previous lessons, I’ve mentioned that we can have a continuous attitude of prayer, but so far, I haven’t brought up the attitude we should have for prayer. Our attitude for prayer impacts how we pray and how much we pray.
Having the right attitude is essential when we speak with God. The right attitude will ensure that our communication is proper, effective, and conducive to developing an intimate relationship with God. When we pray with the right attitude we will realize the benefits and results of prayer, which will lead us to developing a passion for communicating with God.
From the Bible, I’ve identified at least eight necessary attitudes that we must have when praying:
- Seeking – Deuteronomy 4:29
- Humility – 2 Chronicles 7:14
- Willingness – Isaiah 58:9
- Whole-heartedness – Jeremiah 29:13
- Faith – Mark 11:24
- Effectiveness – James 5:16
- Obedience – 1 John 3:22
- Confidence – 1 John 5:14
1. The Attitude of Seeking
A key attitude for prayer is one in which we are genuinely seeking God. That means not just going to God as if He were an ATM machine where you can get what you need when you need it. Rather it’s going to God to find out more about Him and His will for your life.
God’s Word promises us that if we seek Him, we shall find Him:
29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
Finding God through prayer has a lot to do with our attitude. The attitude of seeking must be a real attitude that comes from the heart. As God’s Word says, we will find Him and we can find His will “if thou seek Him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.”
Attitude check: When you pray, are you seeking God, or are you just seeking answers?
2. The Attitude of Humility
When we pray, we need to humbly go before God, recognizing that He has already provided for our greatest need of salvation through His Son. Our humility should be evident in the manner in which we pray, recognizing God’s promise to answer as shown in 2 Chronicles 7:14.
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
From this passage, we can see ways to demonstrate our humility:
- By realizing that we belong to Him, and He is our God (“called by my name”)
- By genuinely seeking Him through prayer (“seek my face”)
- By confession of our shortcomings (turn from their wicked ways”)
God promises to hear our prayer and to answer in a miraculous way, but only when we come before Him with an attitude of humility.
Attitude check: Do you pray with a focus only on your desires or is your focus on God with a spirit of humility seeking His will?
3. The Attitude of Willingness
Willingness is an essential attitude for prayer. Praying is not always going to God with your requests and desires. Praying also includes understanding what God wants from you. Being willing to hear God and then to respond in the manner He desires is the proper attitude for prayer.
God gives you and me our abilities and talents. What He wants from us is availability – a willingness to use those abilities and talents for His will as we learn it. In Isaiah 58:9, we see this clearly shown:
Isaiah 58:9 (KJV) God desires for us to listen to Him, to learn His will, and to respond to what we learn. Our willingness to hear from God and to do what He says will help us grow closer to Him, enjoy our time of fellowship with Him, and to develop a passion for communicating with Him.
9 Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
Attitude check: When you pray, are you earnestly seeking God’s will and do you have a willing attitude to follow His will?
4. The Attitude of Whole-heartedness
God expects us to earnestly come to Him in prayer. Our whole-hearted approach to prayer should include as much seeking God’s will with regard to what we pray about as it does seeking the answers that we desire. God has promised in Jeremiah 29:13, that when we pray whole-heartedly, we will find Him.
13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
To pray with an attitude of whole-heartedness, we must rid our heart of ourselves. This is a challenge in a world that is so self-centered. The world view of humanism causes even Christians to believe that we deserve more than we have, when in truth we have more than we ever should through God’s mercy and grace. Thankfully, we don’t get what we deserve, we get what God provides.
Attitude check: When you pray, do you pray with a heart fully committed to God , or is your heart filled with self?
5. The Attitude of Faith
An attitude of faith is essential when going before God in prayer. In Mark 11:24, God promises that when we pray in faith, we shall get the answers we seek.
24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
I often wonder why it is so hard to trust God in faith when I pray. I can recall the moment I prayed to ask God to save me through Jesus: when I first believed on Jesus Christ to save me, I trusted Him by faith. For such an important matter as my salvation, I prayed in faith, believing that God would save me. Yet for lesser matters, I find myself going to God, not knowing (or not believing) that He will answer.
Faith is vital to seeing God’s handiwork. Jesus taught His disciples this when they were unable to cleanse a young man of a devil:
19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
In our daily prayer life, our attitude must be one of faith, remembering all of the works that God has performed for us, so that we do not hinder the mighty hand of God.
Attitude check: Do you pray, believing that God will answer… or do you go to God with uncertainty of His ability or desire to answer?
6. The Attitude of Effectiveness
Having an attitude of effectiveness when we pray causes us to pray for things that really matter. In other words, when we pray in an effectual manner, God hears that we truly desire the things that will have an effect, make a difference, or impact the world around us. In James 5:16, we see that effectual praying brings results:
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
There are times when I find myself going to God about matters that are important to me, but are not so significant in the big picture of God’s will. While it’s OK to pray about the little things in life, we should have a desire to go to God seeking to have God make a difference through prayer. In other words, our attitude should be that we can go before God with all that really matters in life: prayers for healing, salvation, forgiveness and others’ needs.
In fact in the passage just before James 5:16, James identifies that as the key prayer need.
13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Considering how mighty our God is, we should have an attitude of effectiveness when we pray, desiring God to do great works that we can proclaim to others in faith.
Attitude check: How big is your God when you pray? Do you go to God with an attitude that shows you believe that He can accomplish great things?
7. The Attitude of Obedience
A key attitude of prayer is one of obedience. When we pray, with an attitude of seeking, humility and willingness, we need to be listening for what God will reveal about our walk with Him. When we go to prayer in an attitude of obedience, we must first confess our disobedience and ask for forgiveness. 1 John 3:22 tells us that only when we are in obedience to God will be receive the answers we seek.
22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
An attitude of obedience demonstrates love for God and for the things of God. Jesus clearly spoke of this in John 14:13-15, as He spoke about praying and receiving:
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
For example, God has instructed us to not forsake “the assembling of ourselves together” as the day of Christ’s return approaches. Yet, in churches all across America, we find attendance dwindling at Sunday evening worship services and midweek prayer services. Yet, we pray in disobedience, expecting results. It’s no wonder that we find our prayers unfruitful and unanswered.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Attitude check: Are you praying with an attitude of obedience to God, or are you going before God with no consideration of whether your actions are in obedience to His commands?
8. The Attitude of Confidence
Finally, I believe that we need to pray with an attitude of confidence. That’s not to say that we pray arrogantly or with a boldness that reflects today’s culture. Rather, we pray knowing that our God keeps His promises and that He has all the power in the universe to answer our prayers if it is His will. 1John 5:14 describes the confidence we have in God:
14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
God’s word tells us that we can “boldly” (that is, “confidently” go before God, to the mercy seat of Christ, to obtain mercy and grace whenever we need it. We can do this, not because of who we are, but because of Who Christ is.
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
It’s important that we exercise an attitude of confidence, recognizing that when we pray we are not deserving of a single additional blessing from God; but through our confidence in Him, we receive His blessings through the grace and mercy that is readily available at His throne.
Attitude check: Do you pray with confidence that God can help in even the most urgent situation, realizing that you may not deserve His help?
Summary
It’s important to have the right attitude for prayer. God knows our hearts, and He sees us for who we really are. When it comes time to pray, we need to recognize that an attitude check, and perhaps an adjustment, may be needed.
Next week, in Lesson 8 of the series, I will discuss Realizing the Subject for Prayer, where I identify the practical aspects of spending serious time in prayer for God’s will, the church, individuals, and other needs.
When you try to talk to God, is the signal getting through? Maybe an attitude adjustment is needed.
Consider this… If your attitude for prayer was displayed like the signal strength indicator on your cell phone, how many bars would you have? Every attitude described here is like one of those signal strength bars. The better you are at each of these attitudes, the stronger your prayer life will be.
Does it seem like sometimes your talk with God is in a bad cell? Maybe you need to adjust your attitude and get better prayer signal strength. Having the proper attitude for prayer will help you connect with God and not lose the signal.
