Prepare for Prayer

Have you ever told someone you were getting ready to pray? What did you mean by that? Perhaps you were finishing up some task like eating a meal, or maybe you were getting your Bible before heading into a room by yourself. Usually, when I get ready for my morning time with the Lord, it includes making a cup of tea, gathering my Bible and any special “prayer assignment” reminders, and heading for my chair in the living room. These things are external parts of preparing for the activity of prayer, but there is a more important facet of preparation, the internal part, which allows us to fulfill God’s plans for us in prayer.

Priests in Old Testament times performed many rituals in preparation for their priestly duty of intercession. For instance, they fasted while wearing sackcloth and ashes, as an act of humbling themselves and identifying as closely as possible with death. After that, they followed very specific requirements, prescribed by Law, for their garments and the materials from which they were made. Prior to offering sacrifices for others, they were required to offer sacrifices for their own sins, so as not to add theirs to those of the people for whom they interceded. These were external rules and rituals to be followed explicitly before coming into the Presence of God, into the Holy of holies, where only priests were allowed. Had anyone, priest or non-priest, attempted to enter in any other fashion, they would have died.

As New Testament priests (1 Peter 2:9), we thank God because we are free from any external requirements! We need to give further consideration, however, to God’s purposes for those Old Testament rituals. God appointed the Levites to be the priests; yet, because of sin in the bloodline, they were not allowed to enter His Presence for that reason alone. They had to follow the physical rituals of preparation to be cleansed and made holy temporarily – for just one visit – because God, Who is holy, requires holiness in His Presence. Because of the blood of Jesus Christ, not through our following a ritual, we can come boldly to God’s throne any time and as often as needed (Hebrews 4:16). Since the way has been made, our hearts must be prepared for the place our spirits already enter freely, that our prayers will not be hindered.

Hebrews 4:16, 2 Chronicles 7:14, James 4:6-10 – coming boldly with humble hearts, only in Christ’s righteousness and through His blood.

1 Timothy 2:8, Colossians 3:13, Matthew 6:14, 15 – dealing with any anger or unforgiveness before expecting anything from the Lord in prayer.

Psalm 23:3-4 – Coming with clean hands and a pure heart

1 John 1:9, James 5:16 – confessing and repenting for what He reveals to us

Colossians 4:2, 1 Timothy 2:1, Philippians 4:6 – praying from a heart of thanksgiving to God

In using this brief list, the Spirit might direct you to additional verses and areas for preparation. Invest time meditating on them, renewing your mind, allowing the Lord to bring conviction and correction in your words, attitudes, and actions all during the day. You will find yourself living a lifestyle of preparation, rather than performing one more fruitless ritual. Your place of intimacy with the Lord will deepen, and your intercession will become more effective – and it will all be because you prepare for prayer!

© Copyright 2009 Kay V. Stocking