Prayer, Confess and Repent

  1. Prayer is conversation with our Creator. It is a child’s communion with his Father. The Bible emphasizes that it should have a very high priority in our lives. Continual prayer is very important to your recovery. If there was ever a time in your life when you need to pray, it is now. It is the Christian’s greatest weapon against the sin nature and the dangers and temptations of this world. “Anything of value in the kingdom of God is initiated in and dependent on prayer.” Rely on God, and learn to think as He does. This will bring a revolution of good in your life.Here’s how to pray, each and every day…
    1. Confess all known sin
      Read: Psalm 51 | Mark 7:20-23 | 1 John 1:7-10
    2. Renounce conformity to the world
      Read: Romans 12:2, 6:13-14
    3. Ardently seek an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. He will give you a richer, more meaningful life.
      Read: John 10:10, 15:5-12 | Ephesians 3:14-19 | Philippians 3:10-14
    4. Offer your body as a “living sacrifice” to God
      See: Romans 12:1-2 | 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
    5. Worship God
      Read: John 4:23-24 | Philippians 3:3
    6. Thank and praise God. Thank Him for his grace and mercy, praise Him, and keep seeking His mercy. Thank God for answered prayer.
      Read: What should we thank God for, and how should we praise Him? | Thanksgiving, do the right thing | Are you thankful to God? | Philippians 4:6-7 | Colossians 4:2
    7. Ask God for help in living a pure and loving life
      See: Philippians 4:6-7 | Hebrews 4:16
  2. Reading and memorizing ScriptureMemorizing scripture is an often overlooked weapon that should be in every Christian’s arsenal. Memorize James 1:14 and 1 Corinthians 10:13 and quote them when you are tempted.Open your Bible at Psalm 51 and make it your own prayer.\
  3. Then read Psalm 32, and believe:Psalm 32

    1. “To David, A Maskil: Praiseworthy is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.”  [lit. whose rebellious sin is lifted.] Three main categories of transgression: There is the sin committed with intention of rebelling against Elohim. There is the intentional sin, but one which results from weakness in the face of desire rather than from rebelliousness. The third is unintentional sin as a result of carelessness. The last requires repentance and forgiveness because if more care had been exercised, the mistake would not have occurred. BUT, three of God’s thirteen attributes of Mercy are: ‘He forgives iniquity, transgression and sin’ (Exodus 34:7)

    2. “Praiseworthy I the man to whom YHWH does not account iniquity, and whose spirit is without deceit.”   Although he has sinned, this man has repented so sincerely that Elohim ascribes no sin to him, having forgiven him completely.  His repentance is so completely sincere and without deceptive motives.

    3. “When I kept silent, away wasted my bones through my anguished roar all day long.”  This deterioration resulted from my constant sighing and groaning as I worried about my sins and the inevitable punishment for them.

    4. “For day and night Your hand was heavily on me, my freshness was transformed by summer dryness, Selah.” Day and night I anticipate Your dreaded punishment, my flesh shriveled and my weight decreased as anxiety sapped my strength.

    5. “My sin I make known to You my iniquity I do not hide. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to YHWH’ but You had forgiven my iniquitous sin, Selah.”  This statement is in the present tense to indicate that David continuously confesses his sins and seeks forgiveness for them.  Although all is apparent to Elohim, it is still incumbent upon man to confess his sins [not because Elohim needs information, but so that man should recognize and take responsibility for his deeds]

    6. “For this let every devout one pray to You at a time of accessibility: Only that the flooding, mighty waters not overtake him.”  At every opportune time, let the penitent recite…prayer(s).  This may also means that when the penitent finds his heart free of all disturbance and preoccupation and feels fully prepared to concentrate on sincere repentance.

    7. “You are shelter for me. From distress You preserve me. With glad song of rescue You envelop me, Selah!”   I find shelter in Your shadow from my fearsome enemies. You constantly perform concealed miracles for me, therefore I should envelope myself in endless exclamations of praise for Your kindness.

    8. “I will make you wise and enlighten you in the proper path to travel, I will signal you with my eye.”  I have traveled down the arduous path of self-improvement and I have experienced the efficacy of prayer and penitence. Therefore I can instruct you on how to follow my example.

    9. “Be not like a horse or mule, uncomprehending; Restrained with muzzle and bridle when being adorned to keep them from approaching you.”  But you, whom I am instructing, please don’t imitate these dumb creatures. Appraise well and appreciate the afflictions which come upon you and repent.

    10. “Many are the agonies of the wicked – but he who trusts in YHWH, kindness surrounds him.”  Contrary to the wicked who are surrounded by pain, the person who trusts in Elohim is surrounded by kindness.  “Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but even if the wicked one repents and trusts in the Lord, loving-kindness will surround him.”  From this rabbinic comment on Psalms 32:10, we learn that God remains on alert for any sign of repentance from a sinner or wicked person. He responds to the repentant cry of a thoroughly wicked person just as he does to the repentant cry of an average sinner. Once remorse is detected, he moves in and surrounds even the most morally depraved with loving-kindness.  Thus, not only is God ready to respond to repentance at the slightest indication and assist the process, and not only is he willing to forgive any amount or type of iniquity, here he accepts the meditations of one’s heart (without or before verbalization). And so your response is:

    11. “Be glad in YHWH and rejoice, O righteous. Cry out in joy, all upright of heart.”  You who trust in YHWH rejoice in that confidence and in the goodness you have achieved as its result.

     

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