Have you ever wanted to pray for someone, or yourself, but you didn’t feel very close to God?
Are you interested in having a relationship with God, but you don’t know how? Getting to the place where you know God is actually a very simple process.
The Bible tells us in James 5:16, Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. That means that the effective prayer of a righteous man accomplishes a lot. I believe that everyone wants their prayers to be heard and answered, right? I know I do. You may say, “Well, I don’t feel very righteous. I am not a “holier-than-thou” kind of person.” Well, that’s okay, I don’t consider myself to be a “holier-than-thou” kind of person, either.
The first thing we need to do in order for our prayers to be effective, according to James, is to confess our sins. Have you offended someone? Lied to them? Whatever it is, you can simply confess it and you can be forgiven.
1 John 1:9 tells us that if we confess our sins, He (Jesus) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Have you done that? Have you prayed to the Lord to forgive you of your sins and asked for His forgiveness? We are all sinners and in need of His forgiveness. Romans 3:23 says, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We all have to come to Him and ask for His forgiveness. Just like no one is exempt from asking for His forgiveness, God doesn’t turn anyone away who comes to Him with a repentant heart.
Romans 10:9 tells us that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. It’s that simple. According to the Bible, we first have to recognize that we are sinners, falling short of God’s glory. Then we go to the Lord in prayer, and ask for His forgiveness.
1. Recognize that we have sinned and have fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23)
2. Confess with our mouths our sins to the Lord and ask for His forgiveness (Romans 10:9)
3. Believe in our hearts that God has raised Jesus from the dead, and recognize Him as our Lord and Saviour. (Romans 10:9)
It is God’s desire that we all confess our sins to Him and allow His forgiveness to cleanse us from our sins.
In John 3, we read that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
It is not the Lord’s plan for anyone to perish. However, in our sinful state, we are unworthy to stand in the presence of the Almighty God. We need His forgiveness and His cleansing to put us back into right standing with Him. If you have not prayed to the Lord and asked for His forgiveness, it is a very simple prayer of faith. You can simply say something like this:
Lord Jesus, I come before you now, recognizing that I have sinned in my life. I realize that I need your forgiveness. I am sorry for the sins that I have done and ask you now to forgive me. Please come into my life. I receive your free gift of salvation. I ask you, Lord, to help me live my life the way you would have me live. I want to be in right standing with you. Thank you Lord, for loving me enough to die in my place, so I don’t have to. Thank you for your forgiveness. In Jesus name, Amen.
Congratulations! You have just received the Lord’s forgiveness in your life. You have now received God’s free gift of eternal life. Now you have complete access to the Kingdom of Heaven and all of the blessings that God has to offer.
If you have prayed that prayer, I ask you to contact me and let me know. I can send you some free materials to help you learn more about what to do from here. Or, if you have a Christian friend, or know a pastor, I encourage you to talk to them. Tell them that you have prayed and asked Jesus in your life. They can also help you.
If you have a Bible, I encourage you to read it. The Bible is your best source of information on how to live a life of freedom and joy. You don’t have to carry around the weight of sin and guilt any longer. The Book of Matthew or John is a great place to start. If you do not have a Bible, please let me know; I can help you get one.
Also, find a good church to attend where you can find encouragement and good teaching of the Bible. I have been attending church for 4 decades, and I would not want to be without it. The wisdom and fellowship I gain from other Believers is priceless and enriching to my life. If you need help finding a church in your area to attend, please let me know, we can help you find one.
Now, you are ready to begin to pray for others. Again, it’s very simple. Just call upon the Lord, and talk to Him like you would to your friends. Open up your heart, and tell Him whatever is on your mind. It could be something as simple as, Lord Jesus, ______ really needs your help today. Please be with ______. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.
Remember, God wants to be your friend. He accepts you for who you are. Just call out to Him; He is there for you. He loves you. Welcome to your new life of forgiveness!
