Day 3, But When you Pray… BE SPECIFIC
By Pastor and Mrs Chifamba
Matthew 6:6
“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”
Psalms 34:17-18 NKJV
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.”
DAY 3—BE SPECIFIC
Matthew 6:7-8 NKJV
“And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”
PRAYER IS NOT ABOUT THE MULTITUDE OF WORDS OR THE ELOQUENCE OF THE PRAYER IT IS ABOUT OPENING THE HEART TO GOD
Psalms 62:8 NKJV
“Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah”
1 Samuel 1:13-15 NKJV
“Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. So Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!” But Hannah answered and said, “No, my Lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.”
Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him...
When Jesus was upon the earth, He taught His disciples how to pray. He directed them to present their daily needs before God, and to cast all their care upon Him. And the assurance He gave them that their petitions should be heard, is assurance also to us. – {Steps to Christ p. 93}
OUR PRAYERS HAVE TO BE SPECIFIC IN NATURE WHETHER IT BE IN REQUESTS WE MAKE OR IN CONFESSION OF SINS
Psalms 142:2 NIV
“I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble.”
“Mark 10:47 presents Bartimaeus asking Jesus for help. He cries out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” That is a generic request. In verse 51 Jesus asks him to be specific: “What do you want Me to do for you?” Bartimaeus responds, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight” (NKJV)….
“Do not use vain repetitions” God, teach us to talk to You as a Friend. Sometimes our prayers fall into monotonous paterns, and it seems that our words go no higher than the ceiling. Wake us up spiritually! Help us to sense the reality of Your presence right beside us.” - (Ten Days of Prayer Day 3, 2025)
True confession is always of a specific character, and acknowledges particular sins. They may be of such a nature as to be brought before God only; they may be wrongs that should be confessed to individuals who have suffered injury through them; or they may be of a public character, and should then be as publicly confessed. But all confession should be definite and to the point, acknowledging the very sins of which you are guilty. – {Steps to Christ p. 38.1}
AFTER ASKING FOR A KING ISRAEL MADE A SPECIFIC CONFESSION OF THEIR SIN AND DAVID AFTER KILLING URIAH PRAYED SPECIFICALLY FOR CLEANSING FROM BLOOD GUILTINESS
1 Samuel 12:19 ESV
“And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king.””
Psalm 51:14 ESV
“Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.”
1 John 1:9 ESV
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
