Many say that to suggest prayers to someone seeking God is pointless as it is an extremely personnel and unique experience. That may have some truth to it but the famous Lord's Prayer [Mat 6:9-13] that Jesus gave his followers seems to soundly destroy that argument though. Others have suggested very simplistic “sinners prayers” to change kingdom’s. Praise God that these can be a very real part of someone's journey into God. But to soundly respond to the whole gospel, especially for those who may be a little inhibited and prayer hesitant and would appreciate some guidance, we have suggested below a more detailed prayer strategy to help you get fully restored to God.
Some preparation is likely to be very helpful in responding to God wholeheartedly. There will be a first time that we come to God in repentance but repentance is not just a single event. Seeing all our failures to live as God intended, is actually a process and whenever we realise our behaviour is a disappointment to God we should immediately come to Him in repentance and ask for forgiveness, cleansing and deliverance. Do not shy away in embarrassment, condemnation and guilt. God understands your situation. It delights Him to forgive, cleanse, release and transform you. He knows it is a process. He is on your side. He is for you not against you. He loves you. He is longing to restore you.
So to follow Jesus we need to repent of our sinful attitudes and behaviour. It is good to first wholeheartedly admit and then secondly renounce these things. This then makes our repentance clear-cut and solid. To help you be as thorough as possible in repenting it is suggested that when alone that you quietly review what sin is as described above in the Sin page and make an honest list of all your past and present sins. It is unlikely that you will recall everything immediately but this is not a problem. If you are seeking God wholeheartedly He will nudge your conscience later of any other matters that He wants you to bring to Him.
We should not only repent of our current sinful attitudes and behaviour but also things that we may have already stopped doing but have not actually renounced and asked to be forgiven for. Otherwise these matters can remain in our heavenly records and Satan can use them to accuse us before God and hinder God’s blessings upon us.
Also make a list of the people who you have sinned with or who led you into sin as you will need to forgive them and break any ungodly emotional bonding you have with them but that is jumping ahead a bit. It is also important to forgive all those who have sinned against you by abusing you in some way, list them too. Eventually it would be best to destroy these lists. This would be a great symbol of your sins being removed from all spiritual records.
Sometimes we may repent of a sin and then we can slip and give into temptation and repeat it again. Despite how much of a failure you will feel, do not be discouraged and hesitate to come before God and repent again. He knows about it anyway. There is no point in hiding from God in shame. Admit the problem to Him. It is too great for you alone. Keep admitting, renouncing, repenting, asking for forgiveness, cleansing, claiming deliverance and presenting yourself to God until freedom comes. It surely will. All new believers have had battles like this. Do not get discouraged, His power is so much greater than all your problems. All your problems died when Jesus was crucified and your new life will flow out of His resurrection life which He puts within you.
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: [1Jn 2:1]
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [1Jn 1:9]
Breakthroughs into victory over a believer’s problems are sometimes received when they get baptised in water by full immersion.
God will not demand the impossible of you and tell you to do something you cannot do. Sometimes it needs a season of regular repentance to break free of habitual problems. Sometimes you may need the counsel and prayers of a mature believer to help you be released from the influence of demons. God is able and will make you an overcomer.
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