How I Can Get ALONE WITH GOD For an hour, or for a Day

The only hope for our nation is a genuine revival among God’s people. However, the evangelical church has so little “light and life” left in it there is no drawing power to call wayward Christians to repentance, much less hardened sinners to be saved. All the world hears from the church today is the noise of the ministry machinery going through the motions without the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and accomplishing nothing for the glory of God!

If you are serious in your desire to see revival, allow the Holy Spirit to use the Word of God to break up the fallow ground of your heart. Take a good look at your own life! Examine your walk with the Lord. Please don’t play games with God. Take your time and, for heaven’s sake, be serious. Perhaps this scriptural prayer would be a good place to start.

“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness; according unto the multitudes of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquities and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight; that thou mightiest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from bloodguilt-ness, O God, thou God of my salvation; and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.” (Portions of Psalm 51)

Can you pray this prayer?

“Heavenly Father, the above words express the desire of my heart, and I now give you freedom to do whatever you need to do in and through my life to bring me to true, genuine revival.”

Signed: _______________________________

Date: _________________________________

Here is a helpful guide to assist you in spending an hour or a day with the Lord in personal prayer. For an hour of prayer, divide the twelve areas into five-minute segments. For a day, use each one for an hour.

SOME TOOLS YOU WILL NEED:

- A Bible – possibly several translations and paraphrases, a concordance (Strong’s) and a Bible dictionary. (Unger’s)
- A Notebook – a journal of your journey could be a part of the spiritual heritage you hand down to your children.
- A Hymnbook – most of the great hymns of faith are filled with doctrine and theology as they exalt the majesty of God. The reading and singing of these hymns, as well as some of the scripture choruses, can help us learn to praise the Lord.
- A Calendar – while this time is set aside for prayer and quiet meditation, God may use this time to prompt you to action in some area of your life – even to re-evaluate your priorities. Be careful not to let it become a time of personal planning!
- A Quiet place – try to get away from any distraction or interruption. Let your family know, when they see you in that location, they should not disturb you. On the day of prayer, you might consider a quiet spot away from the house.

SOME HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS:

- About your schedule – try to keep the same time each day. Set it aside “as unto the Lord” and ask Him to protect it.
- About fasting – fasting is just investing the time we would have normally used in preparing, eating and digesting food, in prayer and the study of God’s Word. It’s better to start after lunch, fast for the evening meal, through breakfast and lunch, and then “break the fast” at the next evening meal. Fasting earns no points with God – it just shows Him how much we love Him and how much we want to spend time with Him. (Be sure to discuss this with your doctor)

SOME SUGGESTED SEGMENTS:

- Praise – All prayer should begin with praise and adoration unto God for who He is – His nature, His character, and His attributes. The reading or singing of a great hymn would help to get you started.
- Patience – “Be still and know” – pause and reflect upon God’s love for you and how much He desires to love you. Isaiah said, “Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength!” (40:31)
- Personal Confession – Let God search the depths of your heart and surface any sins that may be a hindrance to the intimacy He desires to have with you. Write them down as the Lord reveals them to you. Confess them, repent of them, and make plans for reconciliation and restitution where necessary. Remember, God does not hear our prayers if we are hiding any “iniquity” in our heart.
- Private Study – Read a chapter or a Book of the Bible just to get the overview of the content. Then go back and think it through again, verse by verse and line by line:
- Is there a promise to claim?
- Is there a warning to heed?
- Is there an example to follow?
- Is there a principle to learn or to apply?

Devotional books are helpful in letting us know what God said to others about the text we are reading. But the Holy Spirit’s assignment is to enable us all to know what the scriptures say and to “guide” us into all truth. Put aside ALL devotional books, magazines, etc., and just focus on the Word of God.

- Prayerful Concern – By now, God has probably brought to mind those people in your areas of influence who have some definite needs. Write those requests down for review.
- Personal Petition – Ask God to supply your needs from His riches in glory, assuring Him that your total reliance is upon Him. Keep a record of these requests and be sure to include them in your time of rejoicing when answered.
- Powerful Prayer – Search the scriptures for prayers of God’s men – David, Moses, Paul, Jesus, etc. Pray those powerful prayers unto God, making notes of their petitions and requests.
- Praise and Thanksgiving – You have already prayed in adoration, confession, petition, and intercession. Now, just pause and thank the Lord for all His benefits, and for the specific things, He has done for you, and those you love.
- Praise – Sing the first song that comes to your mind. Read some of the songs you don’t know how to sing. Write your own songs of praise unto the Lord praise.
- Practice His Presence – Try to visualize God’s power and presence in every area of your life and work. Anticipate the difference God could make in your life if He had full control. This activity is more than dreaming, or contemplative meditation.

This activity is living out what God wrought in through your time of prayer. It is putting your “walk” where your “talk” has been for the last hour.

- Private Quietness – Let God fill you with Himself. Listen to that still, small voice of the Holy Spirit, and allow Him to fill you, afresh and anew, with His precious power.
- Praise and Glory – Give Him the praise and glory due His holy name – sing, quote scripture, rejoice in the Lord, being refreshed by His Spirit and re-filled with His love.

O, My Savior, I am weary; the strain of life has exhausted me; the pressure of daily business has robbed me of my former energy. I have no strength even to cast my load. Forgive me for the lack of simple, childlike faith. Come near and rest me. Hush the fears I cannot allay; wipe the tears I cannot keep back. Lift me up, by thy strong arm, above the mists and the darkness of the valley, to stand and walk with thee on the high level of thy manifested presence and glory! – Amen

Join us next week as we focus on “HOW I CAN FACE DEATH WITH HOPE AND PEACE“.