P.O.E.T.S. Of Prayer Sample

OPEN

God already knows everything, so tell him the truth. If we come to God in prayer with anything other than the truth, it is a lie. Communication is most effective when we are vulnerable and honest. Allowing ourselves to be vulnerable with God is us submitting ourselves to his power. Being open with God shows him that we trust that his ways are better than ours. Our openness is an expression of our need for his grace and guidance. 

God can trust us when we show him that we trust him in prayer. Openness, honesty, and vulnerability releases us from the pressure to be perfect. It frees us from the burden of fixing things by ourselves. Expressing ourselves openly declutters our minds and allows us to hear clearly what God is saying in prayer. The more we hold in, the harder it is to hear him. 

Holding the truth inside is a trick of the enemy to keep us bottled up in bondage. If we are weighed down by guilt and shame, coming to God openly will be much harder. This holds a lot of us back, and some of us will choose not to pray in truth because the shame seems too great to confront. Scripture tells us that we have not because we do not ask (James 4:2). Essentially, if the enemy can keep us from praying and asking God for what we need help with, the enemy wins. 

Walk in the grace that God has already provided and have an honest moment of prayer with him. 

Reflection:

What situation haven't you asked God for help with from fear, guilt, or shame? Find time today to release it in prayer with God.