Prayer, a fundamental aspect of the Christian faith, is the means by which believers communicate with God. It is an act of worship, supplication, and thanksgiving, and it requires a heart prepared to engage with the divine. The Bible emphasizes the importance of approaching God with a heart that is ready and sincere.

Biblical Foundation

The necessity of preparing one's heart before approaching God in prayer is underscored throughout Scripture. In 1 Samuel 7:3, the prophet Samuel instructs the Israelites, "If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the LORD and serve Him only, and He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines." This passage highlights the importance of a heart fully committed to God, free from idolatry and distractions.

Similarly, in Psalm 10:17, the psalmist declares, "You have heard, O LORD, the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their hearts. You will incline Your ear." Here, humility and a prepared heart are prerequisites for God’s attentive ear. The psalmist acknowledges that God responds to those whose hearts are aligned with His will.

Preparation of Heart

The preparation of the heart involves several key elements:

1. Repentance and Purity: James 4:8 exhorts believers, "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." Approaching God requires a heart cleansed from sin and double-mindedness, emphasizing the need for repentance and purity.

2. Faith and Trust: Hebrews 11:6 states, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." A heart prepared for prayer is one that is rooted in faith and trust in God’s character and promises.

3. Sincerity and Honesty: In Matthew 6:5-6, Jesus instructs, "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their reward. But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Sincerity and honesty in prayer are crucial, as God desires genuine communication rather than outward displays of piety.

4. Reverence and Awe: Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 advises, "Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few." A heart prepared for prayer approaches God with reverence and awe, recognizing His majesty and holiness.

Examples from Scripture

The Bible provides numerous examples of individuals who approached God with prepared hearts. Daniel, known for his unwavering faith, exemplified this in Daniel 6:10, where he "went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before." Daniel’s consistent practice of prayer, even in the face of persecution, reflects a heart steadfastly prepared to commune with God.

Another example is found in the life of King David. In Psalm 51:10, David prays, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." This plea for a pure heart demonstrates David’s understanding of the need for inner preparation before approaching God.

Conclusion

The preparation of the heart is an essential aspect of prayer, as it aligns the believer’s intentions and desires with the will of God. Through repentance, faith, sincerity, and reverence, Christians are called to approach the throne of grace with hearts ready to engage in meaningful and transformative communication with their Creator.Job 11:13
If you prepare your heart, and stretch out your hands toward him;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Letter v. Prayer and Fasting.
... Prayer must always be offered in the name of Christ. ... is to maintain an habitual spirit
of prayer, according to ... and seek his grace, our minds should be heavenly ...
/.../letter v prayer and fasting.htm

Prayer and Labor for the Gathering of the Great Harvest.
... this His life was ready to be offered; therefore, He ... They should assume that God
expects them to enter the ... children who are lifting up this prayer, "Lord, send ...
/.../finney/sermons on gospel themes/xix prayer and labor for.htm

Home Dedication.
... Like the Hebrew mother, we should at least devote one ... you may be assured that God
will answer your prayer. ... thus, of old, a babe was offered up" Young Samuel ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/philips/the christian home/chapter x home dedication.htm

Jesus Christ an Example of Prayer
... thing for us, that they without us should not be ... statement the habit of our Lord
in prayer in Hebrews ... the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and ...
/.../bounds/the reality of prayer/vii jesus christ an example.htm

Order and Argument in Prayer
... the same; our spiritual sacrifices should be offered with holy ... God forbid that our
prayer should be a mere leaping out ... and so attained to the spirit of prayer. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 12 1866/order and argument in prayer.htm

The Ministry and Prayer
... in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and ... "To your knees, O Israel!"
should be the ... The highest form of religious life is attained by prayer. ...
/.../bounds/the weapon of prayer/vii the ministry and prayer.htm

Prayer --The Forerunner of Mercy
... I should not like to be waited upon by one for whom I could ... John, you know I am an
enemy to religion, and prayer is a thing that never shall be offered in my ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/prayerthe forerunner of mercy.htm

Internal Affective Prayer of Contemplation Hath Always Been ...
... to which God had brought him, he offered to apply ... the performance of his office took
up almost the ... approving that such a manner of prayer should so commonly be ...
/.../chapter vii internal affective prayer.htm

A Description of Heart-Purity
... now despise prophesying and leave off prayer in their ... law God would have the inwards'
offered up (Leviticus 4 ... his own conscience, but lest he should offend his ...
/.../16 a description of heart-purity.htm

Answer to Objections: Conditions Necessary to Prayer
... to be arrayed, (and I marvel that anyone should hesitate, were it ... be considered,
the attitude and preparation for prayer of one who has offered himself to ...
/.../origen/origen on prayer/chapter v answer to objections .htm

Questions about Prayer (All) | GotQuestions.org

What is the purpose of prayer? | GotQuestions.org

What is a prayer circle? | GotQuestions.org

Prayer: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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