How to Approach God through Prayer

First of all, when you approach God, you must be sincere in your heart. Do not be a hypocrite. You have to repent.

When you promise someone or something, do it. Then when you pray, the Father will hear you. But if you cannot be trusted with your words, and other people cannot trust you with your word, do you think the Father will trust you with the prayers that you give to Him? He won’t.

So, that’s number one: be sincere and honest in your heart. When you go to Him with your prayer, be true. The most important thing is your heart is right with Him. You are true.

If there is anything you think can be a barrier to your prayer, repent of that first. Change what is not good about you because God knows who you are. You cannot hide from Him.

The publican, for instance, in Luke 18:9-14, when He prayed and recognized his being a sinner.  He could not lift his eyes. He could not even lift his head — because he recognized that he was a sinner.

The Pharisee, on the other hand, bragged about his giving of tithes, unlike the publican.

Do you see the attitude of God there, the characteristics of God? He looks at the contrite and the humble heart, first of all.

When you approach Him, you have to have a surrendered heart, spirit, and mind. Be humble and contrite, and recognize who you are because you cannot hide from Him.

When you recognize all of that, ask for His forgiveness for all that you have done, be sincere, and be true to your words.

As the Word of God in 1 Samuel 16:7 said, “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”