How to Approach God

Several years ago I taught children's church for the three to five year olds. We had lessons on how to go to God when we pray. The little ones loved to act out the lessons and it was a practical way for them to learn.

I began by telling them that we don't barge in on God when we pray. "God I need an answer right now." How rude is that? Instead we of course used scripture as our guide.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. Psalm 100:4 NKJV

The children learned the verse. I set it to a tune and we would sing it. Then we would dramatize the scripture. We imagined approaching God as a King, which He is. In order to come before His throne from the outside, we had to enter the gates into the garden and then into His courts. The key to getting inside the gates is giving Him thanks. And then we'd praise Him to move closer to Him.

To illustrate the point, two children would stand side-by-side and grasp one of each others' hands—they were the gate. Then I would always try to barge through the gate. I would say things like, "God I have to talk to you." And I'd walk up to the tightly clasped little hands and not get through. Or I might say, "God I need something from You." Again, I would have no success entering the gates. It was like playing the game red rover and trying to break through the opposing team, but instead of using force I had to use the right words. And I never did. So then it was their turn to show me how to do it.

They would walk up to the "gate" and use their "praise words." They would say things like, "thank You, Jesus" and I love You Lord." Viola, the gates would open.

Before we would attempt entering the gates, we would take turns naming praise words: Hallelujah; God, You are good; bless Your name, Lord; You are awesome God; Praise You, Lord, etc.

Verse 2 of Psalm 100 says, "Come before His presence with singing." It's all about the attitude. God is interested in the attitudes of our hearts. As we approach Him, we need to be focused on Him. It's not just important that we pray, but how we approach God when we pray and our attitude when we pray matters to God.

Proof:

These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Matthew 15:8 NIV

God wants our hearts, not just our words. He wants our attention.  Giving God thanks and praise before we ask for anything helps us to enter His presence. When we start thanking Him and thinking of His goodness, our focus changes from us to Him. Our faith rises as we begin to thank Him for all He's done and praise Him for who He is.

In chapter two of R.A. Torrey's book How to Pray, he explains

If, then, we would pray aright, the first thing that we should do is to see to it that we really get an audience with God, that we really get into His very presence. Before a word of petition is offered, we should have the definite and vivid consciousness that we are talking to God, and should believe that He is listening to our petition and is going to grant the thing that we ask of Him. This is only possible by the Holy Spirit's power . . .

Before we knelt to pray, I said something like the above, telling all the friends to be sure before they prayed, and while they were praying, that they really were in God's presence, that they had the thought of Him definitely in mind, and to be more taken up with Him than with their petition.

Pray with me:

Father, thank You, thank You, thank You for all You do. Thank You for ______________ (fill in the blank). You are the great King. You are Creator. You are Sovereign. You have everything in Your control. You are God of the universe and at the same time, You're my Father. You have time to listen to me. I bless Your name because not only are You great, but Your name is great. I praise You with all that is in me because You are worthy of praise. Blessings and riches and glory and honor to my God. Hallelujah to You almighty God. You are all-powerful and all-knowing. All the earth shall praise You, Lord. Heaven and earth are filled with Your glory. I lift Your name and respect Your name above everyone else. No one can compare with You. Thank you that according to Your Word, when I draw near to You, You draw near to me. Thank You that through these 40 days of prayer, You and I are growing closer to one another. 

Continue to pray from there.