Prayer…what is it? Simply said, prayer is just talking with God. Prayer though is a misunderstood and underappreciated privilege. In some religions prayer is done thru a mediator if at all. Others are done with chants, mantas, or prewritten archaic prose that most don’t understand and others don’t even mean. Jesus warned us of these vain repetitions. Even the Lord’s Prayer was only meant to be a model not rote form to be recited (“pray in this manner” not repeat after me). Some people pray like they’re giving a speech or preaching a sermon. Some pray at their hearers. Some kept repeating catch words or God’s name at the end of every sentence. We don’t speak to each other that way. Some even pray in King James as if they were 15th century British saints. Others though are so casual with God that they forget His total otherness than us, His Holiness and His Majesty. Coming before the throne with “boldness” does not mean crassly or brazenly. It means “with confidence”. In the Old Testament priests had bells on their clothes and a rope tied to them. If they didn’t follow all the rules they would be struck dead, the bells would go silent and he would be pulled out dead. Christ broke down those barriers so we can approach the Lord ourselves without fear because Jesus took our sin and gave us His righteousness. We must also purify our hearts and relationships to keep our prayers unhindered. 1 Peter 3:7, Mt. 5:23-24, Mt. 6:14
Ephesians 6 tells us to pray with all prayer. What does that mean? Well there are different types of prayer for different situations:
- intercession- prayer for others in distress even the Holy Spirit Himself intercedes for us and thank God for it…wisdom, direction salvation of others
- supplication-praying for God to supply practical needs food,finances,provision etc
- in the Spirit- for spiritual needs and edification-prayer language
- praise- the most important part of prayer-it positions our heart before Him
- thanksgiving-more than just a holiday
- prayer of faith- for miracles and healing
- confession- or repentance of sin
- mediation-contemplating God,listening,discussing your life with God
- sinners prayer- turning your life over to Christ
And what should be our attitude be in prayer.
1. Pray fervently like the world depends upon it: Col 4:12; Acts 9:9-11; 1 Th 3:10; Jas 5:16-18
2. With bold confidence: Heb 4:16 (boldly, not brashly)
3. With reverence: Isa 66:2; Ps 111:9; 89:7
4. With sincerity and selfless intent: Mt 6:5-8
5. With humility: Lk 18:9-14; Jas 4:6,10; 1 Pe 5:6-7; 2 Chro 7:14; 34:27; Isa 57:15
6. Keeping alert (don’t let mind drift): Col 4:2; Lk 21:26
7. In Jesus’ name: Jn 14:13-14; 15:16; 16:24,26; Col 3:17 (an attitude that we pray by the authority of Jesus, not merely saying the words, “In Jesus name, Amen”)
8. Be devoted (make it a habit): Col 4:2; Rom 12:12; Acts 6:4
9. Have an attitude of thanksgiving: Col 4:2
10. With a forgiving spirit: Mt 6:12-15; Mt 18:21-35; Eph 4:32
11. With perseverance/persistence: Lk 11:5-9; Eph 6:18
12. Don’t lose heart: Lk 18:1
13. Be specific: When at restaurant we don’t say “bring food” but “med-rare, potato w/sour cream”
14. According to His will Ro.8:27
15.Believing/faith- Mt 21:22 ,Js 5:15
15. Pray expecting to receive: Mk 11:24; 2 Sam 22:7; Jas 1:5-8 Ps 5:1-3
a) Acts 12:5,12-16 tragic they rejected answer to what they had been praying for
b) Some pray for a bushel, then carry a cup
c) Don’t expect a thousand dollar answer to a 10 cent prayer
Prayer posture:
The following postures are recorded in the Bible:
a) Fell on face: Mt 26:39; Mk 14:35
b) Lifting up hands: 1 Ti 2:8
c) Kneeling down: Lk 22:41; Acts 7:60; 9:40; 20:36; 21:5; Eph 3:14; 2 Chro 6:13; Dan 6:10
d) Standing: Mk 11:25
e) Sitting: 2 Sam 7:18
My spur then is to prioritize prayer, know how to pray, and then pray. Election and God’s Sovereignty is no excuse not to pray.
“God in His Sovereignty has ordained that human destinies may be changed and molded by the will of man. This is at the heart of the truth that prayer changes things, meaning that God changes things when men pray….
…Here then is the reply to our opening question, and the scriptural solution to the seeming difficulty. Prayer is not the requesting of God to alter His purpose or for Him to form a new one. Prayer is the taking of an attitude of dependency upon God, the spreading of our need before Him, the asking for those things which are in accordance with His will, and therefore there is nothing whatever inconsistent between Divine Sovereignty and Christian prayer. A.W. PINK
Let’s face it, our Father just wants to talk commune with His children. My own dad will always ask me ,wherever I ask his advice if I prayed about it. If not he sternly reminds me “how can you expect God to bless something you haven’t consulted Him about”.
Please consider these verses and the quotes at the end as God speaks to your heart to “come, sit a while and speak with Me”.
Ezekiel 22:30
“I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.
2 Chronicles 7:14
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Luke 11:9-13
9“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 11“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for[a] a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Jer. 33:3
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.-
James 5:16
…. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Matthew 5:23-24
23“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
1 Timothy 2:1-3
1I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3This is good, and pleases God our Savior,
Philippians 4:6
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Ephesians 6:18
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
1 Peter 3:12
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer
1 Peter 3:7
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
1 Timothy 2:8
I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.
2 Thessalonians 3:1
Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.
Colossians 4:12
Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Pray without ceasing.
Luke 18
1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.
Colossians 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
1 Peter 3:7
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
Ephesians 6:18
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Ephesians 3:14
For this reason I kneel before the Father,
Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Acts 4:24
When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God.
Luke 19:46
“It is written,” he said to them, ” ‘My house will be a house of prayer’
Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours
Matthew 21:22
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
Mark 12:38-40
38As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, 39and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.
Romans 8:26-27
26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.
James 5:14-16
14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective
Matthew 6:5-8
5And when thou pr–ayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6B1ut thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
1 John 5:14-15
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us – Aawhatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of Him.”
John 14:12-14
12Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 13And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be gA lorified in the Son. 14If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
John 15:7
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
Daniel 9:3
So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.
Matthew 5:44
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Prayer and Intercession Quotes
Action without prayer is arrogance, prayer without action is hypocrisy.”
Jose Zayas
“Prayer and praise are to the Christian as the two wings are to the bird. Don’t expect the bird to fly if one wing is broken. Even so the Christian needs both prayer and praise.” – J. Wesley Adcock, in The Holy Spirit in Life and Labors.
He who knows how to overcome with God in prayer has heaven and earth at his disposal. — C. S. Spurgeon
If the spirit of prayer departs, it is a sure indication of a backslidden heart, for while the first love of a Christian continues he is sure to be drawn by the Holy Spirit to wrestle much in prayer. -Charles G. Finney
Prayer is the vital breath of the Christian; not the thing that makes him alive, but the evidence that he is alive. – Oswald Chambers
Prayerlessness is sin. – Harold Lindsell
Avail yourself of the greatest privilege this side of heaven. Jesus Christ died to make this communion and communication with the Father possible. – Billy Graham
“Work as if everything depends on you; pray as if everything depends on God.” – John Wesley
. “Prayer must be aflame. Its ardor must consume. Prayer without fervor is as a sun without light or heat, or as a flower without beauty or fragrance. A soul devoted to God is a fervent soul, and prayer is the creature of that flame. He only can truly pray who is all aglow for holiness, for God, and for heaven.” – E. M. Bounds
Prayer is talking with God and telling Him you love Him, conversing with God about all the things that are important in life, both large and small, and being assured that He is listening. – C. Neil Strait
“Too busy; O forgive, Dear Lord, that I should ever be, too much engrossed in earthly tasks, to spend an hour with thee.” — A.B. Christiansen
Every work of God can be traced to some kneeling form. – Dwight L. Moody
The Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Might comes to our aid in our weakness as we pray. – Leonard Ravenhill
If your faith does not make you pray, have nothing to do with it: get rid of it, and God help thee to begin again. C. H. Spurgeon
Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?– Corrie Ten Boom
Pray, and let God worry. — Martin Luther
There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God. –Brother Lawrence
Spurs by Lu Webb 