What is Prayer?
Prayer is talking with God. We can pray alone or in a group. We can also pray silently or aloud. But to be in prayer is more than just speaking words. The scripture portrays a life of continual prayer, meaning a kind of openness toward God in all we do (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Prayer is an important part of how we relate to God. We need to take note that God cares for us. We can bring anything and everything in our hearts to God in prayer as a result of God’s unfailing love for us. God hears our prayers and no prayer is too small for God to hear as we are his beloved children (Psalm 102:17; 1 Peter 3:12). Also, we can pray with confidence. As believers, we can all approach God equally because of our unique standing in Jesus (Ephesians 3:12; Hebrews 4:16).
Why Pray?
Prayer is important and God’s word instructs us to make prayer our top priority as He wants to hear from his children. “Continue steadfastly in prayer” - Col 4:2
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people” (1 Timothy 2:1)
A. Prayer Draws us close to God.
In prayer, we worship, confess our sins, bring our requests to God, and wait and listen for Him to speak. In short, we enter deeply and directly into relationship with God.
B. Prayer is powerful.
God not only hears our prayers, but he is acting on them. Our prayer requests bring about real change in the world and in the lives of the people we pray for (Matthew 7:7-8; Mark 11:24)
C. Prayer brings peace.
Phil 4:6-7: Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
When we are at our wit’s end, the above scripture tells us to turn all those anxieties over to God who will give us peace of mind.
D. Prayer Protects us.
We have the Almighty God on our side! Jesus showed believers the importance of praying for protection and deliverance (Luke 21:36)
Below are four categories of prayer and we can remember them by the acronym “ACTS”.
Adoration
Prayer, first and foremost, ought to be about worship. God alone is worthy of our praise. Notice that the prayer of Jesus in Matthew 6:9-13 begins with “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” The prayer begins with God, who is the Creator of the universe and our Father. The word “Father” includes the concepts of care, love, discipline, respect, responsibility, authority and blessing. It is an act of paying honour and reverence to God.
Confession
Luke 11:4 “Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.”
Jesus taught his disciples to pray this way so that there are no stumbling blocks between God and them due to their sins (Psalm 32:5; 1 John 1:9). Likewise, we need to make ourselves right with God so that our prayers will be effective.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is praise for something God has done for us or given to us. Common courtesy would accord a prominent place to thanksgiving in our prayer life, for we are constantly at the receiving end of God’s generosity. Appreciation is the basis of healthy human relationships, and it is surely no less important in our relationship with God. In Phil 1:3-5, Paul’s thankfulness to God and his love for the Philippians is an example for us to emulate.
Psalm 118:1 “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.
Supplication (also called Petition)
Phil 4:6, Our heavenly Father wants his children to bring their requests to him and be thankful (Matthew 7:11).
Now, we turn from the vertical relationship with God to the horizontal relationship with man in our prayers. We pour out our own needs and intercession as well as the needs of others in our prayers.
Intercession is a type of supplication where we pray for the needs and concerns of others.
1 Tim 2:1 “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;”
It expresses destitution, and inadequacy; inability to meet one’s own needs, and total dependence on another. It is a need expressed in a cry.
So, when we come to God with our petitions (pleas for supply of a definite need keenly felt), we come humbly and expectantly to the throne of grace, deserving nothing, but hoping in God’s mercy.
We should live in a constant attitude of prayer (Joshua 1:8 - Thou shall meditate day and night). Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
How do we pray?
A. Pray According to God’s Will.
In all requests, we should keep the perspective that it is always “if the Lord wills.” He is still in charge and knows best (James 4:13-15; 1 John 5:14-15).
B. Ask in Faith
James 1:5-7 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord”.
C. Pray In Jesus Name
Through Jesus’ death on the cross, the lines of communication are now open for those who trust in Christ. This is what it means to pray in Jesus’ name, for only through Jesus will any prayer be heard by God (John 15:16).
D. Pray with a Clear Mind and Self-Control
1 Peter 4:7 “be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.”
E. Keep On Praying.
Persevere as we wait for the Lord to answer. Keep on praying and do not give up.
Does God answer our prayers?
Yes, His answers may be “Yes,” “No” or “Wait”. Let us pray earnestly and let God guide us. He knows best.
His answer may be “wait” (Psalms 22:1,2)
Psalms 40:1 “I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.”
God’s answers may be “No.” For example, in Exodus 33:20, we learnt that Moses asked to see God’s face, but God said “No” to him. Also, in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, Paul asked for the thorn in the flesh to be removed, but God’s answer was a promise of grace to endure it.
Conclusion
Even though God knows our needs, He still wants us to pray to him as He requires our trust and faith in Him.