What is Prayer?
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How often do you tell someone you will pray for them and
send off a quick prayer with few details because you know God already has the
details, or maybe forget to pray for that situation altogether?
Do you ever feel you don’t want to “burden” others with
asking for them to pray for your needs because there are others who deserve
prayer more or who are in a worse situation than you are? I don’t know how others feel about prayer,
but I believe it is a privilege to pray for others. When someone shares a deep need or hurt they
are experiencing, they are opening themselves up to you and counting on you to
go to the Father on their behalf and spend time talking with Him about your
need.
Have we changed what prayer means in society today?
In the dictionary prayer is defined as a devout petition
to God or an object of worship; a spiritual communion with God or an object of
worship as in supplication, thanksgiving, adoration or confession.
I want to look at what a “devout petition” is. In this same dictionary devout is defined as “devoted to divine worship or service; pious; religious; expressing devotion or piety; earnest or sincere; hearty. Petition is defined as “ a request made for something desired, especially a respectful or humble request as to a superior or to one of those in authority, a supplication or prayer.
There are
several things we need to note about prayer:
1.
It isn’t promised that we will get what we ask
for in prayer. Sometimes the answer is
no, and sometimes, not now.
2.
Prayer is to include not just those things we
are asking for, but also a time of adoring the Creator and thanking Him for not
just what He has done, but who He is.
Also confessing when we have missed the mark.
3.
Also, notice that we are to come into prayer
with an attitude of respect because we are approaching the Creator, the One who
gives us everything we have. The God of
the universe. We are to come to the One
in authority respectful and humble, not haughty and expecting Him to give us
everything we want.
Does this change your attitude about prayer?
To answer some of our thoughts on prayer lets see what
God says about prayer:
Therefore, confess your
sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The
prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
James 5:16 ESV
Bear one another's
burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2 ESV
When we feel we shouldn’t share our hurts and needs with
others, God says we are to do that but the Word also mentions a righteous
person. We aren’t to necessarily share
everything with everyone. Ask God for
someone trustworthy you can share with.
We are to bear one another’s burdens. It fulfills the law of Jesus Christ!
We are commanded to pray for one another:
First of all, then, I urge
that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all
people,
1 Timothy 2:1 ESV
We are told to pray continually:
Praying at all times in
the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all
perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
Ephesians 6:18 ESV
Pray without ceasing,
Rejoice in hope, be
patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Romans 12:12 ESV
We are told to pray even when we don’t have the words to say because the
Holy Spirit knows:
Likewise the Spirit helps
us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the
Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who
searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit
intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Romans 8:26-27 ESV
We are told that prayer will redeem us:
If my people who are
called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from
their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and
heal their land.
We are told how to pray…from the heart for God to hear, not man to hear
and judge:
“And when you pray, do not
heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be
heard for their many words.
Matthew 6:7 ESV
We are told who to pray for:
But I say to you, Love
your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Matthew 5:44 ESV
First of all, then, I urge
that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all
people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a
peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it
is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,
1 Timothy 2:1-3 ESV
So why am I sharing all this about prayer? I have always had a different idea of prayer
than many people do, and I want to share what God says and encourage you to
pray. We all need prayer of others to
encourage us, inspire us, and to raise us up to the Father.
Does the Father need to hear prayers about us to be talked
into healing us, helping us, or encouraging us?
No. He already knows what we need
and what He will do. He already knows
who He is and how amazing and glorious He is.
He loves it when we tell Him, but trust me, He already knows.
Then why should we pray for others and have others pray
for us?
WE NEED IT! We need
to give our time, money and talents to God, we also need to to spend time with
Him adoring Him and asking Him to help us and those around us who need His
touch, not for Him, or even for them, but for us.
What do I mean? When
I pray for you, I am sharing my heart with the Creator and coming to Him with
confidence that He will know just what to do and He will do what is right for
His kingdom in this situation. It
bolsters my belief and confidence in Him the more I pray.
So, Pick up your notebook, your gratitude journal, and jot
down your prayers, your adoration, your thankfulness, and share with Him to
grow your faith and confidence in Him and His ability to take care of you and
your loved ones.
So how
can I pray for you today?
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