Prayer

What is prayer?

Prayer is humble conversation with Almighty God

Why should I pray?

Because God tells me to do so

“Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.”

Mark 13:33

Because prayer changes things

“What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,”

Philippians 1:18-19

“Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.”

Hebrews 13:18-19

“Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.”

Acts 12:5-7

How should I pray?

In accordance with God’s will

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

I John 1:14-15

Secretly and simply

“But 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. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.”

Matthew 6:5-8

In faith

”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. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

James 1:5-8

Earnestly

“Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.”

James 5:17,18

Fervently

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

James 5:16

Persistently

“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”

Luke 18:1

With thanksgiving

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

Philippians 4:6

With forgiveness

“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

Mark 11:25

When should I pray?

While God is near

“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:”

Isaiah 55:6

When God can be found

“For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.”

Psalm 32:6

While my heart is soft

“While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.”

Hebrews 3:15

Throughout the day

“Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.”

Psalm 55:17

Continually

“Pray without ceasing.”

I Thessalonians 5:17

Who should I pray for?

Believers

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

Ephesians 6:18

“O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.”

Psalm 36:10

Those who hate me

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”

Matthew 5:44

Those who are sick

“Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:”

James 5:14

Everyone

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;”

I Timothy 2:1-3

What should I pray for?

Wisdom

“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.”

James 1:5

Understanding

“Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word.”

Psalm 119:169

God’s name, his kingdom, his will, provision, protection, and deliverance

“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”

Matthew 6:9-13

God’s word

“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:”

II Thessalonians 3:1

Labourers

“Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”

Matthew 9:38

Everything

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

Philippians 4:6

When will God not answer my prayer?

When I have sin in my heart

“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:”

Psalm 66:18

When I want God to satisfy my lusts

“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”

James 4:3

When I don’t ask

“Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.”

James 4:2

When will God answer my prayer?

When I am obedient and worshipful

“Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.”

John 9:31

“And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.”

I John 3:22,23

When I ask in faith

“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”

Matthew 21:22

Ask, and it shall be given you;

seek, and ye shall find;

knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Matthew 7:7