Prayer

Prayer

—Communication with God

Prayer is not trying to get God’s attention (Heb. 4:12-16).

Prayer is not trying to get God to do something (Heb. 4:3, 6:12, 10:35).

Prayer is communication with God–believing and receiving what He has already provided for us in Christ Jesus.

Prayer is the main theme of Luke — Lk 11:1.

To pray and work is a theme of Nehemiah — Neh 4:9.

1. What is prayer?
   1. Calling on the name of the Lord — Ge 4:26; Ge 12:8; Zep 3:9
   2. Calling to God — Ps 4:1,3; Ps 17:6
   3. Seeking God’s face — 2 Ch 7:14; Ps 27:8
   4. Seeking the Lord — Ps 34:4; Isa 55:6
   5. Crying out to God — Ps 3:4; Ps 66:1
   6. Lifting up the soul to God — Ps 25:1; Ps 86:4
   7. Lifting up one’s hands to God — Ps 28:2; Ps 141:2
   8. Approaching God’s throne of grace — Heb 4:16
   9. Drawing near to God — Heb 10:22
2. To whom should we pray?
   1. To God — 2 Ch 20:5-6; Ezra 9:6; Ac 4:24
   2. To the Father — Eph 1: 17; Eph 3:14; Col 1:3
   3. To the Lord — 2 Ch 20:5-6; Ac 4:24; 2 Co 12:8
   4. To Jesus — Lk 23:42; Ac 7:59
3. What are the elements of prayer?
   1. Praise — Ps 150; Mt 11:25-26 See Praise
   2. Thanksgiving — Ps 136; Phil. 4:6 See Thanksgiving
   3. Confession — Ps 51; Mt 6:12 See Confession
   4. Intercession — Ps 122:6-9; Jn 17:7-12 See Intercession
   5. Petition — Ps 27:7-12; Mt 26:39,42 See Petition
4. How should we pray?
   1. Divine elements
      1. Through Jesus Christ — Rom 1:8; Col 3:17
      2. In the name (authority, character) of Jesus Christ — Jn 14:13-14; Eph 5:20
      3. In the Holy Spirit — Eph 6:18; Jude 20 See Praying in the Spirit
   2. Human elements
      1. In the fear of the Lord — Ps 145:19; Pr 1:28-29
      2. In faith — Mk 11:24; James 1:6; 5:15
      3. In humility — 2 Ch 7:14; 33:12-13
      4. In repentance — 2 Ch 6:37; Acts 3:19
      5. With all our heart — Dt 29:13; Jer 29:13
      6. With a heart free from sin — Ps 66:18-19; Isa 1:15-16; Jn 9:31
      7. With a life free from selfishness — Lk 18:9-14; James 4:3
      8. With a heart free from doubt — Mt 21:21; James 1:5-7
      9. With a forgiving spirit — Mt 6:14-15; Mk 11:25
      10. With confidence — Eph 3:12; Heb 10:19,35; 1 Jn 3.21-22
      11. With persistence — Lk 11:5-10; Lk 18:1-7; 1 Th 5:17
      12. With sincerity and simplicity — Mt 6:5-8; Mk 12:38-40
      13. In accordance with God’s will — Mt 26:42; 1 Jn 5:14
      14. By accompanying prayer with obedience — 1 Jn 3:22
5. Does God answer the prayers of his people?
   1. Remarkable answers to prayers
      1. Abraham’s servant for a wife for Isaac — Ge 24:12-27
      2. Moses for the defeat of Amalek — Ex 17:8-13
      3. Gideon and his fleece — Jdg 6:36-40
      4. Samson for strength — Jdg 16:25-30
      5. Hannah for a child — 1 Sam 1:9-20
      6. Elijah for return to life of a dead boy — 1 Kings 17:19-23
      7. Elijah for fire from heaven — 1 Kings 18:30-38
      8. Elijah for rain — 1 Kings 18:41-45; James 5:17-18
      9. Elisha for return to life of a dead boy — 2 Kings 4:32-35
      10. Hezekiah for healing — 2 Kings 20:1-7
      11. Daniel for safety in the lions’ den — Dan 6:10,16-22
      12. Zechariah for a child — Lk 1:7,11-17
      13. The thief on the cross for salvation — Lk 23:42-43
      14. Early Christians for Peter in prison — Acts 12:3-11
      15. Paul and Silas in prison — Acts 16:25-26
   2. God’s promises to answer us
      1. In the Old Testament — Ps 86:7; Isa 30:19; Isa 58:9
      2. In the words of Jesus — Mt 7:7-11; Jn 14.13-14
      3. In the New Testament — James 1:1-8; 1 Jn 5:14-15
   3. The basis of God’s answers
      1. God’s glory — Num 14:13-16; Jn 17:1-5
      2. God’s grace — Ex 32:31-32; Num 14:17-19; Isa 30:19; 2 Cor 12:8-9
      3. God’s faithfulness to His Word — Ex 32:12-13; 2 Ch 20:7-9
   4. The manner of God’s answers
      1. Sometimes immediately — Num 14:20; 1 Kings 17:20-21; Lk 23:43
      2. Sometimes after a delay — Lk 18:1-7
      3. Sometimes more than asked for — 1 Kings 18:24,36-38; Eph 3:20
      4. Sometimes different from the request — 1 Kings 19:1-9; 2 Cor 12:7-9
      5. Sometimes “No” — 2 Sam 12:15-20
      6. God requires action on our part — Neh 4:9
6. Various aspects of prayer
   1. Postures of prayer
      1. standing — 1 Kings 8:22; Neh 9:4-5
      2. sitting — 1 Ch 17:16; Lk 10:13
      3. Kneeling — Ezr 9:5; Dan 6:10; Acts 20:36
      4. Bowing down — Ex 34:8; Ps 5:7; Ps 95:6
      5. Lying on the ground — 2 Sam 12:16; Mt 26:39
      6. Lifting up hands — Ps 28:2; Isa 1:15; 1 Tim 2:8
   2. Manner of prayer
      1. Alone, silently — 1 Sam 1:18
      2. Alone, aloud — Eze 11:13
      3. With two or three — Mt 18:19
      4. In a larger group — Ps 35:18
   3. Time of prayer
      1. In the morning — Ps 5:1-3; Mk 1:35
      2. In the evening — Ge 24:63
      3. At fixed times — Ps 55:17; Dan 6:10
      4. Always — Lk 18:1; Rom 1:10; 1 Th 5:17
   4. Possible places of prayer
      1. In secret — Mt 6:6
      2. In bed — Ps 63:6
      3. In a family setting — Acts 10:1-2
      4. Out in the open — Ge 24:11-12
      5. On the battlefield — Jos 10:12-13
      6. By the riverside — Acts 16:13
      7. In the temple — 2 Kings 19:14
      8. In the church gathered together — Acts 4:23-24, 31
      9. Anywhere — 1 Tim 2:8

See also Approaching God

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Grace of God

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Receiving more than we ask

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Asking others for prayer

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The praise of God

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Thanksgiving to God commanded

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Individual confession of sin

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Making requests to God

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Prayers of intercession

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Attitudes in prayer

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Taking Gods will into account

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Persistence in prayer

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