Prayer

[Soldier4Christ]

Why do we need to be in prayer?

Jesus set the example for us.
Mark 1:35 – Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house
and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Matthew 26:39-44 – Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed,
"My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you
will." [40] Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not
keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. [41] "Watch and pray so that you will not
fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." [42] He went away a second
time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink
it, may your will be done." [43] When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because
their eyes were heavy. [44] So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third
time, saying the same thing.

Jesus thought it important enough to teach us how to pray.
Matthew 6:5-13 – "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray
standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth,
they have received their reward in full. [6] But when you pray, go into your room, close the
door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in
secret, will reward you. [7] And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they
think they will be heard because of their many words. [8] Do not be like them, for your Father
knows what you need before you ask him.

[9] "This, then, is how you should pray: " 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, [10] your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. [11] Give us today our daily bread. [12] Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. [13] And lead
us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'

We make our hearts' desires known to God, both our "wants" and "needs" (examples).
What we want— John 16:24 – Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask
and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

Our need for forgiveness—1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and
will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

We transfer our burdens to God through prayer.
1 Peter 5:7 – Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Philip. 4:6-7 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. [7] And the peace of God, which transcends
all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

[Soldier4Christ]

This is what Easton's Bible Dictionary says about "Prayer."


PRAYER  is converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant, ejaculatory or formal. It is a  beseeching the Lord  (Exodus 32:11);  pouring out the soul before the Lord  (1 Samuel 1:15);  praying and crying to heaven  (2 Chron. 32:20);  seeking unto God and making supplication  (Job 8:5);  drawing near to God  (Psalm 73:28);  bowing the knees  (Ephes. 3:14).

Prayer presupposes a belief in the personality of God, his ability and willingness to hold intercourse with us, his personal control of all things and of all his creatures and all their actions.

Acceptable prayer must be sincere (Hebrews 10:22), offered with reverence and godly fear, with a humble sense of our own insignificance as creatures and of our own unworthiness as sinners, with earnest importunity, and with unhesitating submission to the divine will. Prayer must also be offered in the faith that God is, and is the hearer and answerer of prayer, and that he will fulfil his word,  Ask, and ye shall receive  (Matthew 7:7-8; Matthew 21:22; Mark 11:24; John 14:13-14), and in the name of Christ (John 16:23-24; John 15:16; Ephes. 2:18; Ephes. 5:20; Col. 3:17; 1 Peter 2:5).

Prayer is of different kinds, secret (Matthew 6:6); social, as family prayers, and in social worship; and public, in the service of the sanctuary.

Intercessory prayer is enjoined (Numbers 6:23; Job 42:8; Isaiah 62:6; Psalm 122:6; 1 Tim. 2:1; James 5:14), and there are many instances on record of answers having been given to such prayers, e.g., of Abraham (Genesis 17:18, 20; Genesis 18:23-32; Genesis 20:7, 17-18), of Moses for Pharaoh (Exodus 8:12-13, 30-31; Exodus 9:33), for the Israelites (Exodus 17:11, 13; Exodus 32:11-14, 31-34; Numbers 21:7-8; Deut. 9:18-19, 25), for Miriam (Numbers 12:13), for Aaron (Deut. 9:20), of Samuel (1 Samuel 7:5-12), of Solomon (1 Kings 8; 2 Chron. 6), Elijah (1 Kings 17:20-23), Elisha (2 Kings 4:33-36), Isaiah (2 Kings 19), Jeremiah (Jeremiah 42:2-10), Peter (Acts 9:40), the church (Acts 12:5-12), Paul (Acts 28:.

No rules are anywhere in Scripture laid down for the manner of prayer or the attitude to be assumed by the suppliant. There is mention made of kneeling in prayer (1 Kings 8:54; 2 Chron. 6:13; Psalm 95:6; Isaiah 45:23; Luke 22:41; Acts 7:60; Acts 9:40; Ephes. 3:14, etc.); of bowing and falling prostrate (Genesis 24:26, 52; Exodus 4:31; Exodus 12:27; Matthew 26:39; Mark 14:35, etc.); of spreading out the hands (1 Kings 8:22, 38, 54; Psalm 28:2; Psalm 63:4; Psalm 88:9; 1 Tim. 2:8, etc.); and of standing (1 Samuel 1:26; 1 Kings 8:14, 55; 2 Chron. 20:9; Mark 11:25; Luke 18:11, 13).

If we except the  Lord's Prayer  (Matthew 6:9-13), which is, however, rather a model or pattern of prayer than a set prayer to be offered up, we have no special form of prayer for general use given us in Scripture.

[nChrist]

AMEN PASTOR ROGER!

Brother, the illustration is many times given of us being children and talking with our Heavenly Father. This is factual and could be compared to a child growing up in a Godly home on earth with an earthly father who loves the LORD as the head over the home. Now, let us imagine this child growing up and never talking to his or her earthly father, asking for something, talking about something that hurts, and generally not communicating the things of everyday life. This would be a very strange relationship that the earthly father would not understand or appreciate. It would also be a relationship where the child would not benefit from all of the communications that should have been happening.

Brother, we can apply this illustration to a Christian's relationship with their Heavenly Father, and all of the same things are true, BUT AMPLIFIED. The differences would be that our earthly fathers make many mistakes, and they're sometimes not worthy of tremendous respect. Our Heavenly Father doesn't make any mistakes, and HE is always worth the utmost respect. Our earthly fathers might or might not be willing to die for their children, but JESUS CHRIST did die for all who will accept HIM as Lord and Saviour. We could take the most Godly earthly father and multiply worthy attributes by millions of times and not reach the attributes of our Perfect and Holy Heavenly Father. HE has already proven in many ways that HE loves us, and HE wants us to love Him - respect HIM - depend on HIM - talk to HIM - pray to HIM - thank and praise HIM - worship HIM - and show the proper appreciation and reverence for all things.

It's nothing short of amazing that the KING of KINGS has granted HIS children access to the THRONE OF GRACE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Not only this - the HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD lives in our hearts as a guide and comforter. As children of the KING OF KINGS, we should be able to put everything together and know how we should treat our Heavenly Father. HE has showered us with blessings and riches beyond human imagination even in this short life here on earth. Lastly, our citizenship is in Heaven, so our real life eternal with JESUS CHRIST and our inheritance awaits us. We should earnestly give thanks that GOD loves to hear our prayers, and we should act like the children HE wants us to be.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Romans 8:31-32 NASB  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?