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Effective Prayer
My Creed leads me to think that prayer is efficacious, and surely a day’s asking God to overrule all events for good is not lost. Still there is a great feeling that when a man is praying he is doing nothing, and this feeling makes us give undue importance to work, sometimes even to the hurrying over or even to the neglect of prayer.
Do not we rest in our day too much on the arm of flesh? Cannot the same wonders be done now as of old? Do not the eyes Of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth still to show Himself strong on behalf of those who put their trust in Him? Oh that God would give me more practical faith in Him! Where is now the Lord God of Elijah? He is waiting for Elijah to call on Him. James Gilmour Of Mongolia
Prayer is an integral part of Christianity, so much so that without prayer, there is no Christianity. In modern days prayer has been relegated as a way to manipulate God to do our bidding. This is not the truth. There is a time and place for us to take our grocery list to Him, but prayer is much much more than that. I want so much for our prayers to be unhindered, and answered. So please bear with me while I attempt to present to you, in the spirit of simplicity and truth, some thoughts on prayer.
I do not claim to have a FULL understanding on any subject, and some parts of this subject I am a bit weak, but I will share what I see in scripture. Much of this study is in the light of biblical principle, supported by many scriptural references.
Why Do We Pray
There are 3 basic reasons for us to pray, and we will look at how they affect us.
1) Fellowship/relationship with God
Psa_42:2; Psa_63:1; Psa_84:2
Prayer is the means by which we talk with God. There is nothing strange about this, not any more strange than talking to yourself. This is how we truly get to know Him on a personal level. Reading and studying the Bible is great for learning about God and His ways,and you can come to know Him in a limited way. But prayer is the way we speak with Him one on one and truly get to know Him. If you were to read everything available that you could get your hands on about your favorite music star, you would gain a lot of information, facts, career stats, and so forth. But you really don't know the person until you sit down and have a two way conversation with them.
God desires relationship with you, Psa_145:18,Zec_2:10, Joh_14:23,1Jo_3:24. When He is in relationship with you, He changes you to be more like Him. Have you ever noticed that when you hang out with stupid people you start doing stupid stuff. Or when you've been paying attention to what smart folk do, you kind of pick up on it and act a little smarter than what you have been. The same is true when you start hanging out with God, you start picking up on His ways.
When we pray to God we must be "real" with Him, Heb_10:22.
2) The way God meets our needs.
I am quite certain that most of us know that God (the creator of all that is in existance) is able to take care of us. Like our earthly parents, He knows what is good for us, and what our needs are. He is more than willing to meet those needs, but sometimes He just wants you to ask Him. Prayer is the means by which we speak to God, therefore it is the means by which we ask Him for our needs and wants. God sees us as His children, so He wants good things for us. Of course like all children we don't always behave the way we should, and when wev'e been disobedient we are usually hesitant to go to daddy to ask him for something. But He still wants us to come to Him and ask. Mat_7:7.
Of course, just as with our natural parents there are certain stipulations. We need to believe, Mat_21:22, Heb_11:6, so that we may receive. And we must also be obedient, Jam_4:3, 1Jo_3:22. But if we keep these 2 things in check, then He will supply our needs as promised, Phi_4:19.
3) God and man working together.
The physical world around us is affected by physical things while the spiritual world is affected by spiritual things. Though God is the creator of all things He has set certain rules in place so that order could be maintained in His creation. Therefore, apart from an actual miracle, everything that gets done in this world by God is accomplished through a willing person(s).
God has set us apart in that He has given us free will. It is an underlying principle in the bible that God will not violate our free will except in the area of judgment. At the beginning of creation God put the natural world around us under our authority, therefore it is man's free will that rules the earth. Nature does not have free will, just spiritual beings, which mean us, angels, demons, and Christ also.When we pray in intercession, we are in effect asking for His influence in the given person, or an actual change in the object or thing.
Having said that, then we need to understand that by God's own word, He will not manipulate things in the world around us except by our request, invitation. At creation God ordained the natural order of things, natural law, and then put us in charge of the creation. Now its up to us to take care of things. Can I get a witness that sometimes we need help? God will help us we ask, and that is where I'm going with this.
God can make the rain fall, but we need to ask. He can help the crops grow, but we need to ask. And He will lead and guide us if we are willing to follow, but we still need to operate in the manner set forth at creation, and ask for His leading and guidance, otherwise it would violate our free will. By working with God, through prayer, we change things that otherwise would not get changed. The greatest example of this can be found in Jos_10:12-14, where God caused the sun to be still for a full day. Take note as you come across the many prayers in the bible, more often than not they are offered to make changes in things and circumstances.
THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF PRAYER
As you read through the bible just take note of what is going on when you see someone praying. There are basically only 4 types of prayer, which can be subdivided further. They are conversation, asking, and thanksgiving. Out of respect, when we come to God with a request, we really should include all 3 types.
The main reason that you would need to know this is so that you can keep more focused on your prayer. We dont say, "God, I come to you with the prayer of intercession so that you" ... Instead we say something along the lines of "Father, Billybob really needs your help, he needs to hear you clear"...
Conversation
This is how we come into relationship with God, and it is as simple as it sounds. We just talk to Him. He is our Father, and as such we are able to come to Him 24/7, with any question, desire, or thought. Just like our natural parents, we speak with them, get to know them, they get to know us. I don't know how to make it any more plain than this. God likes casual conversation with you.
Thanksgiving
Just as above, this is as simple as it sounds. We give Him thanks. Sometimes we give Him thanks without asking for anything, and this is usually done while in conversation with Him. We should always be giving Him thanks while we are making supplication to Him. Even when we have not yet physically received what we are asking for, we thank him as though we have, because it is on its way.
Supplication
There are several subcatagories to this type, basically, supplication is asking for something, petition, an expression of need.
Agreement
There is an underlying principle in the bible and nature of unity, coming together as one. When we get in agreement, or unity, with one another, then we are able to get much more accomplished than what we could get done individually, even if added together after the fact. Example, we are unloading a truckload of 100 pound bags. In 1 hour I can move 50 of them and you can move 50, But working together, instead of moving 100 bags, we can share the load and get 500 off the truck. Deu_32:30, (the context here is the enemy gaining victory over Israel)
When we pray in agreement with others, its kinda like increasing the strength of the prayer. Unity is the underlying principle in the bible that gives strength to the prayer done in agreement with another or others. This unity is pleasing to God, and it is part of the way He wants us to do things. When we operate in agreement, or unity with Him, then good stuff starts to happen for us, hence the promise, Mat_18:19.
Consecration
Consecrate means to set apart, regard as holy. In prayer we are to set ourselves apart from our worldly concerns and be engaged with God fully.
This type of prayer is where you have an understanding of the Word, and in general know what God's will is. He wills for us to be students of the Word, to be kind to one another, to conduct yourself in God's kind of love at all times in all situations. But you don't know specifically want He wants for you in particular.
Mat_28:19, Here we are told in general that all of us are to teach, But at what level are you to teach others. Could it be one on one conversation, just stating the facts. It could be by a lifestyle (which we should all aspire to) of holiness, and teaching how we should live by example. Another way to teach is what you are participating in now, bible studies. Or perhaps He has called you to pastor. The particulars of your calling are to be worked out between you and god, therefore we must consecrate ourselves to this end, Phi_2:12, (note the last part of the verse)
Dedication
This is where you know what God wants of you, but you are struggling with it. You've done consecrated yourself to the Lord and have received direction, but now you're having trouble dealing with it. Note Jesus in the garden praying 3 times,Mat_26:39-44. Jesus knew what lay ahead for Him, and in His humanity, He didn't really want to do it, but was obedient to the Father after strengthening through prayer.
or the 3 Hebrew kids and the firey furnace ordeal. Note also the the Devil will always give you an opportunity to compromise
Faith
Mar_11:24,1Ti_2:8, Jam_5:13-16, 1Jo_5:14,you already know what the will of God is, this changes things, but does not change people (hearts)
Intercession
Col_1:9, 1Th_5:17
Repentance
the sinner's prayer
In the Spirit
Rom_8:26, 1Co_14:14
THE LORD'S PRAYER
(AS AN EXAMPLE OF "HOW"TO PRAY)
Mat_6:9-13
The Lord's prayer was given to us as a model of prayer, not a thing to be repeated over and over again. God forbids us from making vain, repetitious, heartless prayers Mat_6:5-8. The following scriptural reference is from the Contemporary English Version;
Mat 6:9 You should pray like this: Our Father in heaven,
For most of us, what I'm about to say will seem to be a slap in the face. We pray to the Father, not to saints, angels, or even Jesus Mat_6:6. Mary, Peter, James, and John are all people to be honored and respected, Jesus is to be worshiped, but none are to be prayed to. Jesus Himself prayed to the Father and told His disciples that there would come a time when they would go directly to the Father.
Joh_16:23-26. As Jesus was telling His disciples of His soon departure, He told them something a bit odd. Until now whatever they needed, they would simply ask Jesus and Jesus would go to the Father, but now Jesus was fixing to go away. It would be up to them (and us) to go directly to the Father, in the Name of the Lord, with their petitions. Then the Father Himself will answer.
Remember earlier when I mentioned that God wants to have fellowship/relationship with us? This is the relationship He desires, as our heavenly Father. It is only right that we should address Him as such. And since He is our Father, we know we can come to Him without fear, boldly, to speak with Him, ask of Him, or even to seek forgiveness of Him.
Now, this would be a good time to make a slight little side trip. We need to take a look at what it means to pray "in the name of ". Act_3:6 The name used is of a specific person, not a tag placed at the end of a prayer. Name represents authority,character,word, work of. In legal terms, "power of attorney", it is according to His righteousness,will, way.
When you understand that you are standing before God by the authority of Jesus, then are you praying in His name. It is the person behind the name, not just a phrase, but, as if you were Him.
Act_19:13-16, In this example, the name is used, but without its authoritative power. The folks using the name didn't know the man who gave the name its power, they were not in relationship with Him. And as a result got the snot kicked out of them.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with ending a prayer with the Phrase "In Jesus Name"' as long as you understand that its not a word or phrase that gives your prayer power to be heard by God. But when you are walking in obedience to the Lord you are acting in and by His authority, thereby fulfilling Col_3:17.
In order for Col_3:17 to make sense it must mean more than a mere phrase. Otherwise you would be using the phrase literally constantly. "I'm getting out of bed, "In Jesus Name". Boss, I'm ready to go to work, "In Jesus Name". Dinner is ready, "In Jesus Name". I understand that there are certain groups out there that fully believe that if you do not end your prayer, "in Jesus name", then it is an invalid prayer. Now, if this were true, then every prayer in the bible would be invalid. None of the prayers recorded in the entire bible end with the phrase "in Jesus name". There is a reason the scripture says Rom_3:4.
help us to honor your name. (hallowed be thy name) KJV
Hallowed be thy name, a form of worship, the practical side of 1Th_5:17, Rom_12:1, Jam_1:27 (religion in this verse means worship according to strongs)
Let us consider His name Holy, worthy of honor, not something to be used lightly. Just as we are to honor our earthly parents, so we are to honor the name of God, but at a higher level. To hold something in honor means to set it apart as having a great worth, respectability.
If we thought our parents were wrong about something we would not stand up and humiliate them publicly, but rather we would speak to them privately about the matter. We would not dare to embarrass our parents if we honored them. Nor would we be disrespectful by acting in open disobedience or disgracefulness.
We honor Him first with our lips, when all our words and actions are holy, and we speak of those things which are able to bring peace and joy to others. Secondly in our thoughts, when we suppress every evil thought, and control our tempers by his grace and Spirit. Thirdly in our lives, when we begin, continue, and end our works to his glory. If we have a heart for God in all we perform, then every action of our lives will be an act of worship. In our fam
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