Prayer, one of the most needed things in a believer’s life yet, the one thing we do the least amount of. I would like to share a few thoughts that help to remind me that prayer like Bible Study does not have to be boring nor unfulfilling. Sometimes we just need a fresh new idea or tip to freshen up what we already know how to do.
Prayer is an active effort to communicate with God either to offer praise, to make a request, seek guidance, confess sins, or simply to express your thoughts and emotions.
The Bible tells us that we should pray with others as well as to get alone with God one on one.
1 John 5:14-15 says, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of Him."
Prayer is the vehicle that takes us into the presence of God, but confidence is the key that impowers our faith into getting our prayers answered. Faith is also the substance of what we hope for, the emotion that allows us to fellowship with His Spirit that indwells every believer. You can be indwelled by God yet not partake in His fellowship. Fellowship is like two fellows in a ship going in the same direction; in union and one accord. It's like being in the same room with someone but not talking to them.
As you recall, Jesus Himself taught us how to pray. Can you imagine being a disciple and learning firsthand how to pray from watching Him do it day after day?
He showed us how through His daily prayer life. In Matthew 6 and Luke 11, we are taught more of the order of prayer.
• Who to pray to
• Who and What to pray for
• How to end a prayer
In Mark we are told
• that there are some circumstances that can only be changed through prayer.
• We see one of the positions where He prays… in a prostate position, laying face down on the ground.
• We see Him as He prays so in-tensed and profusely that His body produces droplets of blood.
In Luke we see
• Jesus using parables in prayer
• His body kneeled before the throne.
In John we see
• the actual prayer that He prayed for His disciples as well as all Christians that were to come. This is my favorite of all the prayers He prayed apart from the prayer He prayed in the Garden as he approached his impending arrest, death, and resurrection. I love this prayer because I get to hear Him pray for me…..WOW….how good is that!
There are different ways to pray, but always remember, that God looks upon the heart....not at how fancy the prayer is or how long it is.
- Vocal Prayer: is simply praying verbally and openly with your mouth.
- Meditative Prayer: is to meditate in your mind or thoughts in dialog with God.
MORE TO COME....
