Prayer

Prayer/Prayer Requests

Prayer

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kind of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep praying for all the saints." -Ephesians 6:18

Prayer is one of the most basic, but also one of the most important parts of the Christian walk. It is a two-way conversation with God. We need to remember that we dont just talk to God, we also need to take time to listen to what God is trying to tell us through His Spirit. The sword of the Spirit is not the only weapon that Christians have been given, we have also been given prayer. Prayer is like the nuclear bomb of our spiritual arsenal. Matthew 18:19-20 says:

"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

The key phrase in this passage of scripture is "in my name." If what we ask for is under the name and authority of Christ, God will grant it to us. We need to be very careful, however, that we let the Holy Spirit guide us when we pray. God knows what we need before we ask Him, so trust Him by letting Him pray through you. God also pays special attention when there are two or more gathered together in prayer. When we agree on what we are praying, we are united together by the Holy Spirit because we are all seeking God with our whole hearts.

We need to pray for many reasons, the biggest of which is growing closer to God. James 4:8 says that if we come near to God, He will come near to us. When we pray for ourselves or for our needs, it is called supplication. Daily we need to confess our sins and repent. Daily we need to give ourselves over to God through prayer, and also through our thoughts and actions. Daily we need to praise and give thanks. Daily we need to ask God to change us and to work through us. If you find that your prayer life is stagnating, examine it to see if you are joyful about it, if you enjoy and look forward to praying.

When prayer becomes a ritual or chore, it ceases to be fully effective because of the lack of sincerity. If you lack enthusiasm or sincerity in your prayer life, ask God to make Himself real to you, real in your prayers, and He will restore your joy. The heart fervent prayer is the most effective prayer. It doesn't need be long or eloquent, but it needs to come from the heart. While it may sound selfish, we need to spend more time praying for God to change us, than we spend asking Him to change others. It's a matter of taking the plank out your eye before removing the speck from your brother's eye. This does not mean that we shouldn't pray for others as well.

When we pray for others, it is called intercession. We are called to pray for other believers (Ephesians 6:18), for unbelievers (I Timothy 2:1), and for the governing authorities (I Timothy 2:2). Others can be healed through prayer (James 5:14-16).

When you pray, don't forget to thank God for what He has done in your life. This kind of prayer is called the prayer of thanksgiving. Thank God for the good and the bad alike, because He tends to turn many of the bad things into situations that help us grow.

Praise God through your prayers. The prayer of adoration is close to the prayer of thanksgiving, but it is also different. Quote or read verses of adoration when you pray. Sing songs of praise and worship.

When you pray, leave time to listen to God. Be silent and let God minister to you. Let Him speak to your heart and heal your body. Let Him calm your fears and give you peace. Remember that prayer is a dialogue not a monologue. Give Him time to speak to you.

The position or posture of your body doesn't matter so much as the condition and attitude of your heart. It doesn't matter if you fold your hands and close your eyes. It doesn't matter whether you are sitting, standing, kneeling, or laying flat on your face; God listens to what your heart is saying to Him. If you come to Him with a humble heart and attitude, He will lift you up to places that you never thought you could be in. He will grant the desires of your heart, if your heart is set on following His principles and statutes.

Please feel free to use the space below to post prayer requests, to pray with and encourage others, to ask questions about prayer, and to praise God. As always, thank you for your time and God bless.