Prayer

Prayer is one of the greatest assets of the Christian faith. Prayer is how we talk to God as believers and the Scriptures are how God talks to us, so having this two-way communication throughout our daily lives is very important.

Now, prayer has many facets, and the Scriptures have much to say about prayer. There are primarily four types of prayers which we can distinguish in the New Testament. The Apostle Paul lists these four out in his letter to Timothy.

"I exhort (beg or earnestly plead) therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men" - 1 Timothy 2:1

As we see in the above verse, prayer can be petitioning God for something.  This involves seeking and asking the Lord.  Prayer is also simply talking to the Lord which can be done as worship, adoration, and reverential praise to God for simply who He is.  Prayer can also include interceding for others (making requests on behalf of others).  Lastly, prayer is thankfulness and gratitude for our Lord God for what He has done knowing He is worthy of all praise, honor, and glory!  These are the four primary types of prayer, but prayer encompasses even more than these.  Prayer is the believer in Christ's unfathomable luxury to access the God of all creation, our Spiritual, Heavenly Father who will act on our prayers mixed with faith.

We are told in the Bible to be praying at all times and about everything:

The Apostle Paul says, "First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers" - Romans 1:8-9

"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints" - Ephesians 6:18

"Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." - Philippians 4:6

Jesus said, "men ought always to pray, and not to faint" (Luke 18:1).  Paul said, "pray without ceasing." (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Every believer in Christ should have a prayer ministry.  Did you know that it is a sin not to pray? (See 1 Sam. 12:23 & James 4:17)

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." - 1 Corinthians 10:31

Prayer can also be thought of as asking and receiving. James says, "ye have not, because ye ask not." (James 4:2) However, he goes on to explain that the believer must ask in accordance with God's Will, "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." - James 4:3

James speaks much on the importance of prayer.  Let's take a look at the below passage and identify 4 keys to effective prayer:

"Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit." - James 5:13-18

There is nothing more powerful in our universe than prayer because this is how we as believers access God. Four keys to identify in the above passage of Scripture in accomplishing powerful and effective prayer:

1. You have to pray consistently and constantly. (see also Psalm 34:15)

2. You need to pray passionately, fervently, and truly believing (pour yourself into your prayer, praying earnestly, red hot praying).

3. Make sure you are clean before God of any known sin in your life. (see also Psalm 139:23-24)

4. You have to persist in prayer and follow up until God answers (have a prayer list and seek for answers from God - if you don't keep track of your prayers, you may never realize if God answered or not). God's answers are yes, no, and wait. (look at your surrounding circumstances for revealed answers)

Now go out and pray to the Lord God Almighty!

"For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil." - 1 Peter 3:12