What is Prayer?

Luke 22:41-44

If I was given one to define the purpose of prayer it would be to get to the point of “Nevertheless not my will but thin be done.”

Prayer is our method of communicating with God and God communicating with us.

Communication at the foundational level is a SENDER-MESSAGE TO A RECEIVER AND RECEIVER PROVIDING FEEDBACK IN WORD OR DEED.

Compliance is evidence of effective prayer.

Relationship with God is vital to ones prayer life becasue there are moments when God actually initates the conversation.

Gen 22:1 And he said, “Here I am.” God initiates a conversation with Abraham

Acts 9:10 “Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

Prayer either changes the person, circumstances or both.

Jesus changed and was strengthened

Acts 16:25-26 “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened.”

We are commanded to pray!

Luke 18:1 “And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.”

1 Thessalonians 5:17 “pray without ceasing,”