The Power of Prayer

What is Prayer?

The most basic definition of prayer is “talking or communicating to God.” At the heart of prayer is an act of worship to the Lord. God’s Word places an emphasis on the power and purpose of prayer, and, therefore, it should not be neglected. ~ Prayer can be audible or silent, private or public, formal or informal.

Prayer is not passive reflection, but active and thoughtful communication to God

What Prayer is not:

• bargaining with God. • making demands of God. • only asking God for things. • a therapeutic, meditation-type exercise. • a way to control the Lord. • a way to show off one’s spirituality before others.

Many people believe that prayer is only about asking God for things. Although supplication is a part of prayer it is not the sole purpose of prayer. Praying for the needs of ourselves and others is needed and beneficial, but there is so much more to prayer. A. W. Tozer warned, “Prayer among Christians is always in danger of degenerating into a glorified ‘gold rush’”

Elements of Christian prayer:

All prayer must be offered in faith James 1:6 “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.”

In the name of the Lord Jesus John 16:23 “In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.”

The Holy Spirit intercedes for us Romans 8:26 “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”

As the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia puts it, “Christian prayer in its full New Testament meaning is prayer addressed to God as Father, in the name of Christ as Mediator, and through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit”

3. Prayer is described in the Bible as:

Praising and recognizing God as holy, our creator and master Matthew 6:9 “Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”

Seeking God’s favor/blessing/providence Exodus 32:11 “But Moses implored the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?”

Pouring out one’s soul to the Lord 1 Samuel 1:15 “But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord.”

Crying out to heaven (Hebrew - Ze’Akah - Extreme pain scream of hopeless or helpless despair) Exodus 3:7 “Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings,”

2 Chronicles 32:20 “Then Hezekiah the king and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed because of this and cried to heaven.”

Exodus 22:22–24“You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry, and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.”

The cry of Israel to God cost Egypt cost Egypt their dynasty, their army, and their first born! You don’t want to cause a Ze’Akah!

Drawing near to God Psalm 73:28 “But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.”

Deuteronomy 4:7 “For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon Him?”

James 4:8 “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

Worry about nothing; pray about everything. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:6–7

How often should we pray? “Pray without ceasing” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray under any and all circumstances. Prayer develops our relationship with God and demonstrates our trust and utter dependence upon Him.

Next week ~ We’ll examine the Lord’s Prayer

What is the status of your prayer life?

Lord’s Invitation

Prayer is the Christian’s way of communicating with God. We pray to praise God and thank Him and tell Him how much we love Him. We pray to enjoy His presence and tell Him what is going on in our lives. We pray to make requests and seek guidance and ask for wisdom. God loves this exchange with His children, just as we love the exchange we have with our children. Fellowship with God is the heart of prayer. Too often we lose sight of how simple prayer is really supposed to be. When we make petitions to God, we let God know exactly where we stand and what we would like to see happen. In our prayers, we must admit that God is greater than we are and ultimately knows what is best in any given situation (Romans 11:33–36). God is good and asks us to trust Him. In prayer, we say, essentially, “Not my will, but your will be done.” The key to answered prayer is praying according to the will of God and in accordance with His Word. Prayer is not seeking our own will but seeking to align ourselves with the will of God more fully (1 John 5:14–15; James 4:3). The Bible contains many examples of prayer and plenty of exhortations to pray (see Luke 18:1; Romans 12:12; and Ephesians 6:18). God’s house is to be a house of prayer (Mark 11:17), and God’s people are to be people of prayer: “Dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love” (Jude 1:20–21).

The wicked have no desire to pray (Psalm 10:4), but the children of God have a natural desire to pray (Luke 11:1).