Prayer

Key Passages

Exodus 32:9–14 ESV

And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you.” 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? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’ ” And the Lord relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people.

Early on

Adam walked with God

Moses’s relationship with God

Prophets —

Jesus example gives a lot, as well as in parables

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Prayer in the NT

The parables are another important source of Christ’s teaching, emphasizing persistence in prayer (

Paul gives us a lot of theology on prayer. some topics on

warfare eph 6

constant / thanksgiving

Easton’s Bible Dictionary Prayer

PRAYER—is converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant, ejaculatory or formal. It is a “beseeching the Lord” (

James 1:6–7 ESV

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. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

A case study of Daniel

Daniel’s life marked by prayer:

Daniel’s prayer life was:

charismatic / prophetic — he is continuously interpreting dreams and getting messages for other people and having visions

ch. 7 & 8, 10-12 are visions

risky / consequential — gets thrown into the lion’s den Ch. 6

routine / habitual / lifestyle of prayer — ch. 6 v. 9-11

his prayer life causes other people to pray — King Darius in ch. 6:25-27, King Neb 4:1-3 — not Daniel, but after fiery furnace

excellent spirit? / distinguished — 6:3

Marks/types/characteristics of Daniel’s prayers:

thanks - 6:10

petition - 6:11, 13. great prayer - 9:18-19

confession/repentance - 9:3-5

praise/adoration - 2:20-23