Prayerfulness (3)

Prayerfulness is a way of life

Luke 2:37 KJV 1900

And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

See also Ps 5:3; Ps 55:17; Ps 109:4; Da 6:10–11; Da 6:13

Prayerfulness arises from a desire to be with God

Psalm 130:5–6 KJV 1900

I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, And in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord More than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

See also Ps 42:1–4; Ps 84:1–2

Prayerfulness arises from an awareness of need that can only be met by God

1 Timothy 5:5 KJV 1900

Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.

See also Ps 86:1; Ps 105:4

Prayerfulness demonstrates a continuing trust in God

John 15:5–8 KJV 1900

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

See also Ps 63:1–8

Prayerfulness involves a heart that is right with God

Isaiah 1:15–17 KJV 1900

And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: Yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: Your hands are full of blood. Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; Seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, Judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

See also Mt 6:7; Mk 12:40

Prayerfulness involves the need to be alert

Matthew 26:41 KJV 1900

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

See also Mic 7:7; Lk 21:36; Col 4:2

Prayerfulness needs to be maintained especially in difficult circumstances

Luke 18:1 KJV 1900

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

See also Hab 3:16–19; Ac 16:25; 1 Th 5:17; 1 Pe 4:7

Examples of people whose prayerfulness proved effective

Hannah, who prayed for a child

1 Samuel 1:20 KJV 1900

Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord.

See also Is 1:10–18

Elijah, an ordinary man who prayed

James 5:17–18 KJV 1900

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.

See also 1 Ki 17:1; 1 Ki 18:41–46

Nehemiah, a man who discovered God’s plan through prayer

Nehemiah 1:4 KJV 1900

And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,

See also Ne 1:5–11; Ne 2:4–5

David, sustained through trials

1 Samuel 30:6 KJV 1900

And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.

See also 2 Sa 22:1–4; Ps 3:1–8

Daniel, whose patience in prayer was rewarded

Daniel 10:12 KJV 1900

Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.

See also Da 9:1–19

Jesus Christ, who perfectly trusted his Father

Hebrews 5:7 KJV 1900

Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

See also Lk 5:16; Jn 11:41–42

The early church, which was founded upon prayer

Acts 1:14 KJV 1900

These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

See also Ac 2:42; Ac 4:23–31; Ac 6:4; Ac 12:5

Paul, who prayed for all the churches which he founded or visited

Colossians 1:9 KJV 1900

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

See also Ro 1:9–10; Eph 1:16; Php 1:4; 1 Th 3:10; 2 Th 1:11; 2 Ti 1:3; Phm 4