What does the Bible say about Prayer?
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14
The Bible speaks of prayer often:
“Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually” (1 Chronicles 16:11).
“Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yea, wait for the LORD!” (Psalm 27:14).
“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:6).
After this manner therefore pray ye…” (Matthew 6:9).
“Watch and Pray” (Matthew 26:41).
“Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (Luke 11:9).
“Men ought always to pray” (Luke 18:1).
“Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 14:12)
“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
“Pray with the spirit… pray with understanding also” (1 Corinthians 14:15).
“We pray always for you” (2 Thessalonians 1:11).
“Brethren, Pray for us” (1 Thessalonians 5:25; 2 Thessalonians 3:1; Colossians 4:3).
Prayer is an important work of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:27;34). If not for the example of Christ and the spirit alone, we are commanded to pray for several other reasons.
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Prayer transforms us.
When we kneel to God, bringing every worry, sickness, burden, and temptation, He shows us that he is “our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). The realization of His power enables us to trust Him, and this trust deepens our relationship with Him. Thus we are transformed. “Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear” (Isaiah 59:1).
- Prayer brings growth.
John 15:5 says, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” We abide in Christ by spending time with Him in prayer. As we said previously, our hearts are transformed when we go to prayer, our spirit grows, and we begin to bear fruit. (“the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law,” Galatians 5:22-23).
- Prayer Changes things.
When we pursue the heart of God, we find that our circumstances can miraculously change. When Peter was imprisoned in Acts 12, the fellowship of believers prayed unceasingly for him. And an ANGEL SET HIM FREE! God heard the prayer of the church and dramatically altered Peter’s circumstance. But not only can prayer alter our circumstances, but even more often, it alters the state of our heart. Oswald Chambers once said, “It is not so much as prayer changes things, but prayer changes me and I change things” (from My Utmost For His Highest)
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How can I know my prayer is working?
The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
- Proverbs 15:29
Prayer is not voodoo. There is no "abra cadabra" or magic words that get us what we want. When praying, we do not expect God to answer as we would like Him to. For as God says In Isaiah 55:8, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD.” But we can always expect God to hear and answer in His own timing.
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
- Hebrews 4:16
We have confidence in this when we come to him humbly and sincerely. David prayed with confidence, “The LORD has heard my supplication; the LORD accepts my prayer (Psalm 6:9). But David also knew that the Lord answered in His own timing, “But as for me, my prayer is to thee, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of thy steadfast love answer me” (Psalm 69:13). Waiting on God forces us to seek the heart of God and not His hand. In prayer we seek His presence, and He answers every one of our needs.
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How can I pray most effectively?
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
- Matthew 6:7
While there is no such thing as the correct prayer, the attitude of prayer is important. God is not concerned with how eloquent we sound. He is concerned with the meekness of our hearts. Effective prayer is prayer that seeks the face of God above our own desires, and puts the needs of others above our own.
We here at International Prayer Center believe firmly that the Lord’s Prayer, as he dictated to his disciples is the ultimate guideline for believers today. However, it serves exactly as that…a guideline.
I asked for strength that I might achieve;
He made me weak that I might obey.
I asked for health that I might do greater things;
I was given grace that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy;
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men;
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life;
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I recieved nothing that I asked for, all that I hoped for.
My prayer was answered, I was most blessed
--Author Unknown. (Quoted in What to Do When You Pray, by Lucille Walker)
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