Prayer

God brings difficulties into our lives to build character and strengthen our faith. Learning the value of prayer is part of the character building process. The Importance of Prayer The importance of prayer is more readily appreciated when we realize that God is in the business of making choices. He makes choices that reflect His power for good in the lives of the faithful. "For I know the thoughts [plans] that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end" (Jeremiah 29:11). The Privilege of Prayer Peace with God and self comes by prayer and repentance, inviting Christ to be Savior and Lord. Christ said of Paul when Paul was saved, "Behold, he prayeth" (Acts 9:11). The benefit of prayer compares with the benefit of having oxygen to breathe. We breathe out the poisonous air and breathe in the fresh air. God cannot bless or empower us when we are living in sin. We breathe out the poison by confessing and rejecting any bitterness, anger, judgmentalism, envy, and pride that short circuit our fellowship with God. When these stimulants (emotions) of our old nature are rejected, we become vessels that God can enlighten and form into productive and useful lives. Prayer involves partaking of God's desire to bless and demonstrate His power. What a privilege! It is the spirit of prayer, not eloquence, that God sees and understands. The Holy Spirit makes intercession for us. Romans 8:16-17 explains, "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us. . . . And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." The Responsibilities of Prayer Prayer should be according to God's will, which involves a change of heart for the person praying, so that he asks for the right thing and is ready to receive God's answer (1 John 5:14-15). Prayer is an expression of devotion and thanksgiving to God. Philippians 4:6 instructs us to "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let [our] requests be made known unto God." Prayer is dependence upon God, not self. The Pattern for Prayer Taught by Christ In Matthew 6:9, Jesus said, "After this manner therefore pray ye." The three elements of prayer are taken from the model prayer in the following verses, which are a part of Christ's Sermon on the Mount. Godward Prayer-Communion. Matthew 6:9-10 says, "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." Communion is getting close to God! Communion is an act of worship and adoration of thanksgiving and submission. Communion with God opens the way for petition and intercession. Inward Prayer-Petition. Matthew 6:11 says, "Give us this day our daily bread." Petition is that part of prayer in which we can ask anything. Outward Prayer-Intercession. Matthew 6:12 says, "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." Intercession involves concern for others. It is letting Christ work through us toward a desirable pattern of events for others (see John 15:7-11). The Benefit of a Prayer and Priority List Have a prayer and priority list that you review daily. Keeping such a list will help you to do quality work and have peace of mind. Psalm 127:1 says, "Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain." The Power of Prayer God's Word says that there is great power in prayer. James tells us that we must "ask in faith, nothing wavering" (James 1:6). Effective prayer is the product of faith. God allows us to accomplish great things with a small amount of faith (see Matthew 17:20) because He is Almighty, loving, and gracious. After all, it is He Who "works in us, both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13) and Who works "all things . . . together for good, to them that love God . . . to be conformed to the image of His Son" (Romans 8:28b, 29b).