It seemed that some saw their prayers answered; it seemed others did not receive what they prayed. Some were rescued and delivered; others suffered and perished. Just what is prayer, and does it work?
Our common ideas regarding prayer are not found in the New Testament. Our greatest misunderstandings about prayer, which bring us our greatest disappointments and failures, are:
- Typically, we look upon prayer simply as a means of getting things for ourselves.
- But the biblical purpose of prayer is that we may get to know God, Himself.
- We see prayer from a ‘natural perspective’, that is from a fleshly point of view, to provide for our physical, mental and emotional needs.
- Prayer is a ‘spiritual exercise’ that produces eternal spiritual results.
- To say that “prayer changes things” is not as close to the truth as saying, “Prayer changes me, and then I change things.”
- God has established things so that prayer, on the basis of redemption, changes the way a person looks at things. Prayer is not a matter of changing things externally, but one of working miracles in a person’s inner nature.
A “Google Search” on “what is prayer” returned 1,100,000,000 results (0.58 seconds). This must be a very hot topic! The ‘web page hits’ included views ranging from mainline protestant views, to Catholic views, Islamic views and every other idea about prayer invented by man or woman. But 1,100,000,000 is too many for me to read or research, so, here are a few definitions and explanations of ‘prayer’ from four well known Christian sources:
- (Got Questions.Org) The most basic definition of prayer is “talking to God.” Prayer is not meditation or passive reflection; it is direct address to God. It is the communication of the human soul with the Lord who created the soul. Prayer is the primary way for the believer in Jesus Christ to communicate his emotions and desires with God and to fellowship with God.
Prayer is described in the Bible as seeking God’s favor (Exodus 32:11), pouring out one’s soul to the Lord (1 Samuel 1:15), crying out to heaven (2 Chronicles 32:20), drawing near to God (Psalm 73:28, KJV), and kneeling before the Father (Ephesians 3:14).
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.
- (carm.org.). Prayer is the practice of the presence of God. It is the place where pride is abandoned, hope is lifted, and supplication is made. Prayer is the place of admitting our need, of adopting humility, and claiming dependence upon God. Prayer is the needful practice of the Christian. Prayer is the exercise of faith and hope. Prayer is the privilege of touching the heart of the Father through the Son of God, Jesus our Lord.
- (crosswalk.com). Prayer is Talking with God.
- As believers in Christ, we have an amazing privilege; our Heavenly Father invites us to talk to Him! In Jeremiah 29:12, He invites His children to speak and promises to listen: “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” We can read God’s Word and talk to Him in the morning to align our hearts with His at the start of the day, and we can also talk to Him as we go about our daily routines.
- Prayer is Praise.
- Prayer is asking for a change of heart.
- Prayer is telling God your needs in prayer.
- Prayer is thanking God.
- Prayer is asking for empowerment.
- Praying is turning your heart toward God.
- (Oswald Chambers – My Utmost for His Highest). Prayer is not a normal part of the life of the natural man. We hear it said that a person’s life will suffer if he doesn’t pray, but I question that. What will suffer is the life of the Son of God in him, which is nourished not by food, but by prayer. When a person is born again from above, the life of the Son of God is born in him, and he can either starve or nourish that life. Prayer is the way that the life of God in us is nourished.
Our common ideas regarding prayer are not found in the New Testament. We look upon prayer simply as a means of getting things for ourselves, but the biblical purpose of prayer is that we may get to know God Himself.
“Ask, and you will receive…” (John 16:24). We complain before God, and sometimes we are apologetic or indifferent to Him, but we actually ask Him for very few things. Yet a child exhibits a magnificent boldness to ask! Our Lord said, “…unless you…become as little children…” (Matthew 18:3). Ask and God will do. Give Jesus Christ the opportunity and the room to work. The problem is that no one will ever do this until he is at his wits’ end. When a person is at his wits’ end, it no longer seems to be a cowardly thing to pray; in fact, it is the only way he can get in touch with the truth and the reality of God Himself. Be yourself before God and present Him with your problems— the very things that have brought you to your wits’ end. But as long as you think you are self-sufficient, you do not need to ask God for anything.
To say that “prayer changes things” is not as close to the truth as saying, “Prayer changes me, and then I change things.” God has established things so that prayer, on the basis of redemption, changes the way a person looks at things. Prayer is not a matter of changing things externally, but one of working miracles in a person’s inner nature.
- Prayer is not an exercise – it is the life.
- Our prayers are heard, not because we are in earnest, not because we suffer, but because Jesus suffered.
- Prayer is not logical – it is a mysterious moral working of the Holy Spirit.
- Get a place for prayer where no one imagines that that is what you are doing. Shut the door and talk to God.
- It is impossible to conduct your life as a disciple without definite times of secret prayer.
- It takes a tremendous amount of reiteration on God’s part before we understand what prayer is. We do not pray at all until we are at our wits’ end.
- God answers prayer on the ground of Redemption and on no other ground.
- Prayer is not getting things from God, that is the most initial stage; prayer is getting into perfect communion with God; I tell Him what I know He knows in order that I may get to know it as He does.
- Prayer imparts the power to walk and not faint.
- Never say you will pray about a thing; pray about it.
- Our Lord prayed because He was concentrated on God; that is, He did not worship prayer.
- God never gives us discernment in order that we may criticize, but that we may intercede.
- Prayer is not only asking, but an attitude of mind which produces the atmosphere in which asking is perfectly natural.
- Never make the blunder of trying to forecast the way God is going to answer your prayer.
- Prayer is the answer to every problem there is.
- Inarticulate prayer, the impulsive prayer that looks so futile, is the thing God always heeds. The habit of ejaculatory prayer ought to be the persistent habit of each one of us.
- Jesus Christ carries on intercession for us in heaven; the Holy Ghost carries on intercession in us on earth; and we the saints have to carry on intercession for all men.
- Prayer is simple, prayer is supernatural, and to anyone not related to our Lord Jesus Christ, prayer is apt to look stupid.
- Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work.
- When you are in the dark, listen, and God will give you a very precious message.
- You cannot truly intercede through prayer if you do not believe in the reality of redemption.
- Our understanding of God is the answer to prayer.
- Get into the habit of saying, “Speak, Lord,” and life will become a romance.
- Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God, whose ways you may not understand at the time.
- If we pray only because we want answers, we will become irritated and angry with God.
- Prayer is not a question of altering things externally, but of working wonders in a man’s disposition.
- The point of prayer is not to get answers from God, but to have perfect and complete oneness with Him.
- We are not here to prove God answers prayer, but to be living trophies of God’s grace.
- What hinders me from hearing is that I am taking up with other things. It is not that I will not hear God, but I am not devoted in the right place.
- When you are in the dark, listen, and God will give you a very precious message.– Oswald Chambers
Is it that simple? I certainly hope so. But the Bible has much to say on this matter. So, let’s go to the Bible for the final word.
(I will add one scripture verse each week – as permitted – to the previous day’s verse until we have a complete picture of what the Bible says. This way, we will then have the opportunity (and the encouragement) to put the Word of God into practice – weekly.
Click here for Week #1 verse and study:
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