What is 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” (Exd 32:11); “pouring out the soul before the Lord” (1Sa 1:15); “praying and crying to heaven” (2Ch 32:20); “seeking unto God and making supplication” (Job 8:5); “drawing near to God” (Psa 73:28); “bowing the knees” (Eph 3:14). Acceptable prayer must be sincere (Hbr 10:22)
How do you pray?
No rules are anywhere in Scripture laid down for the manner of prayer or the attitude to be assumed by the suppliant. There is mention made of kneeling in prayer (1Ki 8:54; 2Ch 6:13; Psa 95:6; Isa 45:23; Luk 22:41; Act 7:60; 9:40; Eph 3:14, etc.); of bowing and falling prostrate (Gen 24:26,52; Exd 4:31; 12:27; Mat 26:39; Mar 14:35, etc.); of spreading out the hands (1Ki 8:22,38,54; Psa 28:2; 63:4; 88:9; 1Ti 2:8, etc.); and of standing (1Sa 1:26; 1Ki 8:14,55; 2Ch 20:9; Mar 11:25; Luk 18:11,13). If we except the “Lord’s Prayer” (Mat 6:9-13), which is, however, rather a model or pattern of prayer than a set prayer to be offered up, we have no special form of prayer for general use given us in Scripture.
Jesus, on prayer:
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 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. 7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
To Be Offered, To God (Psa 5:2; Mat 4:10); To Christ (Luk 23:42; Act 7:59); To the Holy Spirit (2Th 3:5); Through Christ (Eph 2:18; Hbr 10:19)
How Not to pray:
Long and purposefully excessive (Mat 23:14; Mar 12:40; Luk 20:47)
Profuse, to be avoided (Ecc 5:2; Mat 6:7)
Vain repetitions of, to be avoided (Mat 6:7)
To Idols (1Ki 18:26-29)
When do you pray?
In the morning (Psa 5:3; 88:13; 143:8; Isa 33:2); twice daily (Psa 88:1); three times a day (Psa 55:17; Dan 6:10); all night (Luk 6:12;).
without ceasing (1Th 5:17)
Social prayer (corporate) (Mat 18:19; Act 1:13, 14; 16:25; 20:36; 21:5)
Held in private houses (Act 1:13, 14; 12:12)
Why pray?
An Evidence of Conversion (Act 9:11)
Commanded (Isa 55:6; Mat 7:7; Phl 4:6)
God Answers (Psa 99:6; Isa 58:9)
Let us know what you think!