Only the true and living God can hear and answer prayer. The prophets of Baal, in the days of Elijah, called upon their gods on Mount Carmel, but their gods did not answer because they could not. Elijah prayed in faith to the God who made heaven and earth, saying, "Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again." Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!" (1 Kings 18:37-39)
Jesus Taught His Disciples to Pray, Saying:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13)
Come Boldly to the Throne of Grace
For we have not a High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16)
Surrender all to the Lord
Prayer is an essential part of our Christian walk. It's how we communicate with our Heavenly Father to bring to bear His purposes for His church, the world and our individual lives. If your heart has been transformed by God's grace, you know and understand that there is power in prayer. You believe when you pray, that you are heard, and that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Be anxious for nothing, but by prayer
and supplication, with thanksgiving,
let your requests be known to God;
and the peace of God which surpasses
all understanding, will guard
your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus.
and supplication, with thanksgiving,
let your requests be known to God;
and the peace of God which surpasses
all understanding, will guard
your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 4:6 & 7)
In prayer, God speaks to us, so we must listen attentively to His voice and be obedient to what He says. As we grow in our relationship with the Lord, our hearts will incline more and more to His desires as the Holy Spirit crucifies the deeds of our flesh.
Jesus said, "Watch and pray, lest you enter
into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing,
but the flesh is weak."
into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing,
but the flesh is weak."
(Matthew 26:41)
Our Great Savior and Lord Jesus Christ, understood the purpose for which He was born. He came to be God's sacrificial lamb for all of humanity. To redeem us to God by taking our sins upon Himself and dying on a cross. On the night of His arrest, He was in great agony and travailed in prayer to the Father, yielding to and accepting the will of God over His own. This must be our disposition as well. In prayer, He was strengthened. In the gospel according to Luke, Jesus knelt down and prayed saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me, nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. (Luke 22:41 & 42)
Wanting to defend his friend Jesus, and prevent His arrest, Peter drew a sword and caused harm to the servant of the High Priest. Jesus restored the severed ear of the wounded man. Jesus told Peter to put away His sword. The Word of God tells us that, "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God, for pulling down of strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ and being able to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled." (2 Corinthians 10:4-6)
Pray in the Spirit, Pray Believing, Pray With Thanksgiving and a Heart of Forgiveness, Pray Interceding
Jesus taught His disciples the importance of having faith when praying to God from a sincere heart, free of unforgiveness. (See Mark 11:24-26 and Luke 6:28)
At the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus said to Martha, the sister of the deceased, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" (John 11:40) She had been concerned about the stone of the tomb being taken away, releasing the stench of death. (Her brother had been dead four days.)
When the stone was taken away, Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me and I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me." (John 11:41 & 42)
As we remain in the world, to be ambassadors for the kingdom of God and His Christ, let us continue in the exhortation given by our brother, the Apostle Paul:
"I exhort therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men. For kings and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior—who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." (1 Timothy 2:1-6)
"I exhort therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men. For kings and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior—who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." (1 Timothy 2:1-6)
"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." (Ephesians 6:18)
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. (1 Timothy 2:8)
See also the prayer and supplications of Solomon at the dedication of the temple at Jerusalem: 2 Chronicles 6:12-42 and 2 Chronicles 7:12-22.
Let's stand together in prayer and strengthen one another. The Word of God teaches that we ought to confess our faults one to another and pray one for another that we may be healed. Our Heavenly Father hears and answers prayer.
"The effectual fervent prayer of
a righteous man availeth much."
(James 5:16)
This righteousness we have in Christ Jesus and not of ourselves. For the Lord who knew no sin, became sin for us as God's sacrificial lamb. So by faith in Christ, we are made righteous in the sight of God.
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness."
to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness."
(1 John 1:9)
The answers to our prayers are not always the ones we've imagined, for who but God knows what we truly need. Thank God for the Holy Spirit who leads and guides us into all truth!
"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:26-28)
