The Prayer

“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41

Prayer is communication with God. The Creator of the world is not an impersonal God but is One who is willing to listen to men. His laws are the expression of His own will in providence and preservation. You can act according to the counsel of His will thus changing your way of acting. His words should influence your feelings, will and intellect. Your prayers and God’s responses to them are included in His plan from the beginning of creation.

Prayer comes from the human heart in anguished cries to God and, when sincere, will gain the full support of God. The prayer of the wicked is an abomination before the Lord (Prov.15:29; 28:29). Those who practice sin cannot approach God. The attitude of rebellion against divine authority should be deposed and then forgiveness sought.

Prayer (communion of the children of God with their Father) includes worship, thanksgiving, confession, and petition as Nehemiah and Daniel did (Neh. 1:4-11; Dan. 9:3-19). “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6, 7). This is how the people of God have prayed through the ages.

Prayer is the outpouring of the heart to the Creator. He responds by blessings. “And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually” (1 Kings 9:3).

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? (Matt. 7:7-11).

James, citing an historical example, says “…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16). And Christ says to His disciples, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13). Convinced that only God knows what will be the last consequences, good or bad, for an answer to prayer, the believer accepts the yes or no answer from the Lord.

The apostle John, addressing Christians said, “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us” (1 John 5:14). In some cases, the failure to grant our requests is often the greatest blessing. Whoever prays with the right attitude trusts entirely the wisdom of the Lord.

The believer should be aware that he is calling on a Holy God. He is the one who has purified us from our sins by His blood and made us kings and priests. Prayer is addressed to the triune God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each of the three persons of the Trinity is invoked in the apostolic benediction. “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen” (2 Cor. 13:14).

In tribulations we must pray with faith and not lose our faith. Remember Stephen suffered martyrdom rather than lose his faith (Acts 7:59, 60). The apostle Paul never stopped praying and saying thank you, even if he did not receive a reply. “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Cor. 12:8, 9).

Prayer is offered to God by the Spirit! Only He knows what we need to ask to stay in line of the divine will of God. “But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. 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 with groanings which cannot be uttered. 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” (Rom. 8:25-27).

Prayer formed in us will certainly be granted provided that nothing in our thoughts and behavior come to hinder our prayers. “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting” (1 Tim. 2:8). “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered” (1 Peter 3:7).

Christians are called to a life of prayer. The apostle Paul exhorts: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Eph. 6:18).

 

by Minister Noe A. Solis