Jesus said men ought to always pray and not lose heart or give up (Luke 18:1). The Bible also tells us to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and to continue steadfastly and earnestly in prayer (Romans 12:12; Colossians 4:2).
What is prayer? I like this definition from Wikipedia:
Prayer “is an evolving means of interacting with God, most frequently through a spontaneous, individual, unorganized form of petitioning and/or thanking”.
Prayer then is simply a dialogue between ourselves and our Heavenly Father. It is an opportunity for us to communicate – to talk to Him and to hear from Him.
Why then do we have problems praying consistently (and not just when a crisis hits or we have a need that we are unable to meet in our own strength and ability)? I heard a pastor say that he believed prayelessness was an issue of faith and I can see the reasoning behind that. If you had full confidence (faith) in the one you were asking and *knew* you would get what you asked for, I expect most people would definitely ask.
So that caused me to wonder – Why can we have confidence in talking to God the Father through prayer?
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Our Father is omniscient and knows what we need before we ask (Matthew 6:7-8). For example, God already knows we need life’s necessities (food, clothing, shelter, etc) (Matthew 6:31-32)
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Our Father knows how to give good gifts to those who ask Him (Matthew 7:11; James 1:17)
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Whatever we ask the Father in Jesus name, He will give to us (John 16:23-24; 15:16)
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Whatever we ask the Father in Jesus name, Jesus will do for us (John 14:13-14)
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Everyone who asks receives, who seeks finds, and who knocks the door will be opened to him (Matthew 7:7-11)
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If we ask anything according to God’s will, He hears us and we have the petitions we asked for (1 John 5:14-15)
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Whatever we ask, we receive because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight (1 John 3:21-22)
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God did not spare His own Son for us. In addition to giving us His Son, He freely give us all things (Romans 8:32). Afterall when you have given your most precious possession, giving anything less is much easier.
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God will not withhold any good thing from those who walk uprightly (Psalms 84:19)
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God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20)
The reality is God has already given us everything that pertains to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). And He has promised to supply all our need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).
So what is the key to having a successful prayer life?
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Have faith in God (in who He is) (Hebrews 11:6). God is a rewarder of those who diligently (earnestly, sincerely) seek Him. See also James 1:6-8.
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Seek the Lord (Psalms 34:10). Those who seek Him shall lack no good thing.
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Seek God’s kingdom first (Matthew 6:33) and all the other things we want will be added unto us.
Most importantly, prayer is a great opportunity to discover who God is and what His will for us is as we develop a relationship with our Heavenly Father. He has said He will not withhold any good thing from us. Conversely, He won’t give us something that will become a weight or stumbling block to us either. So don’t bother asking for anything with wrong motives (e.g. out of selfishness or an unrighteous agenda) because He won’t answer those requests (James 4:3).
#prayer #petition #faith #confidence #ask #seek #knock #believe #receive #gift
Scripture References:
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Luke 18:1
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1 Thessalonians 5:17
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Romans 12:12
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Colossians 4:2
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Matthew 6:7-8
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Matthew 6:31-32
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Matthew 7:11
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James 1:17
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John 16:23-24
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John 15:16
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John 14:13-14
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Matthew 7:7-11
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1 John 5:14-15
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1 John 3:21-22
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Romans 8:32
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Psalms 84:19
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Ephesians 3:20
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2 Peter 1:3
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Philippians 4:19
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Hebrews 11:6
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James 1:6-8
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Psalms 34:10
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Matthew 6:33
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James 4:3
References:
- Wikipedia: “Prayer in the Hebrew Bible“, n.d.
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