Our prayers are important. They are our spiritual sacrifices, our sacrifice of praise, and the way in which we humbly petition God with our earnest requests.
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5)
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Hebrews 13:15-16)
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Philippians 4:6)
In the following passage from Matthew 6, Jesus tells us to pray neither for show nor by rote. He then goes on to give us a simple example of how we should pray. Example being key. Otherwise, we fall prey to the rote repetition he warns about.
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:5-13)
When to Pray
Paul told the Thessalonians to pray without ceasing. David prayed every morning, noon and evening, as did Daniel. Jesus prayed all night.
Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Evening, and morning, and at noon I will declare and make known my wants: and he shall hear my voice. (Psalms 55:17, Brenton)
And when Daniel knew that the decree was ordered, he went into his house; and his windows were opened in his chambers toward Jerusalem, and three times in the day he knelt upon his knees, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he used to do before. (Daniel 6:10, Brenton)
And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. (Luke 6:12)
How to Pray: Prayer Positions
When we think of praying, we often think about kneeling with our hands together and head bowed, however, the Bible shows us people praying in a variety of ways: sitting, standing, bowing to the earth, lifting up their hands, kneeling, and prostrate.
And king David came and sat before the Lord, and said, Who am I, O Lord God? and what is my house, that thou hast loved me for ever? (1 Chronicles 17:16, Brenton)
And he stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread out his hands. (2 Chronicles 6:12, Brenton)
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. (Mark 11:25)
And Moses hasted, and bowed to the earth and worshipped; (Exodus 34:8, Brenton)
Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice. (Psalms 141:2, Brenton)
And it came to pass when Solomon had finished praying to the Lord all this prayer and supplication, that he rose up from before the altar of the Lord, after having knelt upon his knees, and his hands were spread out towards heaven. (1 Kings 8:54, Brenton)
And at the evening sacrifice I rose up from my humiliation; and when I had rent my garments, then I trembled, and I bow myself on my knees, and spread out my hands to the Lord God, (Ezra 9:5, Brenton)
And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, (Luke 22:41)
But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. (Acts 9:40)
And Joshua tore his garments; and Joshua fell on the earth on his face before the Lord until evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they cast dust on their heads. (Joshua 7:6, Brenton)
And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. (Matthew 26:39)
What to Pray: Infusing Your Prayers with Scripture
Much of what we each pray for is always going to be personal, however, there are many things that we can all pray for that come directly from the Word of God, and which will strengthen us in our faith and in our walk with Christ. Here are some examples:
Give thanks to the Lord God Almighty for all things.
Alleluia. Give thanks to the Lord: for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever. Give thanks to the God of gods; for his mercy endures for ever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endures for ever. (Psalms 136:1-3, Brenton)
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (Hebrews 13:15)
Pray that the Lord helps you to love Him with all of your heart, all of your soul, all of your mind, and all of your strength.
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. (Mark 12:30)
Pray that the Lord helps you to love your neighbour as yourself, to not hold grudges, and to always forgive others.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (Matthew 22:39)
Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. (James 5:9)
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. (Mark 11:25)
Pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16)
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; (Colossians 1:9)
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:23)
Pray that the Lord hears and answers your prayers.
Attend to the voice of my supplication, my King, and my God: for to thee, O Lord, will I pray. (Psalms 5:2, Brenton)
I have cried, for thou heardest me, O God: incline thine ear to me, and hearken to my words. (Psalms 17:6, Brenton)
Turn not away thy face from me: in the day when I am afflicted, incline thine ear to me: in the day when I shall call upon thee, speedily hear me. (Psalms 102:2, Brenton)
Pray that the Lord helps you to abide in His Word:
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (John 15:7)
Pray that the Lord guides you on the narrow path and through the strait gate.
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:14)
Pray that you never turn to the right hand nor to the left.
Turn not aside to the right hand nor to the left, but turn away thy foot from an evil way: [for God knows the ways on the right hand, but those on the left are crooked:] and he will make thy ways straight, and will guide thy steps in peace. (Proverbs 4:27, Brenton)
Thou shalt not turn aside from any of the commandments, which I charge thee this day, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them. (Deuteronomy 28:14, Brenton)
Pray that the Lord strengthens your faith.
And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. (Mark 9:24)
And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. (Luke 17:5-6)
Pray that your faith is firm, that you resist the devil.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (1 Peter 5:8-9)
Pray that you never depart from the faith.
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (1 Timothy 4:1)
Pray that, in ALL things, you are as wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove.
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. (Matthew 10:16)
Pray that you are never ignorant of Satan’s evil purposes.
Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. (2 Corinthians 2:11)
Pray for discernment.
Thou shalt give therefore to thy servant a heart to hear and to judge thy people justly, and to discern between good and evil: for who will be able to judge this thy great people? (1 Kings 3:9, Brenton)
Pray for knowledge, wisdom and understanding.
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; (Colossians 1:9).
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (James 1:5)
Pray that the Lord gives you eyes to see, ears to hear and an understanding heart.
Yet the Lord God has not given you a heart to know, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, until this day. (Deuteronomy 29:4, Brenton)
Pray to be surrounded by a hedge of protection.
Hast thou not made a hedge about him, and about his household, and all his possessions round about? and hast thou not blessed the works of his hands, and multiplied his cattle upon the land? (Job 1:10, Brenton)
Pray to be hidden under the shadow of God’s wings.
Keep me as the apple of the eye from those that resist thy right hand: thou shalt screen me by the covering of thy wings, (Psalms 17:8, Brenton)
Pray that the Lord helps you to walk in the Spirit.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25)
Pray that the Lord helps you to love not the world.
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1 John 2:15)
Pray that the Lord helps you to love in action and in truth.
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:18)
Pray that the Lord helps you to love your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. (1 John 4:7)
And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. (1 John 4:21)
He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him (1 John 2:10)
Pray that the Lord helps you to abide in faith, hope and love (charity).
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. (1 Corinthians 13:13)
Pray that the Lord gives you a clean heart and renews a right spirit within you.
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit in my inward parts. (Psalms 51:10, Brenton)
Pray that you bring forth the fruit of the spirit.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
Pray that the Lord helps you to follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. (1 Timothy 6:11)
Pray that the Lord sends more labourers to share the gospel.
Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. (Luke 10:2)
Pray that you will be accounted worthy to escape the wrath to come and to stand before Jesus when he returns.
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. (Luke 21:36)
Pray that you endure to the end and are faithful unto death, should you be called to lay down your life for Christ.
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. (Matthew 24:13)
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. (Revelation 2:10)
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. (Revelation 12:11)
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4)
Pray in Faith, Believing
When we pray, we must do so fervently and in faith. James tells us that our fervent prayers avail much. Jesus tells us that whatever we ask in prayer, believing, we shall receive.
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16)
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. (James 1:6)
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (Matthew 7:8)
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. (Matthew 21:22)
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (Luke 11:10)
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. (John 16:24)
And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. (1 John 3:22)
Amen, and Amen!
