My Article on Prayer

Today I'm going to be writing about prayer. What is prayer? It is when we talk to God. This post is comprised of four sections and they include instructions on prayer, passages of scripture where certain people prayed, why some prayers aren't heard, and places in the bible where prayer is mentioned.

People Who Prayed 

First let's go over some places in scripture where we see people praying. The earliest place in the bible that we are going to cover today is in Gen 20:7 - Gen 20:17. Here we have Abimelech accidentally taking unto himself Abraham's wife, when God reveals to him what he has done in a dream he restores to Abraham his wife and Abraham prays for him so that his servants are able to bear children once more.

Abraham's servant prayed a prayer in order to find Isaac's wife (Gen 24:12-14). Jacob prayed to be delivered from his brother because he feared him (Gen 32:9-11). There are several instances in scripture where Moses prayed for the safety of the Israelites including Num 11:2, Num 21:7, Deu 9:20, and Deu 9:25 -26.

There is the instances of Jdg 6:36-40 where Gideon ask of God the sign of the fleece and Judges 8:4-5 where Gideon is asking provision from the people of Succoth.

1Sa 1:10 -13 tells us that Hannah desired to have a male baby and that she didn't pray audibly when she asked the Lord for this. There's the instance of the man of God and the kings hand in

1Ki 13:6, and the instance of the young man seeing horses and chariots of fire because of the prayer of Elisha (2Ki 6:17).

We have King Hezekiah living 15 years longer by praying (2Ki 20:1-6). 

Moving on we have nearly the whole first chapter of Nehemiah being him praying to God concerning the captivity of Israel and their sin (Neh 1:4 -11). In Job 42:7-12 we have the Lord blessing Job when he prayed for his friends. We learn in Daniel Ch. 6 that it was his prayer to God that got him thrown into the lions den but God delivered him from it. In Dan 9:3-19 we have Daniel praying to God and admitting that Israel had sinned, and that he was righteous in punishing them. He then asked that He would turn away his anger/fury from Jerusalem.

It is recorded in three books of the bible how after king Hezekiah/Isaiah prayed the Lord delivered Jerusalem from Sennacherib king of Assyriah (Isa 37:14-38, 2 Ki 19:15-37, 2Chr 32:19-22). Jonah ch 2 we have him praying unto God out of the fish's belly.

Right before he is apprehended we have Jesus praying in the garden of Gethsemane/Mount of olives, where his sweat was as great drops of blood, nevertheless he prayed that the Father's will be done (Mar 14:35 -36, Luk 22:42 -45). Luk 2:36-37 speaks of

In Luk 5:16 we have Jesus withdrawing into the wilderness to pray.

Anna the prophetess who served God with fastings and prayers. Luk 6:12 has Jesus going to a mountain to pray and continuing to pray all night, and in Luk 22:32 we have Jesus praying for Peter.

We read in Act 1:13 -14 that Mary the mother of Jesus was present with the apostles as well as other women and brethren when they prayed.  In Acts 9:11 we see that Saul was praying after he was blinded on his way to Damascus. Tabitha rose from the dead after Peter's prayer (Act 9:40). Act 10:1-2 mentions Cornelius, it is said that he "prayed to God alway".  Then we read in  Act 16:24 -26 that Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God while in prison and that there was a great earthquake that loosed all the prisoners. Paul prayed and laid hands on Publius' Dad and he got healed of fever (Act 28:8).

See also: 1 Sam 8:6, 1Ch 4:10, Ezr 10:1, Joh 17:9, Act 14:23, Act 16:16, Act 20:36, 2Th 1:11, 2Ti 1:3, Php 1:9, Phm 1:4

Instructions on How To Pray

Let's go over some directions from the bible on how we should pray. In the OT we have the children of Israel instructed to confess their sins, turn to God will all their heart and pray toward their land and the city which God has chosen, etc (2Ch 6:37 -39). We are to pray to God and going by the example of this verse pray in the morning (Psa 5:2 -3). One thing that we should include in our prayers is confession of sins (Psa 32:5 -6, 1Jn 1:9).  Psa 55:17 has prayer being done 3 times a day at evening, morning, and noon.

We also should give thanks unto him (the LORD) and sing praises to his name (Psa 92:1, Eph 5:20). We should also pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psa 122:6). There are many examples in scripture of one person saying I pray thee or I pray you to another person. Here are just a few examples. (Gen 12:15, Gen 13:8-9, Gen 16:2, Gen 19:7-8, Gen 24:17, Gen 25:30, Gen 27:19, Gen 30:14, Gen 34:8, Gen 40:8, Gen 45:4, Exo 4:18, Exo 10:17, Num 20:17, Jos 7:19, Jdg 4:19, Jdg 13:4, Jdg 15:2, Jdg 16:6, 1Sam 9:18, 1 Sam 25:25, 2 Sam 1:9, 2 Sam 20:16, 1 Ki 14:2, 1Ki 20:35, Jer 40:15). 

Although there are many verses like this in scripture, I personally have not found any that has one person praying to another who has passed on to the afterlife. Unless of course you count Saul who was condemned for seeking after one who had a familiar spirit. Therefore I have to conclude that the Catholic practice of praying to the saints and Mary as unbiblical to put it nicely.

Christians are not to pray as hypocrites who pray to be seen of men but are to pray in secret, we are not to use vain repetitions lie the heathens, and we should pray that God's will is done on earth as it is in heaven among other things (Mat 6:5 -13). The bible also shows us that there is power in numbers concerning prayer (prayer chain) as we learn in Mat 18:19 that if two people agree on earth concerning anything, they shall ask and it shall be given them.

The bible also instructs us when we pray we should believe that we receive the things that we ask and that we should forgive others when we pray (Mar 11:24 -25, Mat 21:21 -22). The passage of Luk 18:10 -14 shows us that we are not to be proud when we pray, thinking that we are better than others. Jesus instructed his disciples to pray that they wouldn't enter into temptation (Luk 22:40). Furthermore when we pray we should ask in Jesus name (Joh 14:13 -14, Joh 16:23 -24).

1Co 11:4 -5 deals with men and women's prayers in respect to head coverings. Prayer is very important in the life of a believer, so much so, that we are instructed to pray without ceasing in 1Th 5:17. In the book of Timothy we learn to pray for all men and that we should pray everywhere without wrath and doubting (1 Tim 2:1, 1 Tim 2:8). 

If we lack wisdom we are to ask God for it, but do not doubt or we will not receive anything from God (Jas 1:5 -7). Jam 5:13 -16 tells us many things about prayer including that we should pray when we are afflicted, that if someone is sick we should have the elders pray over them with oil, that we should pray for one another, and that the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous availeth much.

The last instruction that I want to give for this section is that we are to pray in the Holy Ghost (Jud 1:20, Eph 6:18).

See also: Luk 18:1, Php 4:6, Col 4:2

Places in Scripture Where Prayer is Mentioned

We learn in 1Sa 12:23 that it would have been a sin if Samuel stopped praying for the children of Israel. 1Ki 8:29 is a bible passage about God's people directing their prayer's towards God's temple in the OT. Psa 102:17 informs us that God doesn't despise the prayer of the destitute. The bible also tells us to watch as well as pray (Mar 13:33,1 Pe 4:7). Luk 11:13 shows us that God desires to give the Holy Spirit to those that ask him.   

In Act 1:24 we have Jesus followers praying to find out who Judas replacement would be. Act 3:1 informs us that at that time the hour of prayer was the ninth hour. In  Act 12:5-12  we learn that the church prayed for Peter while he was in church. Rom 8:26 -27 teaches us that the Spirit makes intercession for us according to God's will. In 1Co 7:5 we learn that spouses are not to defraud each other except for a time so they can fast and pray.

We have in Col 4:3 & 2Th 3:1 we have Paul asking for prayer concerning the preaching of the word. Jam 5:17-18 tells us about how that Elias prayed and it didn't rain for 3.5 years. Husbands are to give honour to their wives and dwell with them according to knowledge so that their prayers aren't hindered (1Pe 3:7). Rev 5:8 tells us that the four beast and 24 elders have golden vials full of odours and that these vials are the prayers of saints.

See also: Ezr 6:10, Job 16:17, Job 22:27, Psa 42:8, Psa 86:5-6, Luk 21:36, Luk 22:46, Act 2:42, Act 4:31, Rom 12:12, 2Co 1:11, Eph 1:16, Php 1:19, 1 Thes 1:2, Heb 13:18, Rev 8:3 -4

Why Prayers May or May not be Heard 

While prayer is important in the life of a believer it should be noted that prayer isn't effective in all circumstances; that is to say that you don't always get what you ask for. There are a few reasons for this and I will cover them now.

First it should be noted that God's hears are open unto the righteous and not sinners. In other words God listens to those who worships him and does his will (Psa 34:15, Psa 37:4, Pro 15:29, Joh 9:31).  Another passage that supports this is Psa 66:18 which informs us that God doesn't hear those that regard iniquity in their heart. And yet another passage that reiterates this point is Pro 28:9 which just goes to show that those that don't like hearing the law there prayers are considered an abomination.

Pro 21:13 is another reason why people may not be having their prayers answered the way they want; maybe it's because they aren't charitable.  Perhaps another reason why isn't regarding your prayers is because you have dealt treacherously with the wife of your youth (Mal 2:13 -16).  Still another reason why people's prayers aren't answered is because they are asking amiss that they may consume it upon their lust (Jas 4:3). e.g God please give me that hot girl over there, God I want that $500,000 dollar house, God please kill that guy over there.

The last reason why God may not be answering our prayers the way that we want is because we are not asking in accordance to his will (1Jn 5:14). God knows what's best for us and sometime what we ask for isn't what's best for us and that may be the reason why God doesn't give us what we ask for at that time.   

See also: Isa 59:1 -3, 1Pe 3:12,  1Jn 3:22

In conclusion we see how important prayer is in the life of a believer. It is a part of our walk with God and God desires to hear from us. Just think of how upset a close relative might be if you ignored them for long periods of time, it's the same with God. If the only time you come to God is when your in trouble something is definitely amiss with your walk with God.

Thanks for Reading Please share!!!