Thoughts on Prayer

I just finished doing a study on prayer and thought I would post some of what I gleaned from that study.

First, I think it important to understand how and why we are able to approach the throne room of God. Heb. 4:14-16 says, "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in the time of need." Christ has made it possible for us to enter into the throne room of grace. The temple curtain has been ripped.

Second, in order for our prayers to be effective, we should be living holy lives. James 5:16 says, "the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." If our lives are holy, then we should pray believing that the Lord will hear and answer our prayers. Matt. 21:22 says, "And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." James 1:6 says, "But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind."

Third, the Lord gave us a guide for prayer. Matt. 6:9-13 says, "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.'" This prayer can be broken into 5 parts:

1. Worship- We need to praise God for who He is and what He has done. Honor His great name.
2. Declaration of allegiance- We tell God that we are fully His and we want His will to be done.
3. Petition- We ask of God the things that we need
4. Confession of sin- We confess our sin
5. Request for deliverance- We ask God to deliver us from temptation and evil.

Forth, we should be persistent in prayer. Luke 11:8-10 says, "I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs. So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened."

Fifth, there are certain things which will keep God from hearing our prayers. Is. 59:1-2 says, "Behold, the Lord's hand is not so short that it cannot save; nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear, but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear." Ps. 66:18, "If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear." James 4:3 says, "You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures." Sin, wickedness, and asking with wrong motives will all keep our prayers from being heard by the Lord.

Sixth, if you are interested you should check out some of these prayers in the Bible and model your prayers after them: 2 Chron. 20:5-12; Neh. 1:5-11; Dan. 9:4-19; Eph. 1:15-19