Prayer
(Please also see: ‘Relationship with GOD.’)
Seek the Truth with all your heart.
There are many scriptures which describe the aspects of prayer. In Matthew, Jesus used The Lord’s Prayer as a type of template as the best order for our praying.
Psalm 65:2 ‘O YOU (GOD) WHO hear prayer, to YOU all people will come.’
Luke 11:1-2 ‘One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John (The Baptist) taught his disciples. Jesus said to them, “When you pray, say:
Matthew 6:9-11 The Lord’s prayer.
“Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil,
For Yours is the kingdom,
The power and the glory,
For ever and ever.
Amen.”
We do not particularly need to pray the prayer exactly as it is, it also serves as a type of template, guide, or pattern for prayer.
Firstly we acknowledge GOD, HIS holiness, and who HE is; then we ask HIM to supply our needs, forgiveness, protection; and finally further acknowledge HIM and HIS authority.
We can give GOD our whispered thoughts throughout the day, anywhere, at any time.
We can ask HIM any questions at all; and thank HIM, praise HIM, ask for HIS will to be carried out in our lives, and ask HIM what we can do for HIM, meaning is there anything in particular GOD would like us to do at that time.
Prayer is our conversational communication with GOD, it can focus our awareness of the many different aspects of our relationship with GOD and His relationship with us.
Prayer is the most powerful weapon on earth, and it is only through sincere and earnest prayer that we truly come to know GOD, and receive victorious breakthrough. Prayers are words with heart, mind, soul, and intention behind them. They may be spoken, whispered, or expressed in silent thoughts; however they are still words which must be selected by spiritual discernment or given by the Holy Spirit.
A relationship with your spouse without regular conversation would be severely lacking; and it is the same in our relationship with GOD.
Prayer is not to be a religious ritual, it is a personal or group conversation with GOD, from your heart, in which you can, if you wish, include scriptures.
HE loves prayers that are passionate and from the heart. Dearer to GOD are the prayers of the poor.
GOD answers our prayers and rescues us in so many different ways.
In prayer we must have faith, otherwise our carnal mind remains occupied with present situations, instead of what we are praying for.
Through prayer, you have personal, direct, unencumbered access to the great Sovereign Creator and Ruler of the universe, Who loves you with supreme love. This wonderful fellowship and communication you have with GOD and Christ is only the very beginning (down payment) of your eternal life-to-come in the Family of GOD.
Every sincere prayer of a contrite heart is heard by GOD. A heart’s desire poured out in private, prayers breathed, and whispered, as we are doing things throughout the day, reach Almighty GOD. Nothing can drown a soul’s sincere desire and passionate reaching out. GOD is always listening, and will answer according to HIS Will. Sometimes we might be asking GOD for specific things when HE has something much better in mind for us; so be open to what may be HIS bigger and better solution. Read the Bible, and look to Jesus.
GOD can only hear and answer prayers if we do not have rebellious, selfish sin in our lives, and also if we have forgiven everyone. GOD cannot forgive us if we have wilful sin in our lives, and if we hold any un-forgiveness towards anyone, regardless of whatever they have done. We cannot expect GOD to answer our prayers if we are not obedient to Him.
When GOD has answered your prayer, and you have been able to overcome a problem; turn to praying for, and with, others; and help them overcome. GOD will Bless you.
There are many Psalms that praise GOD, and are excellent to pray.
Praying continually means to pray at all times, throughout the day, between other things, and to make prayer, including thought prayers, an integral part of your life = the basis of your whole day.
Many verses in the Bible talk about the importance of prayer, what GOD wants from us, and what this can achieve. Some talk about Jesus praying to His FATHER.
Whatever GOD puts you through, or allows you to go through, without appearing to do anything about it, is well worth tolerating patiently. This is GOD preparing you to become as HE needs you to be, before you receive your answer and blessings.
Thinking is related closely with prayer, because GOD knows every thought we have, in fact he knows what we will think before we even think it.
We can have ‘thought prayer’ which is obviously silent prayer, so if we have wrong or sinful thoughts, GOD knows; if we have hateful thoughts about someone, GOD knows that we have not forgiven them; and un-forgiveness blocks GOD from answering our prayers.
So there is no such thing as hiding from GOD. To HIM our lives are transparent.
One bold message in the Book of Job is that you can say anything to GOD. You can throw at HIM your anger, your grief, your doubt, your bitterness, your betrayal, your disappointment, HE can absorb them all. Well known people in the Bible contended with GOD; but preferred to go away limping, like Jacob did, rather than shut GOD out.
Two types of prayer GOD will not answer:
1. To do something HE has already done for us.
2. A situation that HE has already instructed us in how to handle.
Do not talk to GOD about the problem; act on HIS instructions to use your authority in JESUS’ name to speak to the problem.
Example: If you have pain in your body, say to that part of your body, “(body part name) In Jesus’ name I command you to be healed (or I command the pain to go). You are not allowed to stay anymore. Be healed in Jesus’ name because you are already healed.”
Do not spend a lot of time asking GOD to do what HE has already done, or that HE has already given us the Spiritual authority to do, instead of releasing your GOD given Spiritual authority to claim what HE has already provided.
GOD is on our side in every situation, unless the situation is against HIS will. We need to exercise discernment, and understand GOD’s Grace.
When we gather together in the right GOD-ly atmosphere, FAITH erupts into action.
All prayers demanding Satan’s withdrawal in Jesus’ Name, must be assertive.
Matters to which we may need answers through prayer and belief; listed as follows:
Healing:
Isaiah 53:5 ‘He (Jesus) was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.’
Finances:
Psalm 25:12-13 ‘Who, then, is the person that fears the LORD? HE (GOD) will instruct them in the way chosen for them. They will spend their days in prosperity, and their descendants will inherit the land.’
Wisdom:
James 1:5 ‘If anyone lacks wisdom let them ask GOD, Who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to them.’
Marriage:
Mark 10:6-9 ‘Jesus replied “But at the beginning of creation GOD made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what GOD has joined together, no person shall separate.’
A Job:
Psalm 90:17 ‘May the favour of the LORD our GOD rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us; yes, establish the work of our hands.’
Business:
Joshua 1:8-9 “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your GOD will be with you wherever you go.”
A spouse:
Proverbs 18:22 ‘He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favour from the LORD.’
To have children:
Psalm 113:9 ‘HE (GOD) settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the LORD.’
Children:
Isaiah 54:13 ‘All your children will be taught by the LORD, and great will be your their peace.’
Peace:
Isaiah 26:3 ‘YOU will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in YOU.’
Salvation of a loved one:
2 Peter 3:9 ‘The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.’
Petitionary Prayer. People pray for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes in order to give thanks, or offer praise and adoration, or to apologize and seek forgiveness, or to ask for things. Petitionary prayer means requesting something.
Prayer for family members, and people close to you.
Ephesians 1:16-23 ‘I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the GOD of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious FATHER, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know HIM better.
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which HE has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints (Christian brothers and sisters,) and HIS incomparably great power for us who believe.
That power is like the working of HIS mighty strength, which HE exerted in Christ when HE raised Him from the dead and seated Him at HIS right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And GOD placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills everything in every way.’
Pray a hedge of protection around yourself and others.
Job 1:10-12 “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.”
Daniel 6: 25- 27 ‘Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth:
“May you prosper greatly!
I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the GOD of Daniel.
For HE is the living GOD and HE endures forever; HIS kingdom will not be destroyed, HIS dominion will never end.
HE rescues and HE saves; HE performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the Earth.
HE has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”
Standing in the Gap prayer and Intercessory prayer.
Allow GOD to give you an assignment for this kind of ‘heavier’ prayer which could be on behalf of people you do not know – for emergency situations – for international situations – for very major situations anywhere in the world.
In these types of emergency situations, GOD will prompt - urge - inspire - you to stand in the gap, to start praying for and on behalf of someone else. It can come on you in an instant to immediately pray for someone without your knowing why. They might be in danger at that moment, even unbeknown to them.
I have experienced this and when it happens it is very real. When I later spoke to the woman concerned, I told her of the date and time it happened, which she had written in her diary, because at that precise time someone else had received the same burning feeling to do the same. She did not know why, but at the time she was in a place where there could have been someone lurking around with evil intentions, watching her; and the prayers immediately changed the situation. We were standing in the gap between that person and GOD; engaging in spiritual warfare on their behalf. We can intercede on behalf of anyone.
You might receive an immediate burden = urging from the Holy Spirit to start praying; and this is not a manifestation that is coming out of your own emotions or mind.
When the burden - weight - from the Holy Spirit comes on you, try to get away to where you can be alone if possible, and immediately go into prayer with GOD until the urging is lifted from you by the Holy Spirit. When you feel this, you have ‘prayed it through’ with the Lord, and you can then end the intercessory prayer. You will most likely have a clear feeling of ‘It is done.’
Sometimes you only have to pray for something once and that’s it. Other times, you may have to pray several times before the Holy Spirit releases you, and it has been fully completed.
When you have to pray for something more than once when using this type of prayer with GOD - it will come in waves. You pray until you feel a release from the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit might bring the urging back another time until you receive a release that it is finished.
GOD will let you know how often you may have to repeat a particular prayer assignment before you are finally finished for good.
In one instance a woman only had to pray once for GOD to move in and save her husband’s life.
Intercessory prayer for someone else, under the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit, could be for as short as 2-3 minutes, 5-10 minutes, 20-30 minutes, or as long as an hour or two for those who are conditioned to persevere with GOD.
Standing in the gap prayer can be for any situation at all, including standing between a whole nation and GOD, in asking for help.
Ezekiel 22:30 “I (GOD) looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before ME in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.”
Psalms 106:23 ‘So HE (GOD) said HE would destroy them – had not Moses, HIS chosen one, stood in the breach before HIM to keep HIS wrath from destroying them.’
If Jesus is your personal saviour, then through His blood the enemy has been defeated, and as His heir, you have claim to this promise and power.
When praying, ask GOD to put a hedge of protection around you and the person you are praying for. Plead the blood of Jesus over yourself and the person you are praying for. It is only through Jesus’ blood, shed on the cross, that we have any authority over the things of this Earth, and the things of the spiritual world.
Revelation 12:10-12 ‘’Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of GOD, and the authority of HIS Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our GOD day and night; has been hurled down. They triumphed over him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb (Jesus) and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them. But woe to the Earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you. He is filled with fury, because he knows his time is short.”
A wonderful Psalm for daily, affirmative prayer; re-worded in the first person tense, for truly personal use:
Psalm 91:1-16 ‘I dwell in YOUR shelter LORD GOD MOST HIGH, and rest in YOUR shadow ALMIGHTY GOD.
I will say of YOU LORD, “YOU are my refuge and my fortress, my GOD, in WHOM I trust.” Surely YOU will save me from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. YOU will cover me with YOUR feathers, and under YOUR wings I will find refuge; YOUR faithfulness will be my shield and rampart.
I will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.
A thousand may fall at my side, ten thousand at my right hand, but it will not come near me. I will only observe with my eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. I say, “YOU LORD are my refuge,” and I make YOU, the MOST HIGH, my dwelling, no harm will overtake me, no disaster will come near my tent.
For YOU FATHER, will command YOUR angels concerning me, to guard me in all my ways; they will lift me up in their hands, so that I will not strike my foot against a stone.
I will tread on the lion and the cobra; I will trample the great lion and the serpent. Because I love YOU LORD, YOU will rescue me; YOU will protect me, for I acknowledge YOUR NAME.
I call on YOU, and YOU will answer me; YOU will be with me in trouble, YOU deliver me and honour me.
With long life YOU will satisfy me and show me YOUR salvation.’
Amen.
Psalm 2:8 ‘Ask of ME, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the Earth your possession.’ This was GOD speaking to Solomon, however, once again, it shows the effectiveness and power of prayer.
Psalm 5:1-3 ‘Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my KIND and my GOD, for to YOU I pray. In the morning O LORD YOU hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before YOU and wait in expectation.’
Psalm 17:6 ‘I call on You, my GOD, for You will answer me, give ear to me and hear my prayer.’
Psalm 61:1 ‘Hear my cry, O GOD; listen to my prayer.’
Psalm 66:18-20 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the LORD would not have listened; but GOD has surely listened and has heard my prayer. Praise be to GOD, WHO has not rejected my prayer or withheld HIS love from me.’
Psalm 106:23 ‘So HE (GOD) said HE would destroy them; had not Moses, HIS chosen one, stood in the breach before HIM to keep HIS wrath from destroying them.’ (This means Moses ‘stood in the gap,’ praying as an intercessor between the people and GOD. If no one had stood in the gap - even just one person praying - GOD would have destroyed these people.)
Psalm 119:11 ‘I have hidden YOUR word in my heart that I might not sin against YOU.’
Psalm 122:6-9 ‘Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure.
May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.” For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.” For the sake of the house of the LORD our GOD, I will seek your prosperity.’
Psalm 141:2 ‘May my prayer be set before YOU like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.’
Proverbs 15:29 ‘The LORD is far from the wicked but HE hears the prayer of the righteous.’
Satan and his demons are unable to hear or interfere with silent prayer. They can only discern spoken prayer.
Proverbs 28:9 ‘If anyone turns a deaf ear to MY instruction, even their prayers are detestable.’
Isaiah 40:1 ‘Comfort, comfort MY people, says your GOD.’
Isaiah 55:11 ‘MY Word that goes out from MY mouth: It will not return to ME empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.’
By this we can see how GOD speaks forth HIS Word, gives it to people, and HE returns it back to GOD – HIMSELF. And HE promises that HE will see that it accomplishes what HE sent it to do. You hold the authority and key to your life. Allowing HIM entrance into your life is greatly determined by what you say and pray.
You might ask “How do I find out exactly what words to say to - or about - my particular situation?” You do it the same way Jesus did. You spend some time being quiet, praying and fellowshipping with the Lord over the situation. You draw near to and fix your thoughts on Jesus Christ, who Hebrews 3:1 refers to as the ‘Apostle and High Priest whom we profess.’ When you use the words Jesus guides you to use, it is as powerful as if He Himself had spoken them.
Isaiah 59:1-2 ‘Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor HIS ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your GOD; your sins have hidden HIS face from you, so HE will not hear.’
Jeremiah 29:12-13 ‘You will call upon ME and come and pray to ME, and I will listen to you. You will seek ME and find ME when you seek ME with all your heart.’
Jeremiah 33:2-3 ‘This is what the LORD says, HE WHO made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it; the LORD is HIS name: “Call to ME and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
‘Mountain moving prayer.’
Jesus told us that we can speak to the ‘mountain,’ which represents whatever problem or subject we need or want to cope with. We can do this in His name. We do not need to always be asking GOD to do things when we can exercise (apply) Jesus authority. This is described in: Matthew 17:20, 21:21-22, Mark 11:23-24, and 1 Corinthians 13:2, which are all included in this subject of prayer.
In the following passage, Jesus is telling us that in His Name we have the authority to speak directly to whatever problem or subject that we need to overcome, cast out, or be victorious in. In Jesus Name we have such authority, so if Jesus is Lord of one’s life, that person has His authority to deal directly with such things.
GOD will not answer prayers that HE has already dealt with, nor will HE answer prayers that HE, including Jesus - has given us the authority to deal with; nor can HE answer prayers if the person asking – praying – has not forgiven absolutely everyone in their life, and even in the whole world.
Matthew 6:14-15 'For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly FATHER will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your FATHER will not forgive your sins.'
Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; whoever seeks finds; and whoever knocks, the door will be opened.”
Matthew 16:19 “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Matthew 18:18-20 Jesus said “I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My FATHER in heaven. For where two or three come together in My name, there am I with them.”
These things can only happen if they are acceptable to GOD in keeping with HIS will.
Jesus was not talking about the heaven where GOD resides. Nothing needs to be bound there. He was talking about the battle zone, the heaven where Satan’s forces are operating.
There are three different heavens referred to in the Bible:
1. The heaven where GOD resides.
2. The stellar heavens which we call ‘outer space.
3. The heaven around this Earth is the atmosphere surrounding this planet.
This last heaven is where spiritual war takes place, which is why Ephesians 2:2 calls Satan ‘the prince of the power of the air.’ It is where wicked spirits such as the ‘prince of Persia’ operate, and from there they attempt to rule the nations to which they have been assigned. The prayers of GOD’s people can keep them at bay.
Matthew 28:18-19 ‘Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on Earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the FATHER and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.”
Mark 9:23 Jesus said; “If you can, everything is possible for the person who believes.”
Mark 11:22-25 “Have faith in GOD,” Jesus answered. “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your FATHER in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
(The original word translated as ‘receive,’ literally means to ‘take.’)
After praying for healing (or whatever) say: “I accept my healing now, Lord. Thank YOU that I am healed. Thank YOU heavenly FATHER, for answering my prayer, I believe that I have received it. According to YOUR Word, it’s mine, thank YOU that I have it now in Jesus Name.”
Luke 9:28-30 ‘About eight days after Jesus said this, He took Peter, John, and James with Him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As He was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendour, talking with Jesus.’
Luke 18:1 ‘Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.’
Acts 1:14 ‘They (the disciples) all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with all His brothers.’
Philippians 4:6-7 ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to GOD. And the peace of GOD, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’
Philippians 4:19 ‘GOD shall supply all my needs according to HIS riches in glory by Christ Jesus.’
Colossians 4:2 ‘Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.’
Pray from a position of being in victory; not praying for victory. In keeping with words in the above scripture: ‘Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,’ align everything with heaven, where all is perfect the whole time. So this is an expression of faith, also in: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ‘Rejoice always, pray continually (throughout the day as possible,) give thanks in all circumstances; for this is GOD’s will for you in Christ Jesus.’ This does not mean we should spend all day on our knees in prayer, it means to always be prayerful in heart and mind, even though we obviously need to attend to other things in life; and just as you may be always thinking of the person you love, he or she is always on your mind and in your heart; so if you put GOD first, before that person who is the object of your love on earth, your relationship with that person will be even better. Worshiping and praising GOD is part of a continual relationship, which should not be segmented and compartmentalized; it should be a continuous, flowing organic relationship, so that we live our lives with a prayerful attitude - an atmosphere of prayer. Prayerfully mindful in all things of our relationship with GOD.
Genuine heartfelt prayer should be meaningful; it does not need to be lengthy to be effective. Heart-felt prayer words are completely of your own personal choice.
As our loving Father, GOD wants us to be in regular communication with Him, and we would soon feel alienated if we did not have ongoing prayerful communication. You will find very soon that you could not imagine being without such communication.
The more we pray, the closer to GOD we feel, with an intimacy of His being right with us in a very real personal relationship.
In any conversation we also need to be a good listener, so we also need to have quiet times with GOD to sense what He is wanting to tell us, and for us to discern His will for us, both personally and as being a part of His family.
Claim what, in GOD’s realm, is already ours; and tell the enemy Satan that he is already beaten by Jesus, and has no rights at all in our lives.
As someone said about 100 years ago, “I never pray for more than 5 minutes, and I never go longer than 5 minutes without praying.” We should be able to identify with that, by praying throughout the day with voice and in thoughts, in thanks and praise, with our spirit (spiritual tongue) and with our understanding in our natural language, as referred to in:
1 Corinthians 14:2 & 15 ‘So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind’. Please also see: ‘Tongues.’
Hebrews 3:6 ‘Christ is faithful as a Son over GOD’s house; and we (who are Christians) are HIS house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.’
Hebrews 4:14-16 ‘Therefore since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of GOD, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are --- yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.’
Hebrews 11:6 ‘Without faith it is impossible to please GOD.’ With prayer we are expressing our faith that GOD is real and that HE not only hears our prayers but that HE wants to hear our prayers, and that HE will respond to them according to HIS will.
Our very hour to hour and day to day existence can be under-laid, interwoven, and ‘coloured,’ even in a sub-conscious sense, with prayerful thought and awareness of our GOD-ly principles, and relationship.
James 5:16 ‘Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.’
1 John 2:3-5 ‘We know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commands. The person who says “I know Him,” but does not do what He commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in them. But if anyone obeys His word, GOD’s love is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in HIM.’
1 John 3:21-23 ‘Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before GOD and receive from HIM anything we ask, because we obey HIS commands and do what pleases HIM. And this is HIS command: to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He commanded us.’
1 John 5:13-15 ‘I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of GOD so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching GOD; that if we ask anything according to HIS will, HE hears us. And IF we know that HE hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have what we asked of HIM.’
John 16:23b-24 ‘I tell you the truth, My FATHER will give you whatever you ask in My Name. (If it is in keeping with GOD’s will.) Until now you have not asked for anything in My Name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.’
Jesus Prayed for All Believers.
John 17:20-23 ‘My prayer is not for them alone (His disciples.) I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, FATHER, just as YOU are in Me and I am in YOU. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that YOU have sent Me. I have given them the glory that YOU gave Me, that they may be one as We are one. I in them and YOU in Me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that YOU sent Me and have loved them even as YOU have loved Me.’
The love of GOD and Jesus reaches out to the whole world.
Jesus would find a quiet place in nature to pray, which was often up on a mountain (a hill), or in the Garden of Gethsemane, which was on the side of The Mount of Olives. He would rise early in the morning to pray, and often prayed all night.
Matthew 14:23 ‘And after He had dismissed them, He went up on a mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone.’
Matthew 26:40-41 ‘When Jesus returned to His disciples and found them sleeping, He asked Peter, “Could you men not keep watch with Me for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
Mark 1:35 ‘Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.’
Luke 5:16 ‘Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.’
Luke 6:12 ‘One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to GOD.’
Power of Prayer:
Prayer is the most powerful weapon we have on earth. Praying with faith is the great strength of Christians. We should pray for politicians, governments and bureaucrats, so that GOD can direct and lead them.
Hebrews 11:6 ‘Without faith it is impossible to please GOD.’ And prayer shows our faith that GOD exists, and that HE is who HE is.
Matthew 19:26 Jesus said: “With humankind it is impossible to be saved, but with GOD all things are possible.”
Sincere prayer is extremely effective and powerful.
Effective prayer requires an ingredient from us, which is ‘FAITH’. Two things which will block GOD’s answers to prayer are ‘sin’ and ‘un-forgiveness.’ We must rid our lives of all knowable sin, and we must forgive all others for anything and everything; GOD cannot forgive us and answer our prayers unless we become forgivable by forgiving others. HE does not refuse to answer our prayer; we block HIM from answering.
Matthew 5:44 ‘Jesus said “I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Mark 11:22-25 Jesus answered “Have faith in GOD. I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your FATHER in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
Luke 11:9-10 ‘Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; whoever seeks finds; and to the person who knocks, the door will be opened.’
When we pray in ‘Jesus’ name’ with earnestness and heart felt intensity, we can access GOD’s answer:
Ephesians 3:20 ‘Now to HIM (GOD) who is able to do immeasurably more (in exceeding abundance) than all we ask or imagine, according to HIS power at work within us, to HIM be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.’
Ephesians 6:10-18 ‘Finally, be strong in the LORD and in HIS mighty power. Put on the full armour of GOD so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of GOD, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground; and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit; which is the word of GOD. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep praying for all the saints.’ - meaning all GOD’s people.
We should aim to be steadfast to keep this armour on continually, and not feel the need to put it on each day. However if you need to refresh it each day, then do so.
Hebrews 4:16 ‘Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.’
Matthew 6:7-8 ‘When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your FATHER knows what you need before you ask HIM.’ Avoid vain repetitive prayer. If you are just reciting it without your heart in it, it is almost ineffective.
Psalm 19:14 ‘May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.’
Proverbs 21:1 ‘The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; HE directs it like a watercourse wherever HE pleases.’
2 Chronicles 7:14 ‘If MY people, who are called by MY name, will humble themselves and pray and seek MY face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.’
Isaiah 55:7 ‘Let the wicked forsake their way and the evil person their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and HE will have mercy on them, and to our GOD, for HE will freely pardon.’
Daniel 9:3-5 Verse 5: ‘So I turned to the LORD GOD and pleaded with HIM in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.’
Matthew 6:33 ‘Seek first GOD’s kingdom and HIS righteousness, and all your needs will be given to you as well.’
Matthew 17:20 ‘’He (Jesus) replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Matthew 21:21-22 ‘Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree , but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
Matthew 26:41 Jesus said “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
John 14;13-14 “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the FATHER. You may ask for anything in My name, and I will do it.” (Obviously it would only be according to, and in keeping with GOD’s will and approval.)
John 15:7 ‘If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.’
John 16:23-24 “In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. Very truly I tell you, My FATHER will give you whatever you ask in My Name. Until now you have not asked for anything in My Name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”
John 17:20-23a Jesus prayed: “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one. FATHER, just as YOU are in Me and I in YOU. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that YOU have sent Me. I have given them the glory that YOU gave Me, that they may be one as We are one: I in them and YOU in Me.”
Romans 4:17 ‘As it is written: “I have made you (Abraham) a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of GOD, in WHOM he believed - the GOD WHO gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.’
Romans 8:6-8 ‘The mind of sinful (carnal) people is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to GOD. It does not submit to GOD’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please GOD.’
Romans 8:26-27 ‘In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And HE who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints (the true Christians) in accordance with GOD’s will.’
(‘Groans that words cannot express,’ means that the Holy Spirit - Holy Ghost - is interceding for the Christian person who is praying; putting thoughts, convictions, and burdens - urgings, into their spirit and heart, which cannot be uttered, which are beyond words. Hannah poured out her soul most ardently and fervently, not being able to express fully what is conceived in the mind, as to how great the burden - urging is, and the sense of her need and want.) As recorded in:
1 Samuel 1:12-18 ‘As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”
“Not so, my LORD,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the GOD of Israel grant you what you have asked of HIM.”
She said, “May YOUR servant find favour in YOUR eyes.” Then she went on her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.’
Romans 10:17 ‘Faith comes by hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.’ (Which is the same as the Word-of-GOD.)
Romans 12:12 ‘Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.’
This makes it so easy to flow in personal prayer through the day between other commitments. GOD wants to hear our thanks, praise, thoughts, feelings and requests; and HE wants us to want HIS guidance.
1 Timothy 2:1-6a ‘I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people – for king and all those in authority, that we may live peaceable and quiet lives in all Godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases GOD our Saviour, WHO wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one GOD and one mediator between GOD and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself as a ransom for all people.’
1 Timothy 2:8 ‘Therefore I want men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.’
2 Timothy 4:18 ‘The LORD will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to HIS heavenly kingdom. To HIM be glory for ever and ever. Amen.’
Ephesians 6:18 ‘And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.’ (Saints are the true living Christians; NOT the sainthood which is bestowed on chosen dead people.)
Hebrews 5:7&9 ‘During the days of Jesus’ life on Earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the ONE WHO could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission.’
‘And once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him.’
James 4:2 (last sentence) ‘You do not have, because you do not ask GOD.’
James 1:6-8 ‘But when people ask, they must believe and not doubt, because whoever doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not think they will receive anything from the Lord; they are a double minded person, unstable in all they do.’
James 4:2b-3 ‘You do not have because you do not ask GOD. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.’
Ask GOD in faith, and HE will answer according to HIS will.
1 Peter 4:7 ‘The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.’
1 John 3:21-24 ‘Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before GOD and receive from HIM anything we ask, because we obey HIS commandments and do what pleases HIM. And this is HIS command; to believe in the name of HIS Son, Jesus Christ; and to love one another as HE commanded us. Those who obey HIS commands live in HIM, and HE in them. And this is how we know that HE lives in us: We know it by the Spirit HE gave us.’
Jude (v)20 ‘Build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.’
Intercessory Prayer. (Standing in the gap.)
This is prayer for other people, institutions, governments, and anything at all.
It can be a type of ‘Standing in the Gap;’ praying on behalf of other individuals, people groups, entities, situations, and even countries. Praying as if no one else is praying.
It is being the person in the middle – in between GOD and Earth. GOD owns the Earth but Satan has temporary control over it; so GOD requires someone to invite HIM to help with a problem – a request to step in and act on something.
Ezekiel 22:30 “I (GOD) looked for a person among them who would build up the wall and stand before ME in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.”
An excellent practice is to create a forever growing prayer list of all the people and situations you want to pray for, and those with needs of any kind, who pass through our lives or come into our lives and stay; so that we may intercede in prayer for them every day and even throughout the day.
Paul, of the New Testament, and the twelve disciples, may well have prayed daily for each believer, ‘That the blood of Jesus and the Spirit of GOD surround each person with a divine atmosphere of peace and spiritual light, and for GOD’s Holy Spirit to overpower and nullify the influence and power of sin, separation from GOD; and fear of death.’
We need to collectively pray for our national and state leaders and governments, as well as all politicians. This provides the prayer cover that is necessary for governments to rule wisely with GOD-ly authority, in the best interests of all the people who make up a nation. When this prayer covering is not in existence, governments can fall into making wrong decisions, and experiencing confusion and even chaos; but when it is in existence, righteousness and justice can flow according to GOD’s perfect will.
Romans 13:1-2 ‘Everyone must submit themselves to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by GOD. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what GOD has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgement on themselves.’
1 Timothy 2:1-2 ‘I urge you, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone; for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all Godliness and holiness.’
We should pray for all politicians, national leaders, and decision makers; all who have an influence on the quality of life we find ourselves living in. We must realize how powerfully our prayers can affect a whole country. All leaders - spokes-people - are servants of the people.
Pray for all church leaders – religious people – that they teach and preach with Biblical accuracy – that they are compassionate – empathetic – sincere – and always call on GOD’s wisdom.
Example: The constitution of the United States, in its original form, is a tremendous Holy Spirit anointed document; however it is far less than the actual WORD of GOD. The Bible is the constitution of heaven, and if people will start believing this, praying it into action, and standing and acting on it, in relation to America, and Australia, and other countries which were established on the Word of GOD, it’s power will restore them back into shape and into line with GOD’s will; and no person or thing on Earth can stand in their way.
When the Jewish nation of Israel was true and faithful to GOD, HE protected them miraculously.