Prayer ~ Exploring Further

Exploring Further

1. What is prayer?

In its simplest form, prayer is communicating with God. That communication usually finds expression in spoken words or conscious thoughts. However, at times people also communicate with God through tears of confession, unspoken longings, unexpressed desires, or other ways of directing their hearts and minds to the Lord. In this lesson the focus is on communication with God through spoken words or unspoken thoughts.

2. Does a person have to be a born again believer in order to pray to God? Does a person have to be born again in order to have his prayers answered?

The answer to both questions is NO. God is very gracious and invites every sincere person to share his deepest feelings and longings with him in prayer. Not only is God willing to hear and listen to the prayers of those who sincerely and humbly seek him, he also often answers them. People who are not (yet) believers but who sincerely cry out to God—even when they are not sure that God exists—may receive a gracious answer from God. The Lord does not promise to answer the prayers of everyone in the way they desire, but his ears are open to all who earnestly seek him and cry out to him. Consider the following passages: Deuteronomy 4:20; 1 Kings 8:46-50; Isaiah 14:1-5; Isaiah 55:1, 6-7; Psalm 65:2; Psalm 78:34; Joel 2:13;
Malachi 3:7-8; Luke 11:10; Luke 15:20.

3. Is it desirable to have set times for prayer? Or is it better to pray only when we feel like praying, so that our prayers will be genuine and sincere?

It’s very helpful to have set times for prayer each day, since this will almost certainly strengthen our prayer life. If we don’t have set times, it is easy to neglect praying because of busyness, laziness, interruptions, tiredness or forgetfulness. Most of those who have a strong prayer life do have set times for prayer and usually also pray frequently throughout the day (or night) when they are aware of any special need or blessing—whether in their own life or in the lives of others.

An effective prayer life does not come automatically when we become Christians. Many people, even very sincere people, let their prayer life slip to the point where they are no longer intense and passionate about prayer and spend less and less time praying. And as they pray less often or less fervently, they lose their sweet communion with the Lord, they see fewer answers to their prayers, and they become less effective in their Christian life. Jesus himself prayed frequently and fervently. Paul was also a man of prayer. And in the
Old Testament, Daniel was known for his faithful prayers and the wonderful answers he received as a result of his faithfulness. See, for example, Luke 5:16; Luke 18:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18; and Daniel 6:10.

4. How can we strengthen our prayer life?

It is helpful to maintain some kind of schedule for regular, daily prayers. Included will be prayers in the morning after rising, prayers in the evening before retiring, and prayers at meal times. It is also helpful to develop and maintain a list of things for which to pray. This list should be readily accessible, if possible, so that you can write things down whenever you think of them—and before you forget them. It is also helpful to maintain a record of prayers that have been answered in a special way. Looking back over your list of answered prayers will give you additional incentive to pray about other significant things that come to your
attention. Also, when you see on your prayer list things that have not (yet) been answered in some definite way, you will be reminded to pray again for them. It is also helpful to write down the date when you first prayed for a specific need or situation and, when appropriate, the time when the prayer was answered.

It can also be very beneficial to have some set times for praying with others. By doing so, you can encourage one another while also being made aware of other special needs and concerns for which to pray.

Some people are also blessed and encouraged to pray by reading stories or articles or books on prayer. It’s a great blessing to read the stories of great prayer warriors in the past (or present) who are exceptionally faithful and effective in their prayer life. It can also be instructive and helpful at times to read the prayers which have been offered by others. Sometimes it may become somewhat routine to pray all the time for the same things in the same way. By reading (or hearing) the prayers of others, you may be able to add a certain
richness and effectiveness and diversity to your own prayers.

The many prayers in the Bible can be especially helpful for guiding and enriching your prayer life. Indeed, the most important aid to prayer is reading the Bible regularly. Prayer is speaking to God, and reading the Bible is listening to God. The Holy Spirit helps you to pray more wisely and effectively as you respond to the Spirit speaking through Scripture. Prayer becomes more interactive and not just a one-way attempt to speak to God.