Prayer

Is prayer primarily a matter of asking God for things we want or need?

No! Prayer does include requests or petitions, but it also involves praise, confession, and thanksgiving. If the only time we pray is when we want or need something from God for ourselves or others, we do not have the kind of fellowship with God which he wants us to have.

Scripture References: CONFESSION

O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens. (Ezra 9:6)

I [Daniel] turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes . . . we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. (Daniel 9:3-5)

Scripture References: THANKSGIVING

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6)

Pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18)

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! (Psalm 105:4)

Scripture References: PRAISE

Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. (Psalm 95:6-7)

I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. (Psalm 34:1)

Is it better to pray alone or to pray with others?

It’s important for us to pray frequently when we are alone with God. However, it’s also important for us to pray frequently with others. The Bible has many examples of both individual prayers and the prayers of larger groups of people who join their voices and hearts together in bringing their praise and petitions to the Lord.

Scripture References

When you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:6)

I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. (Matthew 18:19-20)

All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer. (Acts 1:14)

So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church . . .many were gathered together and were praying. (Acts 12:5,12)

Is it desirable for us to fast when we pray?

Many people fasted in Bible times and many still do so today. Fasting is good if it helps us focus our hearts and minds on God and if it is a genuine sign of reverence, sincerity and humility before God. We should not fast, however, in order to try to earn favor with God. God may reward our prayer and fasting, but he grants us his blessing because of his own mercy and grace and not on the basis of our merits.

Scripture References

[Ezra] proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. . . .So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty. (Ezra 8:21-23)

As soon as I [Nehemiah] heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. (Nehemiah 1:4)

I [Daniel] turned my face to the LORD God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. (Daniel 9:3)

She [Anna] did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. (Luke 2:37)

And when they [Paul and Barnabas] had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. (Acts 14:23)

Does God give us only those things we ask for in prayer?

No. God often grants us far more than we ask, much more than we deserve, and at times even more than we can imagine. Besides, sometimes we are too sick, too tired, or too confused to know what to ask for.

Scripture References

Now to him [God] who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus . . . forever and ever. (Ephesians 3:20)

God said to Solomon: “I now do according to your word . . . I give you also what you have not asked.”(1 Kings 3:12-13)

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)

Put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. (Malachi 3:10)

What is meant by “The Lord’s Prayer”?

That is the prayer which Jesus taught his disciples.

Scripture Reference

Our Father 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 lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

(Matthew 6:9-13)