What is the purpose of Prayer?

Prayer is a way to communicate with God, express our needs, seek guidance, and deepen our relationship with Him. It helps us acknowledge God's authority and control over our lives and allows us to worship Him. Through prayer, we can find comfort, receive strength, and experience the rewards of a closer connection with our Heavenly Father.

What is the importance of prayer and how should we pray?

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

This encourages us not to be anxious but to bring all our concerns and needs to God through prayer. It reminds us that we can find peace by presenting our requests to Him with thanksgiving.

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Psalm 145:18: "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth."

It reassures us that the Lord is close to those who call on Him in truth. It reminds us that God is attentive to our prayers and is near to us when we seek Him genuinely and honestly.

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Colossians 4:2: "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving."

It urges believers to be devoted to prayer and to be watchful in it. This means that we should continue to pray consistently, being attentive and alert, while maintaining an attitude of gratitude.

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Matthew 6:6: "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

It teaches us about the importance of private prayer. Jesus suggests going into a private place to pray, where we can have an intimate conversation with God. This scripture emphasizes that God sees what is done in secret and will reward those who seek Him sincerely.

What is the proper prayer sequence?

Praise and Worship ► Gratitude ► Request

Psalm 100:4 (NIV) encourages us to enter God's presence with thanksgiving and praise before making requests: "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name."

Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV), also known as the Lord's Prayer, provides a model for prayer given by Jesus. It starts with praising God: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

Note: These verses don't explicitly command that praise and worship must come first in every prayer but they do illustrate the practice and the importance of acknowledging God's greatness and expressing gratitude before presenting requests.

RIGHTEOUSNESS

1 John 5:14: "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us."

  • God delights in answering prayers that align with his will. As we seek God through Bible reading and prayer, we get to know his heart and gain wisdom and spiritual insight. This gives us a greater understanding of how to pray according to his will, and a greater chance of having our prayers answered.

What are the factors of an effective Prayer?

FAITH

Psalm 5:3: "In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."

  • This verse models the attitude we should have when we pray — that of eager expectation. We should believe God will answer our prayers and diligently watch for his hand at work.

Matthew 21:21-22: "Truly I tell you, 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."

  • The emphasis here is on the importance of unwavering faith and belief in God's power. Jesus assures his disciples that if they have genuine faith and trust in God, whatever they ask for in prayer will be granted. This does not mean that every request will be fulfilled exactly as asked, but rather that God will respond according to His perfect will and wisdom.

  • It is important to note that this passage should not be interpreted as a guarantee that we will receive anything we ask for in prayer without considering God's will and purpose. True faith aligns our desires with God's will and seeks His guidance in our prayers. The key takeaway is that genuine faith, free from doubt, is a powerful force in our relationship with God and can move mountains metaphorically in our lives.

PERSISTENCE

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

  • We are encouraged to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances. This passage reminds us that prayer should be a constant and ongoing practice in our lives, regardless of our circumstances. It also highlights that offering prayers of thanksgiving is an essential aspect of our communication with God.

Luke 18:1: "And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart."

  • Tells us a parable about the importance of persistent prayer and not losing heart. It encourages us to continue praying and not to give up, even when it seems like our prayers are not immediately answered. Persistent prayer demonstrates our trust and dependence on God.

SURRENDER

Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

  • This verse encourages us to trust in the Lord completely, leaning not on our own understanding but acknowledging His wisdom and guidance in all aspects of our lives. It reminds us to surrender our plans, desires, and concerns to God, trusting that He will lead us on the right path.

This is the highest example of surrendering to God. Jesus set the example

Luke 22:42: "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."

  • This verse is part of the account of Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane before His crucifixion. Jesus, in His humanity, is expressing His deep anguish and desire for an alternative to the suffering and death that awaited Him. He asks the Father if it is His will to remove the cup of suffering from Him. However, Jesus ultimately surrenders His own will to the Father's divine plan and submits Himself to God's will.

  • This moment in Jesus' prayer reveals His perfect obedience and submission to God's plan for salvation. Despite His own human desires and the intense agony, He experienced, Jesus prioritizes the Father's will above His own. It demonstrates His complete trust in God's sovereignty and His commitment to fulfilling His mission to redeem humanity.

  • The phrase "not my will, but yours be done" exemplifies Jesus' humility, surrender, and obedience to God's purpose. It serves as a powerful example for believers to align their own will with God's will and to submit to His plans, even in times of difficulty and suffering.

  • It's important to note that this verse reflects the unique role and sacrifice of Jesus as the Son of God and the Savior of the world. It should be understood in the context of Jesus' redemptive mission and may not directly apply to every individual's prayers and circumstances.

Matthew 26:42: "He (Jesus) went away a second time and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.’"

  • This verse is part of the account of Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane before His arrest and crucifixion. Jesus had already prayed once, expressing His deep anguish and requesting an alternative if it was God's will. In this second prayer, Jesus reiterates His submission to God's plan, acknowledging that if there is no other way for the cup of suffering to be removed, He is willing to drink it according to God's will.

  • The "cup" mentioned here symbolizes the suffering and sacrifice that Jesus was about to endure on the cross. Jesus, in His humanity, expresses His desire for an alternative path, yet ultimately surrenders His own will to the Father's divine plan. It shows His obedience and willingness to fulfill the mission of redemption for humanity.

  • This verse highlights Jesus' perfect submission to the Father's will and His commitment to carrying out the plan of salvation. It serves as a powerful example of trust, surrender, and obedience to God's purpose, even in the face of immense suffering.

  • FAITH (believe that God will answer our prayers according to His will)

  • RIGHTENOUSNESS (a person wants what is according to the word of God)

  • PERSISTENCE (continuing to pray even when we don’t see immediate results)

  • SURRENDER (trusting that God’s plan for our lives is greater than our own)

Why sometimes our prayers are not granted?

James 4:3: "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."

This verse tells us why God says “no” to many of our prayers — they are selfish, self-centered, and sometimes downright bad for us. Because God is wise and loving, like any good parent, he will not give things that will harm us or others.