Many years ago there was a bumper sticker that read, “Why worry when you can pray.” This statement should not be taken lightly. People who sincerely believe in the power of prayer will tell you prayer and worry do not mix. Here’s the reason. It’s either I’m going to worry and not pray, or I’m going to pray and not worry. Prayer will keep me from worrying or worrying will keep me from praying.
The Scriptures have much to say and teach about prayer. Prayer is God’s means of His people communicating with Him. He said, “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” (Jeremiah 33:3). So then, I will pray to hear about the great and hidden things I have not known.
Some may say, “since God knows everything, why bother to pray?” Yes, God does know everything. He knows what’s on our minds and in our hearts. He knows everything about us because He created us “in His own image.” (Genesis 1:27). The fact is prayer begins with God. The Scripture says, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16b). Prayer will accomplish even more than we may expect or imagine.
Much of our prayers is asking God to grant us something, or seeking His intervention and help in various situations. Jesus said, “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” (Matthew 21:22). Ask and you will receive. However, there are things we need to take note of when making our requests. The text quoted here says you will receive, if you have faith. Hence, faith is an essential element of prayer..
We pray to God; He hears us, and the answers are forthcoming. Because of His awesome foreknowledge, God is able to discern and anticipate our requests before they are mentioned. The fact that God can answer in advance of our requests means He is fully aware of our every need. This is a great encouragement and wonderful inspiration to pray, and keep praying.
The Lord Jesus is our greatest example of prayer. During His earthly life, He always took time to pray. On one occasion, even as He knew His crucifixion was imminent, Jesus said to His disciples, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me. And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed.” (Matthew 26:38,39). Jesus knew the significance of prayer.
The activity of prayer is essentially a Godly requirement. Therefore, it is the Christian’s duty to have a disciplined approach to it. Colossians 4:2 says, “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” In his commentary on this text, Dr Charles Stanley says, “Always remember that we stand tallest and strongest on our knees because this is when we are humbled before God and dependent upon His power. As we talk with Him, listen to Him, and allow him to speak to our hearts through his Word, we receive his wisdom and direction.” (The Charles F Stanley Life Principles Bible, NKJV p. 1443).
The Life, the Truth, the Way:
The path of prayer thyself has trod;
Lord, teach us how to pray!
— James Montgomery
The writer to the Hebrew epistle says, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16). God extends to Christians a wonderful and gracious invitation to come with confidence to the throne of grace, thereby we receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. We are therefore able to access God’s presence at any time. Our acceptance is guaranteed because of God’s great mercy and amazing grace.
Grace is God’s unmerited favor which He grants us. It is His goodness and compassion toward us that we do not deserve. Mercy on the other hand is God withholding from us what we justly deserve. Therefore, we should never be hesitant or timid to approach God. “His mercy covers the things we should not have done, and His grace empowers us to do what we should do but do not have the power to do.” (William MacDonald ).
The prayer the Lord taught His disciples teaches us what we need to know about the nature of prayer. Note, it is a model prayer in that the Lord said, “Pray then like this.” (Matthew 6:9). There are three things worth noting in this prayer. The prayer begins, “Father, hallowed be your name.” (Luke 11:2).
As believers, we can address God as Father. Paul says, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father.” (Phil. 1:2). Then “hallowed be your name” is to acknowledge the absolute holiness of God, who is holy in all He says and does. And “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10). God answers prayers according to His will for us, which is absolutely the very best — whether known or unknown. God being omniscient has full knowledge of all things. And we don’t.
Let us therefore “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”
(Colossians 4:2). When there is much prayer, there will be much blessing. When there is little prayer, there will be little blessing.