God Speaks About Prayer

Photo by Alex Shute on Unsplash

Have you ever wondered if God really pays attention to our prayers?  Do you wonder what is the point in praying?  The second question in particular is one that I often think about.  Why should Christians pray?  God already knows how things are going to turn out, so what good does it do for us to pray? This is a personal struggle of mine. I feel like my meager petitions do little to sway God and His plan. But consider this, even Jesus prayed when He was about to be captured by the Romans and He knew that He would not sway God's plan of salvation that had been in place since the beginning of time. So why would He pray if He knew there would be no change? The Bible tells us a lot about prayer. It tells us how to pray, what to pray for and why to pray.  Prayer is the simple act of speaking with God. Sharing your heart with God; your concerns, your joys, your needs, and even your desires.  Here is what God has to say about prayer. 

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

First, we must establish a routine. Jesus prayed in the morning, as described in Mark 1:35, "And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed." We each should decide when and where to pray where we won't be distracted and we will be able to focus on the message God wants to give us through our prayers. Furthermore, we are told to "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Moreover, Ephesians 6:18 tells us to "Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints." We know from this that we have a continuous open-line of communication with God and can present to Him our joys and concerns as we go through the day. 

Image by Pexels from Pixabay 

Second, we are told in several places to pray with thanksgiving and to be thankful.  This holds true, not just in our prayers with pleasing outcomes, but also those with less pleasing outcomes. Philippians 4:6 tells us, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." In Colossians 4:2 we are further told, "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving." Additionally 1 Thessalonians 5:16 says, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances;" Notice this last verse says, "in all circumstances". No matter whether a good or bad situation, we should give our thanks to God for what He will do to bring us through it.

Third, the Bible shares about our intentions for prayer. What is our personal reason for a particular prayer?  Matthew 6:6-7 explains how our prayer is to be heartfelt and personal, not for the ears of others, but for the ears of God.  "But 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. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words."  This in no way reflects the idea that we can't pray for others or in front of others, but it reflects the attitude of our heart.  Are we praying sincerely to God or are we praying so that others will hear US and not God?  

Photo by Phillip Goldsberry on Unsplash

Fourth, who should we pray for? Surely we pray for our family and friends, but is that all? James 5:16 tells us to "pray for one another".  1 Timothy 2:1-2 says, "I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions..."  All who are in high positions...this is often a troublesome phrase as we don't often care for or disagree with those who are in the high positions, but God's word is clear.  We are still to pray for them.  It doesn't say, pray for them if you agree with them, but just pray for them. James 5:13-14 adds, "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him." Finally comes the toughest of all of the "who" we should pray for. Luke 6:27-28 declares, “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." This is a hard thing to do. We don't often want to pray for those who do us wrong, but God tells us to pray for them.  After all, it is God's desire that none should perish. He desires that everyone will come to know Him; He made each one!

Last, we come to the personal reasons that we should pray. These reasons are not necessarily to gain an answer to our personal requests, but they do benefit us in ways we may not realize.  Praying can provide peace for us as described in 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." Remember our lesson on the word "but",  we have a choice to make in a different direction.  We are anxious, BUT pray, we will gain peace!  James 5:16 states, "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed." Prayer can bring healing, not specifically physical healing, but spiritual healing. If we place our life and circumstances in God's hand, we can obtain spiritual healing. Earlier in his book, James reminds us that God can give us wisdom if we ask, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." Even further, Romans 8:26 gives us encouragement for those times where we just can't find the words to pray. Sometimes we may be too worried or distraught to even mentally come up with the right prayer.  It is at these times, we can rely on the Holy Spirit.  "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words."  I don't know how many times I have just said, "God, I just don't even know what to pray for right now in this situation, so please take care of it." I can take comfort knowing that at those times the Holy Spirit delivers that message to God for me. 

God desires prayer from us. He desires communication with us. God knows what we go through; He already knows our joys, concerns, worries, and problems, and how the issues will turn out, but He wants us to call out to Him in prayer and communication.  God is waiting to give us spiritual healing, give us peace and assurance and grow our faith through prayers to Him. If you feel you aren't able to pray, remember that the Spirit will intercede for you when you can't come up with the words! Also remember that God created each one of us and desires a relationship with each one of us!

Speaking Back to God by Being Thankful

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

Kari Farnell

We all know that God can speak through Scriptures as we read them, but God speaks through Scriptures we have memorized as well. God wants us to speak back to him through prayer and thanksgiving. I am going to relate a story that shows this idea.

On a bright May morning in 1993, I underwent a scheduled c-section to deliver my 10lb. 14 oz. baby boy. I am a Type 1 diabetic and this was my second baby. Having given birth to his sister through an emergency c-section and with him weighing in at a suspected 8+ lbs at 35 ½ weeks, the doctors had convinced me to undergo another c-section.  Because I had requested to be fully under for the c-section, my husband watched through the surgery door. Time was of the essence because I had been given anesthesia to put me to sleep and the longer it took to get the baby out, the more anesthesia he would have in his system as well. Once the opening was made, the baby ended up being so large that he got stuck coming out. Once he was born, his initial APGAR score was 4; however, his second APGAR reading was 8, so all seemed well.

always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.  Ephesians 5:20

Kari Farnell

At that time (and perhaps still), diabetics were not typically allowed to go past 35-36 weeks before giving birth due to complications that could arise. Earlier in my pregnancy, one of the doctors decided to change my due date and make it a week later than the original date. In my gut, I felt this was an issue, but wasn’t going to doubt the doctor. As it turns out, I was right to have thought it an issue. Shortly after my son’s birth, someone overheard one of the doctors state that my placenta had already started to deteriorate and my son may not have survived another day in the womb.

Again all seemed well despite the prior problems and issues, until his 4^th day. It was on the 4^th day, while still at the hospital, his doctor came in and said, “Well, you must know if I’m here, it’s not good news.” The doctor then began to explain that my son had suddenly become septic and was having difficulty sustaining his breathing. They had tried many things that were not working and they were going to have to fly him to Baltimore. I was devastated, but the first thing to enter my mind was in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

This Scripture, which I had heard many times before, was an immediate thought (almost an audible voice) and a definite word from God. My mind vacillated between this verse, and thinking “this can’t be happening”. I immediately phoned everyone I could think of and got everyone involved in praying. Meanwhile, I sat there THANKING God for the 4 days I had had with my son; for the doctors and nurses; for the situation; and for anything else that came to mind. 

To shorten a long story, I will just say that everything did turn out well. My son came home after 2 weeks in the NICU in Baltimore and has had no related issues since. I thank God for that whole experience. I thank God for friends and family that prayed. I thank God for all of my family that are whole and healthy. I thank God in the bad times as well, because that is what we are commanded to do. It is not easy, but it is important. It helps to take our focus off of what WE can do and put it onto what GOD can do.

God speaks to us in many ways, but sometimes and in some circumstances, he wants us to speak back. He is waiting to hear from us in prayer and through thankfulness for ALL circumstances. Take this Thanksgiving holiday to speak back to God and thank HIm

for ALL things!  

Nick Dykeman