PRAYING

Have you struggled with prayer? Does prayer seem like an exercise in eloquent speech that you just don't possess?

What is prayer? Prayer is not a mysterious practice reserved only for clergy and the religiously devout. Prayer is simply communicating with God—listening and talking to him. Prayer seems very complicated to a lot of people, but it is simply talking to God, listening and enjoying His presence. It is easy talking to someone when you know that they love you unconditionally.



There are many different kinds of prayer, such as prayer of thanksgiving and praise, prayer of dedication and worship, prayer of confession, prayer of petition (asking for things), prayer of waiting (silent, listening and sensing of God) and prayer of warfare (command). All prayer involves a time of fellowship with the Father (as God is looking for a heartfelt relationship with Him). Prayer is our responsibility because in 1Timothy 2:1, we are urged that "petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be offered on behalf of all men."

People often ask "what is the correct posture for prayer?" There is no correct or certain posture for prayer, in the bible people prayed on their knees (1 Kings 8:45), bowing (Exodus 4:31), on their faces before God (2 Chronicles 20:18) and standing too (1 Kings 8:22). You can even pray with your eyes opened or closed, quietly or out loud. Prayer does not need to be wordy or impressive just straight from the heart like talking to someone when you know they love you unconditionally. It is important that you never underestimate the power of a simple heart-felt prayer.

As Christians (whether old or new) your first priority is to love the Lord your God with your entire being and your neighbor as yourself. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you" – Matthew 6:33.

Why Pray?

• We pray because we love God (3 John: 4). Just as a couple in love desire to be together and communicate, so we – if we love God. The quality of our prayer life then determines the quality of our relationship with God.
• We pray because we depend on Him. God is our source and through prayer we receive comfort, strength and all other resources we need in life. God instructs us to call Him and He will answer us….. In Jeremiah 33:3. Prayer - relationship to God – is as necessary to the spiritual life as air to the natural life.
• We pray to resist temptation. "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation" (Matthew 26:41). Much sin is through prayerlessness. Through lack of prayer, we are weak, others are weak and Satan gains advantage over our lives.
• We pray because God commands us to. Prayer is so vital to all that God wants us to do so on earth, and so essential that God commands us to do it all the time. "Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
• We pray to invite God to act in salvation. Through prayer we invite God regularly and specifically to restore the lost people to relationship with Him. We reach out to others, praying for and with them and holding out to them the Word of Life (Phil 2:16). Jesus Himself prayed for His disciples and generations to come that will follow Him (John 17).

How to Pray

• Depend on the Holy Spirit. Look to the Holy Spirit, a divine helper and He will direct your prayer and help you pray when you don't know how. The bible says "pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18). The more filled you are with the Spirit; the more effective will be your whole life with God.
• Pray with faith. To pray by faith, your mind must be renewed by meditating on the Father's Word, on who you are in Christ, what He is to you and letting it transform your heart. If you don't know what the Word says, there is a possibility that doubt will set in, and you cannot receive from God (James1:6&7). Prayer does not cause faith to work, but faith causes prayer to work.
• Pray with the Word. God's will is to do what He promises in the Word. It is not just saying prayers that get results, but spending time with the Father drawing strength and being filled with His Spirit that brings results. Jesus told us to ask, seek and knock (Matthew7:7). In asking, we must be definite. In seeking, your goal is to know God and commune with Him. In knocking, we must understand what God wants to do and pray the Word for that thing.

Other Points to Note

• The worship of God (prayer, sacrifice or gift to God) will not be acceptable until we are at peace with those who have offended us. (Matthew 5:23-24)
• Also, do not be like the hypocrites standing on street corners to pray so that everyone will see them. Pray in the corner of your room so that your Father who sees your prayer in private will reward you. (Matthew 6:5-6)
• Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
• Be persistent - the continual prayer of a righteous man achieves a lot (James 5:16)
• Pray in Jesus' name. ."And I will do whatever you ask in my name…" (John 14:13-14)
• Align your prayer with the God's will. "If we ask anything according to God's will, he hears us…" (1 John 5:14-15)
• Do not give up. "I will not let you go until you have blessed me" (Genesis 32:24-30)

If you are struggling with prayer remember the Lord taught us to pray in Matthew chapter 6, verses 9 – 13, and Luke chapter 11, verses 1 - 4 as follows:

Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth,
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
The power, and the glory,
For ever and ever.
Amen

Our faith and love towards God will lead us to recognise God's presence with us, to talk, listen and sense Him and that is prayer. You will then confidently know that God can hear you when you pray, so keep that line of communication open. Keep praying, knowing and believing that no matter how far you roam, your connection to the Almighty Father cannot be lost.

By Ibilola Njoku

"Prayer Commissioner"