Lesson No. 5

Lesson No. 5 The Practice of Prayer

One of the marvelous purposes also reflected in the Holy Scriptures is to provide clear and well-defined teaching on how to establish legitimate communication with God through prayer. In theological terms, prayer is a plea, a cry, a supplication to God. It is holding a conversation with God, generally in supplication form. It is the main means humans have to communicate with their Creator. It is one of the most powerful weapons a Christian can use with great effectiveness. It is the key that can open all doors within the framework of justice and holiness.

Experience tells us that for humans, each difficulty that arises in our plans or projects is like a door that closes on us. Do you know how to open it? Make a legitimate use of prayer. A wrong key cannot open that door you desire, nor can improper use of prayer be effective. Nonetheless, this could have positive results by following the instructions outlined in this study.

God says in His Holy Word, "Call to me and I will answer you". Let's look at the relevant biblical passage:

Jeremiah chapter 33: verse 3: “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not”.51

God listens to the prayer of His children: Consider the following biblical citations:

First Kings chapter 9: verses 2 and 3: “That the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon. 3And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually”.51

Acts chapter 10: verses 1 to 4: “There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, 2A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. 3He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. 4And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God”.51

These two cited passages are just one example among many others that prove God answers the prayers of His children.

Christ practiced and recommended it: Matthew chapter 26: verses 39 to 41: “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. 40And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 41Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak”.51

Secret prayer: The Lord Jesus Christ emphatically recommended secret prayer. Regarding this, consider what the following passage says:

Matthew chapter 6: verse 6: “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly”.51

A promise for those who pray: Our Lord Jesus Christ told His disciples:

“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive". (Matthew chapter 21: verse 22)”.51

Also, in John chapter 14: verses 13 and 14, our Lord said: And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.51

Prayer consoles the afflicted, heals the sick, and through it, the forgiveness of sins is obtained from God. Let’s consider the following passage from the Scriptures:

James chapter 5: verses 14 and 15: “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him”.51

Some Requirements for Prayer

Repentance of sins: John chapter 9: verse 31: “Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth”.51

A God-fearing individual willing to do His will logically qualifies as a repentant sinner.

Forgiving the offender: The Lord Jesus Christ expressed with perfect clarity about this requirement for prayer. Consider the following passage of the Holy Scriptures:

Mark chapter 11: verses 25 and 26: “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses”.51

Due to this divine requirement, the same Lord, when He left us the model prayer known as the "Our Father," commits us to forgive our offenders. This is how the following passage expresses:

Matthew chapter 6: verses 9 to 12: “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11Give us this day our daily bread. 12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors”.51

Ask according to God's will: James chapter 4: verse 3: “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts”.51

Ask with faith: James chapter 1: verses 5 to 7: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord”.51

Ask God insistently: Our Lord Jesus Christ related a parable to His disciples about prayer: And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 6And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8I tell you that he will avenge them speedily… (Luke chapter 18: verses 1 to 8).51

The woman should cover her head to pray: We will study this last requirement of prayer in detail in the topic I have titled: Attire of the Christian Woman.

For a greater understanding of the great importance of prayer for the believer, I recommend consecutive Bible reading and the practice of communication with God in daily life.