Prayer Matters

Here are four observations in regards to prayer that I would like to note.
​The Power of Prayer

1. As believers one of our main joys, responsibilities and gifts is prayer.  We all face trials and hardships.  We all have difficulties in life.  We know what it feels like to be stressed, financially strapped, in a difficult situation and uncertain about the future.  If you are anything like me your first response may not always be prayer.  I often try and fix my situations or meddle with the process to work out in my benefit instead of first going to prayer.  I have been a Christian for 20 years plus years and this is still a lesson I am learning.  Prayer should always be our first response in any situation where we are uncertain, stressed or anxious. 
2. James 5:13 tells us to pray in the good times and bad.  He simply reminds us that in our suffering we should be covered in prayer.  We should pray for spiritual strength to endure.  We should also pray for healing.  In our suffering we should certainly pray for relief but also know that we should find comfort in our trials through prayer.  However prayer is not only just for those of us suffering but also for those who are “cheerful”.  Douglas Moo writes, “A reminder to turn to God is needed even more in times of cheer than in times of suffering.”
3. II Thessalonians 3:1, 2 – The Apostle Paul tells his readers to pray for him and his companions that God would move forward and be honored in their lives.  He tells them to pray that they would be protected from evil and wicked men who oppose them.
4. I Thessalonians 5:25 – The Apostle Paul instructs his readers to pray for him and his companions.  We need to be men and women of prayer.

God’s Response To Our Prayer

1. God will always hear and answer our prayers.  He just may not answer the way you expect.
   
2. We should pray expectant prayers.  We are told to pray in faith, which means when we pray we should expect God to answer our prayers according to His will. James tells us “The prayer of a righteous person has great power…”  One who is in tune with God through prayer and is a spiritually submitted man or woman will pray according to God’s will because His will is what they seek.  Our goal and purpose as followers of Jesus is to be righteous men and women whose prayer has great power and we should seek out men and women who pray powerful prayers.

Our Need To Pray

1. Why pray if God already knows what we need?  Why pray if God is going to answer according to his will and not mine?
2. I like what James Montgomery Boice writes, “Although God is sovereign and does things in his own sovereign way, he nevertheless does what he does through means, one of which is prayer… God has ordained the means as well as the ends.  When he ordains an answer to prayer he also ordains that the answer be obtained through the channel of prayer.” Basically this means God works and he chooses to work through prayer.  He puts things on our heart and we pray for an answer and God responds to our prayer according to his goodness, kindness and mercy.
3. Prayer is communion with God.  God wants to communicate with us and he does so through his word, study and prayer. 
   

Our Response When God Answers Prayer

1. Should we be surprised when God answers our prayer?  I believe we should always expect God to answer.  A friend of mine wrote, “Prayer fosters dependence on God and realigns our priorities around the work of the Kingdom of God.  It opens the door for us to access the Holy of Holies.  While prayer allows us to go into the presence of God with our praises and requests, it is also the place where we are empowered by the Spirit to do the Lord’s work.  Prayer is an exercise of spiritual health and vitality.  It also makes a believer healthy and whole.”
2. I like anyone else, am floored when God pulls through for me… I shouldn’t be but I am.  What does this tell me about my faith?  I don’t think I am sinning with my response but I certainly want my attitude to change so I am not so surprised in the future.
3. Let us be men and women who prays believing and expectant prayers.