WHAT IS PRAYER

 

• What is Prayer?

Simply put, prayer is communicating with God. It is our expression of devotion to our heavenly Father.

• Who Can Pray?

Anyone can pray, but only those who walk in faith and obedience to Christ can expect to see the benefits of prayer.

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. ” (Matt 21:22 NIV) This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us- whatever we ask- we know that we have what we asked of him. (I Jn 5:14-15 NIV)

• Why Are We to Pray?

God’s word commands us to pray.
Prayer releases God’s great power to change the course of nature, people, and nations.

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. (Luke 18:1 NIV)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Phil 4:6 NIV)

Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak. ” (Mark 14:38 NIV)

• When Should We Pray?

Be joyful always; pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (I Thes 5:16-18 NIV)

• What Should We Include in our Prayers?

Reveal your heart to God! Give him your thanks, confess to him your sins, give him your worship and praise, ask for his guidance and grace. Pray for your salvation, pray for others in need, pray for your family and friends, pray for your nation, but whatever you do, PRAY….

 

Q. How do I start?

A. Praying is not as hard as you might think.

What is hard is to get into the habit of talking to God every day!
Maybe you could start by picking a special time every day.
Think about things for which you want to say “Thank you” or “I’m sorry”, then tell God those things. You don’t have to use fancy words … you can talk to God like you talk to your mom or dad or a friend.

 

Q. Can I tell God anything?

A. You sure can!

There isn’t a thing you could say to Him that would make Him stop loving you. You can tell Him when your sad or grumpy. You can thank Him when things are going your way. You can lean on Him when your having a bad day. But you know what?

Your friends might let you down. Your mom or dad might not always listen. But, God will always listen – and He’ll understand.

 

Q. How do I know God hears me?

A. God promises to listen!

God has promised in the Bible that He will listen to you.
Look at Psalm 66:17-19 and at John 16:23 for these promises.
God promises to listen when we pray in Jesus’ name. Most important of all, the Holy Spirit lives in your heart. He helps you know for sure that God listens when you talk to Him.

 

Q. Must I fold my hands and close my eyes when I pray?

A. That’s one way to do it.

Closing your eyes shows you don’t want anything to get in the way of talking to God. But it’s not the only way to pray. You can pray while on your knees or standing up. You can pray with toys in your hands or while you’re hugging your mom. You can talk to God at any time because he’s always right there with you. And he wants you to be his friend.

 

 

 

The above material was published by “The New Adventure Bible” by Zondervan. This material may be copyrighted and should be used for study and research purposes only.