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Praying Acceptably

Prayer is a vital part of our spiritual life. It should be as natural as the urge to breathe, but its use is often neglected. God wants his children to talk to him in prayer. There are at least 650 definite prayers in the Bible. 450 of these have recorded answers. We can rest assured that God answers prayer.

What Should Our Prayers Express?

1) Praise (Exodus 15).
2) Help in time of peril (Exodus 17).
3) Our needs (Exodus 22:22-24).
4) Mercy (Exodus 32).
5) Intercession on behalf of others (Exodus 32:7-14).
6) Benediction (Numbers 6:24-27).
7) Dispelling discouragement (Numbers 11:10-35).
8) Thanksgiving (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
9) Patience (James 5:10-11; cf. Job 2:10; Job 13:15; Job 42:10; Matthew 10:22; cf. Revelation 2:10). God’s answer can be yes, no, or wait.
10) A spirit of repentance (Luke 15:18-21).
11) A spirit of obedience. God answers prayers of those who know, obey, and keep his commands. “…. If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:14-15; cf. John 15:10; 1 John 3:22). Christ, himself, is an example of this (John 8:29).
12) Our faith (Mark 11:22-24; Hebrews 11:6; James 1:6).

What About Our Attitudes In Prayer?

An unforgiving spirit can erase the power of prayer (Matthew 6:14-15). Though not commanded as essential, fasting is often associated with prayer (Psalm 35:13; Daniel 9:3; Matthew 9:15; Acts 10:30; Acts 13:3; Acts 14:23; I Corinthians 7:5). Jesus told us to be persistent in prayer (Luke 11:5-10). The same thought is in the parable of the unjust judge (Luke 18:1-8). Perseverence in prayer is also needed (Ephesians 6:18). We must pray on and on, wrestling like Jacob, panting like David, hoping like Elijah, persistent like Bartemaeus, crying with tears like Jesus.

We should never pray selfishly (James 4:3). Again, we are taught to put the Lord’s business first in prayer (Matthew 9:37-38). Lack of unity can hinder prayer (1 Peter 3:7). We should pray one for another. Paul often speaks of mentioning names in prayer (Romans 1:9; 1 Corinthians 1:4; Ephesians 1:16; Philippians 1:3-4; Colossians 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 2 Timothy 1:3; Philemon 1:4). Paul had a very long prayer list!

Of What Should Our Prayers Consist?

Privacy is an advantage for our individual prayers (Matthew 6:6). Showing off with prayer is condemned (Matthew 6:5). Vain repetitions or mechanical praying is strongly denounced (Matthew 6:7; Mark 12:40). What is commonly called the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 is never so called in the Bible. This was a model prayer given by Jesus for his disciples to pray. Christ never prayed this prayer for himself, as is shown by the words, “forgive us our debts (sins)” (Matthew 6:12; cf. Matthew 18:21) – Jesus was sinless (2 Corinthians 5:21). Also, the words “thy kingdom come” were given in a setting that preceded the coming of the church or the kingdom (Matthew 16:18-19). The kingdom for which they were taught to pray did come in their lifetime (Mark 9:1).

How Should We Pray?

We must always pray in accordance with God’s revealed will (1 John 5:14-15). We must live in union with him (John 15:7). The entire godhead is involved in our prayers. Our petitions are to the Father (Matthew 6:9), through the name of Christ, who is our mediator (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 9:15), and with the help of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26). Just as baptism is in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, so expressing in Jesus name would indicate unity of godhead (Matthew 28:19; Acts 4:12; Acts 22:16 cf. Acts 2:21; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Philippians 2:9-10; Hebrews 1:2; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 Peter 3:22; Revelation 17:14). Prayer should never take the place of our spiritual efforts to get things done. We should pray as if all depended on God and “work” as if all depended on us. The emphasis is on work and pray, or watch and pray.

Conclusion

The prayer of all prayers is found in John 17, the Lord’s prayer, when he prayed for his disciples that they might all be “one” (cf. John 17:21-23). This is the real Lord’s prayer. Jesus is our great high priest who intercedes for us (Romans 8:34; (1 Tim. 2:5; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1). This great spiritual privilege of prayer makes Christians the salt of the earth, as they pray for civil leaders (Matthew 5:13; 1 Timothy 2:1-2). We as God’s prayer warriors are to be at our posts constantly as a great deterrent to evil in this present world (Matthew 26:41; Luke 18:1; Romans 1:12; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17).