Few topics in the Bible are dealt with in as much detail as prayer. Prayer is the communication of man to God. There is perhaps nothing more productive that can be done with our time than to have direct access to our Creator and King. Nothing can be accomplished away from God so this must be a most important part of the Christian’s life. God created man for His pleasure (Rev. 4:11) and God derives pleasure from a right relationship with Him and a healthy line of communication. God has made it clear that He wants to hear from His children frequently and that it would be quality time. We are urged to pray without ceasing (1 Thes. 5:17) and to pray always (Lk. 18:1). There are many examples of godly men who prayed with great frequency and duration: three times a day (Ps. 55:17; Dan. 6:10), seven times a day (Ps. 119:164), for an hour at a time (Mk. 14:37), and even all night (Lk. 6:12). In Luke 11:1-13 Jesus teaches many lessons about prayer including the fact that persistence in prayer can yield results with God. Much greater than any earthly father that desires the attention, interest and reliance of His child upon him, God’s perfect love desires that relationship and communication more (Matt. 7:7-11; Lk. 11:9-13). God delights in hearing from the upright (Prov. 15:8) and even keeps the prayers of saints in vials to be released for a sweet odor before Him (Ps. 141:2; Rev. 5:8).

The key is that God blesses the prayers of those that believe (Jam. 5:16) for without faith He cannot be pleased (Heb. 11:6). Salvation comes by calling on God with repentance and faith in Christ. This new relationship then opens the door to access by faith into His grace (Rom. 5:2). As a result, James tells us that God will answer and give to us liberally if He is asked in faith (Jam. 1:5-7); otherwise a person should expect nothing. The Bible also encourages us to come to God humbly but boldly (Heb. 4:16) which shows both reverence but also acknowledgment of our relationship to Him. The Bible lists many things that will hinder prayer: sin (Ps. 66:18), a poor relationship with your spouse (1 Pet. 3:7), selfish requests (Jam. 4:3), ignorance and disobedience (Pr. 28:9) and not asking according to the will of God (1 Jn. 5:14).

Another detailed teaching in scripture is how to pray. There are short prayers all through the Bible that don’t “fit the mold” of the components that should be part of our communion with God. Peter simply cried out Lord, save me (Mat. 14:3) and Jesus did. Yet Jesus gives us a model of what God desires to hear from us in what is often referred to as the Lord’s Prayer (Mt. 6:9-13). This prayer is not to be a script to pray repeatedly but a model to show us how to pray. In this prayer we see that we are praying to our Father. In our prayer we are to give Him praise and thanksgiving, to pray according to His will, to confess our sins (N/A for Jesus), to show our reliance on Him, to present our needs, to proclaim our faith and ask to for His protection and deliverance from evil. In addition to this, the Bible teaches that fasting should be used in conjunction with prayer for added effectiveness and power (Mk. 9:29; Dan. 9:3). The anointing of oil in association with prayer is also to be used for the sick (Jam. 5:14)

We are to pray for many things. We should be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer,,,(Phil. 4:6-7). Nothing is in our control so nothing is too little to be brought to God. It is a great relief to know that we can cast all our care upon Him (1 Pet. 5:7) knowing that He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows (Isa. 53:4). He cares for us and so we can put the burden on Him. We can tell him our every need, struggle, trial, temptation, and infirmity and seek His help. He promises that He will answer if within His will (Matt. 7:7; 21:22). We can ask for wisdom (Jam. 1:5), understanding of scripture (Ps. 119:18), things that we don’t know now (Jer. 33:3) and much more. Beyond that, God knows the many things that we have need of before we even ask Him (Mat. 6:8). We can pray for the salvation of others (Rom. 10:1). They have a free will but God can bring conviction and put people and circumstances in their life to help them see their need for Christ. We are to pray for all men essentially, such as our rulers and government that there may be peace (1 Tim 2:1-2). It is through consistent communication with God that we can resist temptation and walk in the Spirit (Mat. 26:41). We have many examples of godly men who prayed for the revival and repentance of a nation and bringing their sins before God that God might do a work (Ezra, Nehemiah, Jeremiah etc).

We can and should pray in private (Mt. 6:6). There also is a great need to pray in groups knowing that where two or three are gathered together in the name of Jesus, He is with them (Mat. 18:20). The “church” is supposed to be a house of prayer (Isa. 56:7; Mar. 11:17). The new believers in Acts gathered together for prayer regularly (Acts 2:42). The danger in public prayer is to those who are praying for personal attention (Mat. 6:5). We are to be unashamed in prayer and to never cease, regardless of persecution (Dan. 6:10). No matter what our situation, we should never forsake giving God thanks in all things (1 Thes. 5:18).

Lastly, it is important to recognize that we don’t know how to pray but it is the Holy Spirit that makes our feeble attempts at getting a hold of God into something acceptable (Rom. 8:26). Not only the Spirit but Jesus Christ also (they are one) makes intercession for us (Rom. 8:34). Praise God for the power available in prayer and God forgive me for not accessing this power enough.