Prayer - do you think we'll ever fully understand it's power? What we can understand is that we can have confidence that God hears and responds to the words flowing out of our hearts.
How do you pray? First thing in the morning...throughout the day...as you shut your eyes on your pillow at night? Is there a wrong time to pray? I don't think so.
In the New Testament (NIV) alone, there are 77 verses that include "pray(s)", 44 that include "prayer", 24 that include "prayed", and 20 that include "praying"---if you want to know more about the subject, read each one of them. Here's a few of my favorites:
Matthew 6:9 This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.'
Mark 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
Luke 5:16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Luke 6:12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.
Acts 7:59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
It always astounds me that even Jesus felt the extreme need for prayer time...if Jesus, the Son of God, felt the necessity of time alone with His Father, how much more do I need that time. Jesus fully understood the importance and the power of prayer. As His disciples, we need to follow His example...early in the morning, retreating by ourselves, late at night...spend time with God. Only in this manner can we gain His strength for the battles that are sure to come. Jesus knew what was ahead of Him...we don't. But we can be assured that without the enforcement that comes from communing with God, we will not bear up and be successful when the battles come. When telling us how to prepare for battle, Paul includes in his instructions to us in Ephesians 6:18, "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests."
And again we remember...we know...He hears...He answers.
How do you pray? First thing in the morning...throughout the day...as you shut your eyes on your pillow at night? Is there a wrong time to pray? I don't think so.
In the New Testament (NIV) alone, there are 77 verses that include "pray(s)", 44 that include "prayer", 24 that include "prayed", and 20 that include "praying"---if you want to know more about the subject, read each one of them. Here's a few of my favorites:
Matthew 6:9 This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.'
Mark 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
Luke 5:16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Luke 6:12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.
Acts 7:59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
It always astounds me that even Jesus felt the extreme need for prayer time...if Jesus, the Son of God, felt the necessity of time alone with His Father, how much more do I need that time. Jesus fully understood the importance and the power of prayer. As His disciples, we need to follow His example...early in the morning, retreating by ourselves, late at night...spend time with God. Only in this manner can we gain His strength for the battles that are sure to come. Jesus knew what was ahead of Him...we don't. But we can be assured that without the enforcement that comes from communing with God, we will not bear up and be successful when the battles come. When telling us how to prepare for battle, Paul includes in his instructions to us in Ephesians 6:18, "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests."
And again we remember...we know...He hears...He answers.
1 comment:
Hey! Night Owl. - ha. This verse and your words of discussion brings out and focuses on the importance and value of prayer. We are in the presence of God when we pray. He knows our hearts but He wants to hear our voices, our words asking Him for His mercy and grace. Our lives are much like a battlefield. There are constant distractions that take us away from our faith. Prayer heals me, wounds from the earthly life I lead. Prayer is the time we spend with God. We talk to Him and he listens. This is great reassurance that God hears our prayers and He gives to us His love.
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