Do you pray?
Are you thinking about prayer more often in recent days? Does the idea of prayer confuse or intimidate you?
I found a simple definition of prayer online: “a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God.” Prayer is communicating with God. It can be done with eyes open or closed, in any position (kneeling, standing, lying down, or yes—even driving!). Prayers can be offered silently or out loud, alone or in the company of others.
What are the things that draw you to pray? Maybe feeling overwhelmed, lonely, unsure, afraid. Maybe being glad or grateful, or wanting to know God in a personal way. If you think about it—how do you get to know anyone? Through communication. When we pray, we are talking to God. When we read the Bible, God is talking to us. Communication needs to go both ways—we need to talk and listen.
Does God hear prayer?
At the point of death, King Hezekiah prayed to the Lord and asked Him to remember his faithfulness. God sent the prophet Isaiah to tell the king, “I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears.” (1 Kings 20:5)
King David wrote in several psalms that he was confident that God heard his prayers.
“Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.” (Psalm 55:17)
“O You who hear prayer, to You all flesh shall come.” (Psalm 65:2)
“But truly God has listened; He has attended to the voice of my prayer.” (Psalm 66:19)
Does prayer work?
“The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18)
“I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Luke 11:9)
“And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him.” (1 John 4:14-15)
“The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16b)
Yes, God hears and answers prayer! Yes, we are to call on Him in truth. Yes, we are to ask according to His will. Yes, the prayer of a righteous person works powerfully.
Those phrases —
“in truth”
“according to His will”
“righteous person”
– what do they mean?
Well, if you’re curious—send us an email, or call the office. We’d be delighted to help you understand!