PRAYER

1. How to pray:

*Lk.11:1-4*Lord, teach us to pray...when ye pray, say, Our Father which art in Heaven... (See also  Mat.6:9-13 )

A. Praise & thank the Lord before petitioning Him:

*Psa.95:2*Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving

*Psa.100:4*Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, & into His courts with praise: be thankful...& bless His name

*Phi.4:6*With thanksgiving let your requests be made known

B. If you have the gift of tongues, pray & praise in it:

*1Cor.14:2,4*He that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh...unto God (&) edifieth himself

*Rom.8:26,27*The Spirit...maketh intercession for us with groanings

*Eph.6:18*Praying always with...supplication in the Spirit

*Jude 20*Building up your...faith, praying in the Holy Ghost

*1Cor.14:39*Forbid not to speak with tongues

C. Be specific & ask for what you need:

*1Ki.3:5,9,10*[God told Solomon,] Ask what I shall give thee

*Mat.7:7,8*Ask, & it shall be given you; seek, & ye shall find

*Mat.21:22*Whatsoever ye ask in prayer...ye shall receive

*Jn.16:24*Ask, & ye shall receive, that your joy may be full

*Phi.4:6*Let your requests be made known unto God

*Jam.4:2b*Ye have not, because ye ask not

D. Pray to the Father in Jesus' name:

*Jn.14:13,14*Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do

*Jn.16:23*Whatsoever ye...ask Father in My name, He will give

*(See also  Jn.15:16b ;  16:26 ;  Eph.2:18 .)

E. Prayer also includes you listening to God:

*1Sam.3:9,10*If He call thee...say, "Speak, Lord; for Thy servant heareth"

*Gen.24:63*Isaac went out to meditate in the field at eventide

*Num.9:8*Stand still, & I will hear what the Lord will command

*Psa.4:3,4*Lord will hear...commune with your heart...& be still

*Psa.46:10*Be still, & know that I am God

*(See also  Eccl.5:1 ;  Zeph.1:7 ;  Zech.2:13 .)

F. Listen by meditating on God's Word:

*Josh.1:8*Thou shalt meditate therein (the law) day & night

*Psa.1:2*In His law doth he meditate day & night

*Psa.119:148*[Before] the night watches...I meditate in Thy Word

*1Tim.4:15*Meditate on these things; give thyself wholly to them

G. Be diligent to pray, don't be lazy:

*Isa.64:7*There is none that calleth upon Thy name, that stirreth himself to take hold of Thee

*Dan.9:13*All this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer

*Jon.1:6*What meanest thou, O sleeper? Arise, call upon God

*Lk.22:46*Why sleep ye? Rise and pray

*Lk.18:1*Men ought always to pray, & not to faint

2. Conditions to getting prayer answered:

A. Pray in faith:

*Mat.21:21,22*Have faith...doubt not...whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive

*Mk.11:24*When ye pray, believe that ye receive & ye shall have

*Rom.4:21*Being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform

*Heb.11:6*He that cometh to God must believe that He is

*Jam.1:5-7*Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering

*(See also  Mat.17:18-20 ;  Lk.7:1-10 .)

B. Obey God & do His will:

*Jn.9:31*If any man...doeth God's will, him He heareth

*Jn.15:7*If ye abide in Me, & My Words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, & it shall be done unto you

*1Jn.3:22*We ask, we receive, because we keep His (commands)

*(See also  Isa.58:6-9a )

C. Submit yourself to God & pray according to His will:

*Psa.143:10*Teach me to do Thy will; for Thou art my God

*Mat.6:10*Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven

*Lk.22:42*Nevertheless not My will, but Thine (God's), be done

*Jn.5:30*[Jesus:] I seek not Mine Own will, but will of (God)

*1Jn.5:14*If we ask anything according to His will, He heareth

D. Pray humbly:

*Dan.9:18b*We do not present our supplications...(because of) our righteousnesses, but for Thy great mercies

*Lk.18:10-14*The publican (said), God be merciful to me a sinner

*Jam.4:6*God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble

3. Prayer promises:

*2Pet.1:4*Are given unto us exceeding great & precious promises

A. Remind God of His promises when praying:

*Gen.32:6-12*Jacob was greatly afraid & distressed [& prayed, reminding God of His promises of protection]

*Neh.1:4-11*[Nehemiah prayed:] Remember...the word that Thou commandest Thy servant Moses

B. Some promises to claim in prayer:

*Psa.37:4,5*Delight thyself in Lord: & He shall give thee desires

*Isa.65:24*Before they call, I will answer; & while they are yet speaking, I will hear

*Jer.33:3*Call unto Me, & I will answer thee & shew thee great & mighty things

*Jn.15:7*Ask what ye will, & it shall be done unto you

*Jn.15:16b*Whatsoever ye ask in My name...[God will] give it

*Psa.81:10b*Open thy mouth wide, & I will fill it

C. The Lord promises to hear prayer:

*2Sam.22:7*In my distress I called...He did hear my voice

*Psa.34:15,17*The righteous cry, & the Lord heareth

*Psa.72:12*He shall deliver the needy when he crieth

*Psa.91:15*He shall call upon Me, & I will answer him

D. God's blessings for those who seek Him:

*2Chr.26:5*As long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper

*2Chr.31:21*He (sought God) with all his heart, & prospered

4. How not to pray:

A. Don't be disobedient:

*Deut.1:43,45*Ye would not hear, but rebelled against (Word) of the Lord...the Lord would not hearken to your voice

*Deut.3:23-27*[Moses' request to enter Canaan denied.-- Num.20:12 ]

*1Sam.28:5,6*When Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not [See the reason in  1Sam.28:15-19 ]

*Isa.1:15*When ye make many prayers, I will not hear

*Mic.3:4*Then shall they cry unto the Lord, but He will not hear... they have behaved themselves ill (See also  1Sam.13:8-14  &  14:37 ;  Hos.5;6 .)

B. Don't be disbelieving:

*Job 9:16*If I called, & He answered me; yet would I not believe He had hearkened unto my voice

*Mat.17:19,20a*Why could not we cast him out? Because of your unbelief

*Heb.11:6*Without faith is it impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is

C. Don't harbour unrepented sin in your heart:

*Psa.66:18,19*If I regard iniquity in my heart, Lord will not hear

*Isa.59:1,2*Your sins have hid His face...that He will not hear

*Jam.5:16*Confess your faults...& pray one for another

D. Don't doubt & disobey the Word:

*Pro.1:24-28*Then shall they call upon Me, but I will not answer

*Pro.28:9*He that turneth ear...his prayer shall be abomination

*Zech.7:12,13*Therefore...they cried, & I would not hear

*Jam.1:5-7*Let not that man [who doubts] think he shall receive anything of the Lord

E. Don't hold resentment or "oughts" in your heart:

*Mk.11:25*When ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought

F. Don't have selfish motives:

*Jam.4:3*Ye ask, & receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts

*Deut.23:4,5*They hired against thee Balaam...to curse thee. [But] the Lord would not hearken unto Balaam

G. Don't pray in pride, but sincerely & humbly:

*Mat.6:5,6*Not be as hypocrites (who) love to pray [publicly]

*Lk.18:10-14*God, I thank Thee, that I am not as other men are

H. Don't pray long, repetitive prayers:

*Eccl.5:2*God is in Heaven...let thy words be few

*Mat.6:7,8*When ye pray, use not vain repetitions

*Mat.23:14*Woe unto you (who) for a pretence make long prayer

*Josh.7:6,10*[God told Joshua to stop praying & get up]

I. What happens when we don't pray:

*Jam.4:2*Ye have not, because ye ask not

*(See also  Isa.64:7 )

5. Private prayer & united prayer with others:

A. Private prayer:

*Mat.6:6*When thou prayest, enter into thy closet...in secret

*Mk.1:35*He...departed into a solitary place, & there prayed

*Mk.6:46*He sent them away, He departed to a mountain to pray

*Lk.5:16*He withdrew Himself into the wilderness, & prayed

B. United prayer:

*Mat.18:19,20*Where two or three are gathered together in My name

*Acts 1:13-15*These all [120 people] continued with one accord in prayer...in an upper room

*Acts 4:23-31*[After a beating, Peter & John held a prayer meeting]

*Acts 12:12*House of Mary...many were gathered together praying

C. "Watching" in prayer:

*1Sam.15:11*It grieved Samuel; & he cried unto the Lord all night

*Mat.26:40,41*Could ye not watch with Me one hour? Watch & pray

*Lk.6:12*He (Jesus) continued all night in prayer to God

*Acts 12:5*Peter was kept in prison...prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him

*Eph.6:18*Praying always...& watching thereunto

6. When to pray:

A. Be in a constant attitude of prayer:

*1Chr.16:11*Seek the Lord...seek His face continually

*Pro.3:6*In all thy ways acknowledge Him, & He shall direct

*Lk.18:1*Men ought always to pray

*Lk.21:36a*Watch ye therefore, & pray always

*1Thes.5:17*Pray without ceasing (See also Eph.6:18)

B. Pray in time of special need:

*Psa.50:15*Call upon Me in the day of trouble

*Psa.27:8*When Thou saidst, "Seek ye My face"

*Psa.107:19*They cry unto the Lord in their trouble, & He saveth

*Heb.4:16*Let us come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may...find...help in time of need

*Jam.5:13*Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray

*(See also  2Chr.14:11,12 ;  Psa.34:4,6 .)

C. Morning prayer:

*Psa.5:3*In the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee

*Psa.63:1*O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee

*Psa.119:147*I [rose before] the dawning of the morning, & cried

*Pro.8:17*Those that seek Me early shall find Me

*Mk.1:35*In the morning, rising up before day, He...prayed

D. Evening prayer:

*Mk.6:46,47*(Jesus) departed to mountain to pray...even was come

*Gen.24:63*Isaac went out to meditate in the field at eventide

*Psa.55:17*Evening, & morning, & at noon, will I pray

*Dan.6:10*Daniel...kneeled three times a day, & prayed

E. Prayer in the night:

*Lam.2:19*Arise, cry out in the night...pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord

*Psa.42:8*In the night His song shall be with me, & my prayer

*Psa.63:5b,6*When I...meditate on Thee in the night watches

*Isa.26:9a*With my soul have I desired Thee in the night

*Lk.6:12*(Jesus) continued all night in prayer to God

*Acts 16:25*At midnight Paul & Silas prayed, & sang praises

*(See also  Psa.4:4 ;  119:55,62 .)

7. Wholehearted desperate prayer:

A. Stir yourself up; call on God wholeheartedly:

*1Sam.15:11,16*It grieved Samuel; & he cried unto the Lord all night

*Isa.64:7a*None...stirreth up himself to take hold of Thee

*Jer.29:13*Ye shall seek Me, & find Me, when ye search for Me with all your heart (See also Deut.4:29)

*Lam.2:19*Arise, cry out...pour out thine heart like water

*Lk.22:44*Being in an agony, He (Jesus) prayed more earnestly

*Heb.4:16*Let us therefore come boldly...in time of need

*Heb.5:7*(Jesus) offered up prayers...with strong crying & tears

*Jam.5:16b*Effectual fervent prayer...availeth much

*(See  Psa.61:1,2 ;  119:10 .)

B. Praying fervently & desperately for others:

*Rom.15:30,31*Strive (agonise) together with me in our prayers to God

*Col.4:12*Epaphrus...always labouring fervently for you in prayers

C. Don't give up; be persistent:

*Gen.18:23-32*[Abraham repeatedly asks God to spare Sodom for the sake of the righteous. God agrees, if there are 10]

*Gen.32:24-28*[Jacob refuses to let angel go until he blesses him]

*Lk.11:5-10*Because of his importunity (insistence) he will give

*Lk.18:1-8a*[Widow & unjust judge] Lest by her continual coming

*Rom.12:12*Continuing instant (steadfast, persevering) in prayer

*Eph.6:18*Praying always...watching thereunto with perseverance

*Jam.5:16b-18*The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man (See  1Ki.18:2,41-45  )

D. Challenge God to keep His Word & answer prayer:

*2Ki.2:14*[Elisha challenges:] "Where is the God of Elijah?"

*Isa.45:11b*Concerning the work of My hands command ye Me

*(See also  Exo.32:11-14 )

E. Sometimes you can change God's mind through prayer:

*Gen.19:17-21*I will not overthrow this city (Zoar), for the which thou hast spoken

*Exo.32:9-14*Moses besought the Lord...& the Lord repented of the evil which He [had] thought to do

*2Ki.20:1-6*[King Hezekiah was told he would die, but when he prayed, God changed His mind & healed him]

*Amos 7:1-6*The Lord repented for this: This also shall not be

*Jon.3:4-10*[Nineveh cried out & repented, so God spared it]

F. Repeating your desperate prayer:

*1Ki.18:42,43*Elijah...put his face between his knees...Go 7 times

*Mat.26:44*(Jesus) prayed the third time, saying the same words

G. Fasting & prayer:

*Ezra 8:23*So we fasted & besought our God for this: & He was intreated of us

*Joel 2:12*Turn ye to Me with all your heart, & with fasting

*Mat.17:21*This kind goeth not out but by prayer & fasting

*(See also  Deut.9:9,18 ;  Acts 13:2,3 ;  1Cor.7:5 .)

8. Other points on prayer:

A. Jesus mediates & prays for us:

*Rom.8:34*Christ...Who is at the right hand of God...maketh intercession for us

*Heb.7:25*He ever liveth to make intercession for [us]

*(See also  Lk.22:32 ;  Jn.17:9 .)

B. The Holy Spirit prays for us:

*Rom.8:26,27*(The Spirit) maketh intercession for the saints

C. Be thankful to the Lord for answering prayer:

*Psa.116:1,2,7*I love the Lord, because He hath heard my (prayers)

*(See also  Psa.30:1-4 ;  66:16,17,19,20 .)

D. Prayer is precious:

*Psa.141:2*Let my prayer be set before Thee as incense

*Pro.15:8b*The prayer of the upright is His delight

*Rev.5:8*Golden vials full of odours are the prayers of saints (See also  Rev.8:3 )

E. Giving thanks before eating:

*1Sam.9:13*People will not eat till he...bless the sacrifice

*Mat.14:19*Looking up to Heaven, He blessed & brake...the loaves

*Mat.26:26*Jesus took bread, & blessed it, & brake it, & gave

*Mk.8:6*He (Jesus) took the seven loaves, & gave thanks

*Acts 27:35*He (Paul) took bread, & gave thanks to God

*1Tim.4:3-5*[Food] sanctified (cleansed) by prayer

9. Ways God answers prayer:

A. Answer to prayer greater than request:

*1Ki.3:7-14*[Solomon prayed for wisdom & God granted him much more]

*Eph.3:20*Able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask

*Acts 12:1-16*[Church prayed for Peter, but not quite expecting his miraculous release from prison (vs.15,16)]

B. Answer to prayer delayed (It tries our faith):

*Job 30:20*[Job's prayer not answered immediately]

*Psa.40:1*I waited patiently for the Lord, & He...heard my cry

*Jer.42:4,7*[Jeremiah's prayer answered 10 days after he prayed]

*Lam.3:25,26*The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him (See also  Psa.62:1 )

*Dan.10:2,12,13*[The answer to Daniel's prayer was delayed for 21 days]

*Lk.18:7,8*[Answer] His elect...though He bear long with them

*Heb.10:36*Patience...after ye have done will of God, receive

*Rev.6:10,11*How long, O Lord? [Answer:] Rest yet a little season

C. Answer to prayer different from request:

*Deut.3:23-27*[Moses allowed to view the promised land, not enter]

*Jn.11:1-3,6*[Jesus is asked to heal Lazarus, but lets him die, then resurrects him] (See  Jn.11:14,15,32,37,43-45 )

*2Cor.12:7-9*[Paul prays for healing; instead is given grace to bear his affliction]

*(See also  2Ki.5:9-13 )

D. Beware about insisting that God grant your request:

*Psa.106:15*He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul

*(See  1Sam.8:4-22 ;  12:1,13,16-19  re: asking for a king)

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