More About Prayer

by Gene Poore

Jesus said, “Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and ye shall find; knock,
and it shall be opened unto you: for everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that
seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (MAT 7:7).
Thus, prayer is asking and seeking. Prayer is knocking on the mercies and
riches of God according to the words of our Lord. However, if we read such
promises without understanding other teachings of Christ, or without the knowledge
of to whom Jesus spoke, we might think “everyone” referred to in scripture
includes everyone who believes in God. Such a thought falsifies truth, because
even sinners believe in God.
According to God’s Word, “We know that God heareth not sinners: but if any
man be a worshipper of God, and doeth [God’s] will, him [God] heareth.” (JOH
9:31). Thus, our opening scripture tells us Jesus taught His disciples--followers
who believed on Him--the definition of prayer in simple format.
However, we define prayer in many ways. One meaning of prayer is bowing the
soul and knees before God, like the Apostle Paul confessed: “For this cause I bow
my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. . . .” (EPH 3:14).
The physical or mental bowing of knees before the Almighty reflects an act
of humility, humbleness, and submission to the creator of all that exists. When we
lift our soul as we look up seeking God’s face and favor, we reflect our
acceptance of our inner need for God. Accepting God begins the act of prayer.
Prayer becomes holy action. Prayer becomes conversation with God, making our
individual requests known to God. Jesus stated in Luke 18:1, “Men ought always to
pray, and not to faint. . . .” So, why did our Lord stress such action unless
prayer holds intrinsic value?
When we come to God, we must understand, “He that cometh to God must believe
that [God] is.” (HEB 11:6). We cannot pray to someone who does not exist--and
expect answers. Thus, when we arrive at an age when we realize a Higher Power
controls our life that Higher Power tells us to “repent and seek his face.”
Therefore, we repent and seek God’s face through prayer knowing God
recognizes any paraphrased version of the sinner’s prayer. If we have never prayed
the equivalent of “God be merciful to me a sinner. . . .” (LUK 18:13), all words
aimed heavenward before this plea meander through space.
Prayer is a simple action. Even a child can pray--and we parents should
teach our children to pray--because God always hears children. An uncomplicated
prayer many children offer to God at bedtime is “Now I lay me down to sleep; I
pray the Lord my soul to keep; if I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my
soul to take.”
Because prayer remains simple, prayer is something we ought to do nonstop.
Remember, Jesus said, “That men ought always to pray, and not to faint. . . .”
Thus, prayer is not a sissified action. And the word, “ought,” means prayer is
something we should do with as much vigor and enthusiasm as we “ought” to work and
“ought” to eat. And “always?” Every chance we get, at every opportunity, we should
keep Praying. We should pray in the shower, in the car, in the field, at work, at
play. In short, wherever we stand, sit, recline, or knit our brow becomes a
suitable opportunity for prayer.
Constant prayer exercises our spirit and makes us grow rich in faith and
grace. Thus, as we grow rich in faith and grace, we will not faint--nor be pulled
apart by worldly troubles that enter our life. Our minds will linger on spiritual
matters and not on materialistic possessions or wants. We will see our life and
body as more than food and clothing. Prayer becomes a righteous means to “[lay] up
for [ourselves] treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and
where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where [our] treasure is, there
will [our] heart be also.” (MAT 6:20).
Thus, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and [God’s] righteousness. . . .”
(MAT 6:33). When we bring God into our life, we “Trust in the Lord . . . ,” we
“Delight [ourselves] in the Lord . . . ,” we “Rest in the Lord . . . ,” and we
“Wait on the Lord. . . .” Then, thanks be to God, “The Lord shall help [us], and
deliver [us]: [the Lord] shall deliver [us] from the wicked, and save [us],
because [we] trust in [the Lord].”
Because we have belief in, faith in, and trust in God and in God’s promise
to answer our petitions, we accept God’s Son Jesus Christ as our personal Savior.
Then, when we begin our spiritual walk with Christ, we sense God’s presence when
we pray. Of course, being omnipresent, God surrounds us and God’s Holy Spirit
guides us in our prayers.
When we pray fervently, God’s presence becomes revealed within our hearts
and life. We sense God’s presence as real, because our heart and soul overflow
with “The peace of God, which passeth all understanding. . . .” (PHI 4:7). The
Peace of God in our soul enables us to hurdle each difficulty that Satan tumbles
into our path.
What happens when we pray? According to scripture, God’s power fills our
life when we “Submit [ourselves] therefore to God. . . .” Because if we “Resist
the devil . . . [Satan] will flee from [us].” And if we “Draw nigh to God . . .
[God] will draw nigh to [us].” (JAM 4:7-8).
Thus, when we pray, not only do God’s presence and power become obvious
within our spiritual walk, God’s Will for our life becomes clear. When we pray,
our spirit harmonizes with God’s guiding Holy Spirit. Through fervent prayer, we
sense spiritual truths which impress on us that God’s presence and power enrich
our life.
What happens when we pray? Not only does God’s presence become real, God’s
Power felt, and God’s Will for our life clearer, God’s blessings for our
individual walk becomes more available. We also receive prayer power to defuse
evil, heal personal sickness, and cure illness that surround us. Why else would
scripture command: “Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. . . .” “Is any sick
among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him.
. . .” “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick . . . And if he have committed
sins, they shall be forgiven him.” “Confess your faults one to another, and pray
one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a
righteous man availeth much.” (JAM 5:13-16).
What happens when we pray? To answer that question, we need to read from
Genesis to Revelation. But, in summary, prayers mend nations, heal the sick, bring
heartfelt revival to hearts and communities, and direct souls toward salvation
through the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Because some soul always needs our prayers,
we should take a moment, this moment, and pray for that soul. Pray that God will
bless that person’s life with forgiveness and understanding. Such prayer remains
our privileged, Christian duty.
When we experience the new birth, after we accept Jesus Christ into our
hearts as Savior and Lord, prayer becomes a new privilege but also a Christian
duty. Clearly, greedy eyes read where Jesus said, “Hitherto have ye asked nothing
in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” (JOH 16:24).
And, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how
much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask
him?” (MAT 7:11).
Jesus’ words never meant we should pray for only personal blessings promised
throughout God’s Holy Word. Our prayers should seek to save the souls of
humankind, because God is “Not willing that any should perish, but that all should
come to repentance.” (2PE 3:9). When we pray for others to repent, we perform our
Christian duty as priests of God. When we pray for our Christian brothers and
sisters, we fulfill our debt to fellow-believers because we are to pray “always
with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all
perseverance and supplication for all saints. . . .” (EPH 6:18).
Although praying is easy, when we pray we need protection because “We
wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in
high places.” (EPH 6:12). Thus, because we fight against spiritual, supernatural
evil forces when we pray for ourselves and others, we require protective armor
from spiritual, supernatural Godly power. God provides that armor through prayer!
When we pray, we “Put on the whole armor of God, that [we] may be able to
stand against the wiles of the devil.” (EPH 6:11). Because evil forces bombard us
daily, discontentment robs us of the joys of the Lord. Yet, when we pray, we “Grow
in grace, and in knowledge of our Lord and [Savior] Jesus Christ.” (2PE 3:18).
Grace and knowledge draw us closer to God, the Father. We then feel God’s
presence; we feel God’s power; we feel God’s will for our life. Awareness to God,
and of God, makes our service to God easy.
When we pray, God’s blessings become available. Jesus said, “All things,
whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” (MAT 21:22). And
again, “Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be
glorified in the son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.” (JOH
14:13).
Yet, if we do not know Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, knowing how to
pray, knowing why we pray will do little good if we remain unrecognized by the one
who listens. The Lord will confess, “I know you not . . . depart from me, all ye
workers of iniquity.” (LUK 13:27).
Clearly, reflected from attitudes and living testimonials, too many church
attendees believe that because they press a pew during services that God overlooks
their sins and answers their prayers. Yet, according to scripture, God never
dismisses sin. If a sinful person prays, the prayer is fruitless. If a sinful
heart’s plea finds an answer, the answer came because sinless hearts prayed for
that answer. God answered the prayer from the forgiven.
Much about prayer bears repeating. Even when we know what prayer is, why we
should pray, how to pray, and what happens when we pray, Satan-led interferences
hammer on our spiritual hideaway to distract us from communicating with God.
Satan’s interferences are hindrance to answered prayer. Although three such
hindrances are fatigue, haste, and inner restlessness, we overcome such hindrances
when we allow God’s Holy Word to lead us.
God’s Word says, “[God] giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no
might [God] increaseth strength. . . . They shall run, and not be weary; and they
shall walk, and not faint.” (ISA 40:29-31). Thus, whenever we feel too weary to
pray becomes the exact time to pray. Pray to God for strength and power, because
we “Can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth . . . [us].” (PHI 4:13).
Then, what about haste in prayer? Are we guilty at times of flippantly
tossing words toward heaven to complete our Christian duty? Is our heart reaching
out to God in behalf of another? Have our mental or physical knees become scabbed
from lengthy pleading to God to have mercy on a person we know needs freedom from
some burden? Ecclesiastes 8:3 tells us, “Be not hasty to go out of [God’s] sight.
. . .” Clearly, we should pray without ceasing like scripture commands.
Next, what about that inner restlessness when problems arise within our work
area, or at home when a family member strums our last nerve? Scripture suggests we
check every nook and cranny in our family for hindrances to answered prayer. We
must pray with a repentant heart for God to show us every weak, restive, and
restless area that needs attention. God will hear and answer that prayer.
Hindrance to prayer is one of Satan’s neutralizing weapons. Satan knows
God’s Word from Genesis to Revelation. Satan uses every “jot and tittle” against
God’s people. Satan knows God cannot and will not look on sin. So, through devious
and subtle ways, Satan creates hindrance between us, God, and answered prayer.
Satan tries to block each prayer audience from God’s Throne Room using God’s Word.
Imagine if God engraved the following warning above His Throne Room
entrance: “No petition will pass this portal if the one who prays taints the plea
with doubt, pride, unforgiveness, covetness, stinginess, etc. (Note: My Word
explains each etc.)”
Yes, God salted scripture with “etcs.” However, while on earth, Jesus
pointed out each hindering etc. Jesus said, “If I had not come and spoken unto
them, they had no sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.” (JOH 15:22).
Jesus tells us why we should faithfully read the Bible. Scripture points out
iniquity in our life. Scripture jabs our conscience with God’s truth. Scripture
tells us how to do good. And scripture tells us, “To him that knoweth to do good,
and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” (JAM 4:17). Thus, as God’s people we know sin
hides God’s face from us: indifference, self-righteousness, selfish motives,
disobedience to God’s laws, and offering unworthy service keeps God’s Throne Room
door sealed.
Of course, various aspects in a Christian’s life also cause hindrance to
answered prayer. However, faithful, thorough bible reading points out each
hindrance. When we find and correct our hindrance to answered prayer, we
understand what Jesus said: “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine,
and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his home upon a
rock. . . . And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not,
shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand.” (MAT
7:24-26). Clearly, we understand from scripture that through whatever
communication, hearing only and not doing God’s Word sets up barriers to answered
prayer.
What should we do if our prayers remain unanswered? If we have become a
member of God’s Family by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior, we ask God. If we
ask God with a sincere, truth-seeking heart, we act within God’s Word: “If my
people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek
my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will
forgive their sin. . . .” (2CH 7:14).
God knows when we humble ourselves. God knows when we seek His Face. And we
must seek God’s face soon in our life because God said at the beginning, “My
spirit shall not always strive with man. . . .” (GEN 6:3). Thus, we must “Seek ye
the Lord while [the Lord] may be found, call ye upon [the Lord] while [the Lord]
is near. . . .” (ISA 55:6).
When we seek and call on the Lord, we will please the Lord. When we seek and
call on the Lord, the Lord knows the sincerity of our heart. Our sincere heart
prays for forgiveness for our sins of omission and commission. We seek forgiveness
for our rebellion and disobedience. We plead for cleansing of the sins of pride,
indifference, and an unforgiving spirit. We pray for the Holy Spirit to search our
every fiber and ask God’s Holy Spirit to purge our heart of unconfessed
iniquities, unclean thoughts, and bitterness of spirit that infects our inner
being and soul.
God’s Word implies we must offer our hearts for purging and cleansing before
we ask for forgiveness. Then, “Though [our] sins be as scarlet, they shall be as
white as snow; though [our sins] be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (ISA
1:18). With our sins forgiven, God promised not to deal “With us after our sins;
nor reward us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the
earth, so great is [God’s] mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is
from the west, so far hath [God] removed our transgression from us.” (PSA 103: 10-
12).
Thus, what should we do if our prayers remain unanswered? We should search
our hearts for unconfessed sin. Then confess those sins and ask for forgiveness.
We should ask the Holy Spirit to cleanse us of all ungodly thoughts and actions we
hold unknown and unremembered in our heart and mind. With thorough purging, we
find that peace of God that passes all understanding. We sense a peace of mind and
heart that knows God will answer our prayers.
Thus, answered prayer follows our coming to God at whatever age we
understand what coming to God means. We set ourselves on a solid foundation so God
will hear our prayers. That solid foundation is the Rock named Jesus Christ. We
ask God to forgive us our sins in Jesus’ name and we ask Jesus to come into our
heart to lead and guide our life. Now when we pray, when we ask in faith,
according to God’s Will, in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, God
will bless us and bless others through our prayers.