Prayer

What is prayer?

I think this has never really been defined for many people. Whether Christian or any other religion it seems to be an important part of the discipline required of each "believer". I look at Muslims and wonder what makes them so dedicated to their prayers. Is it the ritual of religion or is it something that brings peace and guidance?

If we look at a the point of view of Jesus, prayer was important to him and important enough to His disciples for them to ask Him to teach them to pray. I think we forget that prayer is communion with our Heavenly Father. It is our quality time with Him. Even Jesus set aside time while on earth to go, be alone and prayer and communion with His Father.

How much more important is it for us as His children (if we are joint heirs with Christ) that we should do the same. We are even told, "When you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly." in Matthew 6:6. It's not really giving us the option to not pray. It simply says when, implying that there will be time when we will be doing that particular act.

The further we get into the New Testament, Paul talks even more about prayer and it's importance in our lives as Believers. In 1 Thesselonians 5:16- 18, it gives a clear view of three things we should be doing as Believers. One is to rejoice always, pray without ceasing (all the time), and give thanks in everything (even when things don't go our way or when times are hard). We do these things, according to the end of the text, because this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for us. In Romans 12:12, Paul again states that we should be joyful (or rejoice), patient in affliction (knowing that hard times will come but be thankful even then) and faithful in prayer. Prayer was an important part of the early church as well if you read throughout the book of Acts there is a lot of times that you see that "they prayed". It has been, is, and will be important as we continue on, on this journey until we are with the Father.

Since we are constantly supposed to be in prayer we are giving some things to pray about and for, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

May we learn to pray Scripture as well like the following prayer:
“Lord, help me to do great things as though they were little, since I do them with Your power; and little things as though they were great, since I do them in Your name.” - A prayer by Blaise Pascal. This prayer reflects a portion of Scripture it talks about the promise of being able to do all things through Christ and to do them in a way that ultimately brings glory to His name.


Father, help me to see prayer as my special alone time with you. Though it is good for me to pray with my brothers and sisters, it is good for me to have a special place and time when I meet just with you. Help me to make it a priority in my life. Help me to see it as a priority in ministry. Help me to see that the only way to be joyful in hope and patient in affliction is to remain faithful in prayer. Lord, show me your glory. I know that you are worthy of all my praise and all my worship and all my time and all my thoughts. I pray that my mind and meditation of my hearts would be steadfast on you and be pleasing to you. In Jesus' mighty and precious name, Amen.