Reference: Prayer
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Is the offering of the emotions and desires of the soul to God, in the name and through the mediation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is the communion of the heart with God through the aid of the Holy Spirit, and is to the Christian the very life of the soul. Without this filial spirit, no one can be a Christian, Job 21:15; Ps 10:4.
In all ages God has delighted in the prayers of his saints. From the promulgation of the law, the Hebrews did not intermit public worship daily in the tabernacle or the temple. It consisted in offering the evening and morning sacrifices, every day, accompanied with prayers by the priests and Levites in that holy edifice. Every day also the priests offered sacrifices, incense, offerings, and first fruits for individuals; they performed ceremonies for the redemption of the firstborn, or for purification from pollution; in a word, the people came thither from all parts to discharge their vows and to perform their devotions, not only on great and solemn days, but also on ordinary days; but nothing of this was performed without prayer, 1Ch 23:30; Ne 11:17; Lu 1:10. Compare also 1Ki 8:22, and the Psalms of David for temple worship.
Pious men were accustomed to pray thrice in the day, at fixed hours, Ps 55:7; Da 6:10. See HOURS. Social, family, and secret prayer were all habitual with Bible saints; as well as brief ejaculations in the midst of their ordinary business, Ne 2:4. No uniform posture in prayer is enjoined in the Bible; standing with the hands outspread, 1Ki 8.22, bowing the head, Ge 24:26, kneeling, Lu 22:41, and prostration on the ground, Mt 26:39, were all practiced. Prayer should be offered with submission to God's will, fervently, perseveringly, and with a confiding reliance on God in Christ; it should be accompanied by humble confession and hearty thanksgiving, and with supplications for all living men, as well as for our friends and those nearest to us. Habitual prayer to God is duty enjoined upon us by sound reason and by right affections; and he who lives without it thereby reveals the atheism of his heart. God requires all men thus to worship him, Eze 36:37; Mt 7:1-11; Php 4:6; 1Ti 2:1-3; Jas 1:5; and for neglecting this duty there can be no sufficient excuse. It is often said that prayer cannot alter the unchangeable purposes of God; but the great scheme of his providence embraces every prayer that shall be offered, as well as the answer it shall receive. It is objected that prayer cannot increase his knowledge of our wants, nor his readiness to supply them; and that in any case he will do what is for the best. But he deems it best to grant many blessings in answer to prayer, which otherwise he would withhold; "He will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee." The words of David will be those of every truly praying man: "This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and delivered him out of all his troubles," Ps 34:6.
False and formed religion makes a merit of its prayers, as though "much speaking" and "vain repetitions" could atone for heartlessness. Hypocrites also are wont to pray chiefly that they may have praise of men. These sins Christ reproves in Mt 6:5-15, and gives to his disciples the form of the Lord's prayer as a beautiful model. In Eph 6:18; 1Th 5:17; 1Ti 2:8, Paul directs that believers should pray in all places and at all times, lifting up pure hands towards heaven, and blessing God for all things, whether in eating, drinking, or what ever they do; and that every thing be done to the glory of God, 1Co 10:31. In a word, our Savior has recommended to us to pray without ceasing, Lu 18:1; 21:36.
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Also, when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they like to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street-corners, so as to be seen by men; I tell you truly, they do get their reward. When you pray, go into your room and shut the door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is secret will reward you. read more. Do not pray by idle rote like pagans, for they suppose they will be heard the more they say; you must not copy them; your Father knows your needs before you ask him. Let this be how you pray: 'our Father in heaven, thy name be revered, thy Reign begin, thy will be done on earth as in heaven! give us to-day our bread for the morrow, and forgive us our debts as we ourselves have forgiven our debtors, and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.' For if you forgive men their trespasses, then your heavenly Father will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men, your Father will not forgive your trespasses either.
Judge not, that you may not be judged yourselves; for as you judge so you will be judged, and the measure you deal out to others will be dealt out to yourselves. read more. Why do you note the splinter in your brother's eye and fail to see the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take out the splinter from your eye,' when there lies the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite! take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see properly how to take the splinter out of your brother's eye. Do not give dogs what is sacred and do not throw pearls before swine, in case they trample them under foot and turn to gore you. Ask and the gift will be yours, seek and you will find, knock and the door will open to you; for every one who asks receives, the seeker finds, the door is opened to anyone who knocks. Why, which of you, when asked by his son for a loaf, will hand him a stone? Or, if he asks a fish, will you hand him a serpent? Well, if for all your evil you know to give your children what is good, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him?
Then he went forward a little and fell on his face praying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass me. Yet, not what I will but what thou wilt."
the mass of the people all remaining in prayer outside at the hour of incense.
He also told them a parable about the need of always praying and never losing heart.
From hour to hour keep awake, praying that you may succeed in escaping all these dangers to come and in standing before the Son of man."
He withdrew about a stone's throw and knelt in prayer,
So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, let it be all done for the glory of God.
praying at all times in the Spirit with all manner of prayer and entreaty ??be alive to that, attend to it unceasingly, interceding on behalf of all the saints
Never be anxious, but always make your requests known to God in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving;
You must instruct people in what is due to sound doctrine. Tell the older men to be temperate, serious, masters of themselves, sound in faith, in love, and in stedfastness. read more. Tell the older women also to be reverent in their demeanour and not to be slanderers or slaves to drink;
let your words be sound and such that no exception can be taken to them, so that the opposite side may be confounded by finding nothing that they can say to our discredit.
Whoever of you is defective in wisdom, let him ask God who gives to all men without question or reproach, and the gift will be his.
Easton
is converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant, ejaculatory or formal. It is a "beseeching the Lord" (Ex 32:11); "pouring out the soul before the Lord" (1Sa 1:15); "praying and crying to heaven" (2Ch 32:20); "seeking unto God and making supplication" (Job 8:5); "drawing near to God" (Ps 73:28); "bowing the knees" (Eph 3:14).
Prayer presupposes a belief in the personality of God, his ability and willingness to hold intercourse with us, his personal control of all things and of all his creatures and all their actions.
Acceptable prayer must be sincere (Heb 10:22), offered with reverence and godly fear, with a humble sense of our own insignificance as creatures and of our own unworthiness as sinners, with earnest importunity, and with unhesitating submission to the divine will. Prayer must also be offered in the faith that God is, and is the hearer and answerer of prayer, and that he will fulfil his word, "Ask, and ye shall receive" (Mt 7:7-8; 21:22; Mr 11:24; Joh 14:13-14), and in the name of Christ (20/type/moffatt'>Mr 16:20,20; 15:16; Eph 2:18; 5:20; Col 3:17; 1Pe 2:5).
Prayer is of different kinds, secret (Mt 6:6); social, as family prayers, and in social worship; and public, in the service of the sanctuary.
Intercessory prayer is enjoined (Nu 6:23; Job 42:8; Isa 62:6; Ps 122:6; 1Ti 2:1; Jas 5:14), and there are many instances on record of answers having been given to such prayers, e.g., of Abraham (Ge 17:18,20; 18:23-32; 20:7,17-18), of Moses for Pharaoh (Ex 8:12-13,30-31; 9:33), for the Israelites (Ex 17:11,13; 32:11-14,31-34; Nu 21:7-8; De 9:18-19,25), for Miriam (Nu 12:13), for Aaron (De 9:20), of Samuel (1Sa 7:5-12), of Solomon (1Ki 8; 2Ch 6), Elijah (1Ki 17:20-23), Elisha (2Ki 4:33-36), Isaiah (2Ki 19), Jeremiah (Jer 42:2-10), Peter (Ac 9:40), the church (Ac 12:5-12), Paul (Ac 28:8).
No rules are anywhere in Scripture laid down for the manner of prayer or the attitude to be assumed by the suppliant. There is mention made of kneeling in prayer (1Ki 8:54; 2Ch 6:13; Ps 95:6; Isa 45:23; Lu 22:41; Ac 7:60; 9:40; Eph 3:14, etc.); of bowing and falling prostrate (Ge 24:26,52; Ex 4:31; 12:27; Mt 26:39; Mr 14:35, etc.); of spreading out the hands (1Ki 8:22,38,54; Ps 28:2; 63:4; 88:9; 1Ti 2:8, etc.); and of standing (1Sa 1:26; 1Ki 8:14,55; 2Ch 20:9; Mr 11:25; Lu 18:11,13).
If we except the "Lord's Prayer" (Mt 6:9-13), which is, however, rather a model or pattern of prayer than a set prayer to be offered up, we have no special form of prayer for general use given us in Scripture.
Prayer is frequently enjoined in Scripture (Ex 22:23,27; 1Ki 3:5; 2Ch 7:14; Ps 37:4; Isa 55:6; Joe 2:32; Eze 36:37, etc.), and we have very many testimonies that it has been answered (Ps 3:4; 4:1; 6:8; 18:6; 28:6; 30:2; 34:4; 118:5; Jas 5:16-18, etc.).
Abraham's servant prayed to God, and God directed him to the person who should be wife to his master's son and heir (Ge 24:10-20).
Jacob prayed to God, and God inclined the heart of his irritated brother, so that they met in peace and friendship (Ge 32:24-30; 33:1-4).
Samson prayed to God, and God showed him a well where he quenched his burning thirst, and so lived to judge Israel (Jg 15:18-20).
David prayed, and God defeated the counsel of Ahithophel (2Sa 15:31; 16:20-23; 17:14-23).
Daniel prayed, and God enabled him both to tell Nebuchadnezzar his dream and to give the interpretation of it (Da 2:16-23).
Nehemiah prayed, and God inclined the heart of the king of Persia to grant him leave of absence to visit and rebuild Jerusalem (Ne 1:11; 2:1-6).
Esther and Mordecai prayed, and God defeated the purpose of Haman, and saved the Jews from destruction (Es 4:15-17; 6:7-8).
The believers in Jerusalem prayed, and God opened the prison doors and set Peter at liberty, when Herod had resolved upon his death (Ac 12:1-12).
Paul prayed that the thorn in the flesh might be removed, and his prayer brought a large increase of spiritual strength, while the thorn perhaps remained (2Co 12:7-10).
Prayer is like the dove that Noah sent forth, which blessed him not only when it returned with an olive-leaf in its mouth, but when it never returned at all., Robinson's Job.
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When you pray, go into your room and shut the door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is secret will reward you.
Let this be how you pray: 'our Father in heaven, thy name be revered, thy Reign begin, thy will be done on earth as in heaven! read more. give us to-day our bread for the morrow, and forgive us our debts as we ourselves have forgiven our debtors, and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.'
Ask and the gift will be yours, seek and you will find, knock and the door will open to you; for every one who asks receives, the seeker finds, the door is opened to anyone who knocks.
All that ever you ask in prayer you shall have, if you believe."
Then he went forward a little and fell on his face praying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass me. Yet, not what I will but what thou wilt."
So I tell you, whatever you pray for and ask, believe you have got it and you shall have it. Also, whenever you stand up to pray, if you have anything against anybody, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."
Then he went forward a little and fell to the earth, praying that the hour might pass away from him, if possible.
The soldiers took him inside the courtyard (that is, the praetorium) and got all the regiment together;
while they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the miracles that endorsed it. (b) But they gave Peter and his companions a brief account of all these injunctions. And, after that, Jesus himself sent out by means of them from east to west the sacred and imperishable message of eternal salvation.
while they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the miracles that endorsed it. (b) But they gave Peter and his companions a brief account of all these injunctions. And, after that, Jesus himself sent out by means of them from east to west the sacred and imperishable message of eternal salvation.
The Pharisee stood up and prayed by himself as follows; 'I thank thee, O God, I am not like the rest of men, thieves, rogues, and immoral, or even like yon taxgatherer.
But the taxgatherer stood far away and would not lift even his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'O God, have mercy on me for my sins!'
He withdrew about a stone's throw and knelt in prayer,
and I will do whatever you ask in my name, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; I will do whatever you ask me in my name.
Then he knelt down and cried aloud, "Lord, let not this sin stand against them!" With these words he slept the sleep of death.
Peter put them all outside; then he knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body said, "Tabitha, rise." She opened her eyes, and on seeing Peter she sat up.
Peter put them all outside; then he knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body said, "Tabitha, rise." She opened her eyes, and on seeing Peter she sat up.
It was about that time that king Herod laid hands of violence on some members of the church. James the brother of John he slew with the sword, read more. and when he saw this pleased the Jews, he went on to seize Peter. (This was during the days of unleavened bread.) After arresting him he put him in prison, handing him over to a guard of sixteen soldiers, with the intention of producing him to the People after the passover. So Peter was closely guarded in prison, while earnest prayer for him was offered to God by the church.
So Peter was closely guarded in prison, while earnest prayer for him was offered to God by the church. The very night before Herod meant to have him produced, Peter lay asleep between two soldiers; he was fastened by two chains, and sentries in front of the door guarded the prison.
The very night before Herod meant to have him produced, Peter lay asleep between two soldiers; he was fastened by two chains, and sentries in front of the door guarded the prison. But an angel of the Lord flashed on him, and a light shone in the cell; striking Peter on the side he woke him, saying, "Quick, get up!" The fetters dropped from his hands,
But an angel of the Lord flashed on him, and a light shone in the cell; striking Peter on the side he woke him, saying, "Quick, get up!" The fetters dropped from his hands, and the angel said to him, "Gird yourself and put on your sandals." He did so. Then said the angel, "Put on your coat and follow me."
and the angel said to him, "Gird yourself and put on your sandals." He did so. Then said the angel, "Put on your coat and follow me." And he followed him out, not realizing that what the angel did was real, but imagining that he saw a vision.
And he followed him out, not realizing that what the angel did was real, but imagining that he saw a vision. When they had passed the first guard and the second they came to the iron gate leading into the city, which opened to them of its own accord; they passed out, and after they had gone through one street, the angel immediately left him.
When they had passed the first guard and the second they came to the iron gate leading into the city, which opened to them of its own accord; they passed out, and after they had gone through one street, the angel immediately left him. Then Peter came to his senses and said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were anticipating."
Then Peter came to his senses and said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were anticipating." When he grasped the situation, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was surnamed Mark, where a number had met for prayer.
When he grasped the situation, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was surnamed Mark, where a number had met for prayer.
His father, it so happened, was laid up with fever and dysentery, but Paul went in to see him and after prayer laid his hands on him and cured him.
My wealth of visions might have puffed me up, so I was given a thorn in the flesh, an angel of Satan to rack me and keep me from being puffed up; three times over I prayed the Lord to make it leave me, read more. but he told me, "It is enough for you to have my grace: it is in weakness that [my] power is fully felt." So I am proud to boast of all my weakness, and thus to have the power of Christ resting on my life. It makes me satisfied, for Christ's sake, with weakness, insults, trouble, persecution, and calamity; for I am strong just when I am weak.
for it is through him that we both enjoy our access to the Father in one Spirit.
For this reason, then, I kneel before the Father
For this reason, then, I kneel before the Father
and render thanks to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ at all times and for all things.
Indeed, whatever you say or do, let everything be done in dependence on the Lord Jesus, giving thanks in his name to God the Father.
let your words be sound and such that no exception can be taken to them, so that the opposite side may be confounded by finding nothing that they can say to our discredit.
let us draw near with a true heart, in absolute assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from a bad conscience, and our bodies washed in pure water;
Is anyone ill? let him summon the presbyters of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;
So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed; the prayers of the righteous have a powerful effect. Elijah was a man with a nature just like our own; but he offered prayer that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain; read more. then he prayed again, and the sky yielded rain, the earth brought forth its fruit.
Fausets
(1) Techinnah, from chandra "to be gracious"; hithpael, "to entreat grace"; Greek deesis.
(2) Tephillah, from hithpael of paalal, "to seek judgment"; Greek proseuchee. "Prayer," proseuchee, for obtaining blessings, implying devotion; "supplication," deesis, for averting evil. "Prayer" the general term; "supplication" with imploring earnestness (implying the suppliant's sense of need); enteuxis, intercession for others, coming near to God, seeking an audience in person, generally in another's behalf. Thanksgiving should always go with prayer (1Ti 2:1; Eph 6:18; Php 4:6). An instinct of every nation, even pagan (Isa 16:12; 44:17; 45:20; 1Ki 18:26). In Seth's days, when Enos (frailty) was born to him, "men began to call upon the name of Jehovah."
The name Enos embodies the Sethites' sense of human frailty urging them to prayer, in contrast to the Cainites' self sufficient "pride of countenance" which keeps sinners from seeking God (Ps 10:4). While the Cainites by building a city and inventing arts were founding the kingdom of this world, the Sethites by united calling upon Jehovah constituted the first church, and laid the foundation of the kingdom of God. The name of God is His whole self manifestation in relation to man. On this revealed divine character of grace and power believers fasten their prayers (Ps 119:49; Pr 18:10). The sceptic's objections to prayer are:
(1) The immutability of nature's general laws. But nature is only another name for the will of God; that will provides for answers to prayer in harmony with the general scheme of His government of the world. There are higher laws than those observed in the material world; the latter are subordinate to the former.
(2) God's predestinating power, wisdom and love make prayer useless and needless. But man is made a free moral agent; and God who predestines the blessing predestines prayer as the means to that end (Mt 24:20).
Prayer produces and strengthens in the mind conscious dependence on God, faith, and love, the state for receiving and appreciating God's blessing ordained in answer to prayer. Moreover prayer does not supersede work; praying and working are complementary of each other (Ne 4:9). Our weakness drives us to cast ourselves on God's fatherly love, providence, and power. Our "Father knoweth what things we have need of before we ask Him"; "we know not what things we should pray for as we ought" (Mt 6:8; Ro 8:26). Yet "the Spirit helpeth our infirmities," and Jesus teaches us by the Lord's prayer how to pray (Luke 11). Nor is the blessing merely subjective; but we may pray for particular blessings, temporal and spiritual, in submission to God's will, for ourselves. "Thy will be done," (Mt 6:10) and "if we ask anything according to His will" (1Jo 5:14-15), is the limitation. Every truly believing prayer contains this limitation. God then grants either the petition or something better than it, so that no true prayer is lost (2Co 12:7-10; Lu 22:42; Heb 5:7).
Also "intercessions" for others (the effect of which cannot be merely subjective) are enjoined (1Ti 2:1). God promises blessings in answer to prayer, as the indispensable condition of the gift (Mt 7:7-8). Examples confirm the command to pray. None prayed so often as Jesus; early in the morning "a great while before day" (Mr 1:35), "all the night" (Lu 6:12), in Gethsemane with an "agony" that drew from Him "sweat as it were great drops of blood falling to the ground" (Lu 22:44); "when He was being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened" (Lu 3:21); "as He prayed" He was transfigured (Lu 9:29); "as He was praying in a certain place" (Lu 11:1) one disciple struck by His prayer said, "Lord teach us to pray as John also taught his disciples" (Lu 11:1) (an interesting fact here only recorded). Above all, the intercession in John 17, His beginning of advocacy with the Father for us; an example of the highest and holiest spiritual communion.
The Holy Spirit in believers "maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." "He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit," and so casts off all that is imperfect and mistaken in our prayers, and answer s the Spirit who speaks in them what we would express aright but cannot (Ro 8:26-27,34). Then our Intercessor at God's right hand presents out prayers, accepted on the ground of His merits and blood (Joh 14:13; 15:16; 16:23-27). Thus God incarnate in the God-man Christ reconciles God's universal laws, i.e. His will, with our individual freedom, and His predestination with our prayers. Prayer is presupposed as the adjunct of sacrifice, from the beginning (Ge 4:4). Jacob's wrestling with the divine Angel and prayer, in Genesis 32, is the first full description of prayer; compare the inspired continent on it, Ho 12:3-6. But Abraham's intercession for Sodom (Genesis 18), and Isaac's, preceded (Ge 24:63 margin).
Moses' law prescribes sacrifice, and takes for granted prayer (except the express direction for prayer, De 26:12-15) in connection with it and the sanctuary, as both help us to realize God's presence; but especially as prayer needs a propitiation or atonement to rest on, such as the blood of the sacrifices symbolizes. The temple is "the house of prayer" (Isa 56:7). He that hears player (Ps 65:2) three manifested Himself. Toward it the prayer of the nation, and of individuals, however distant, was directed (1Ki 8:30,35,38,46-49; Da 6:10; Ps 5:7; 28:2; 138:2). Men used to go to the temple at regular hours for private prayer (Lu 18:10; Ac 3:1). Prayer apparently accompanied all offerings, as did the incense its symbol (Ps 141:2; Re 8:3-4; Lu 1:10; De 26:12-15, where a form of prayer is prescribed).
The housetop and mountain were chosen places for prayer, raised above the world. The threefold Aaronic blessing (Nu 6:24-26), and Moses' prayer at the moving (expanded in Psalm 68) and resting of the ark (Nu 10:35-36), are other forms of prayer in the Mosaic legislation. The regular times of prayer were the third (morning sacrifice), sixth, and ninth hours (evening sacrifice); Ps 55:17; Da 6:10; 9:21; Ac 3:1; 10:3; 2:15. "Seven times a day" (Ps 119:164), i.e. continually, seven being the number for perfection; compare Ps 119:147-148, by night. Grace was said before meals (Mt 15:36; Ac 27:35).
Posture. Standing: 1Sa 1:26; Mt 6:5; Mr 11:25; Lu 18:11. Kneeling, in humiliation: 1Ki 8:54; 2Ch 6:13; Ezr 9:5; Ps 95:6; Da 6:10. Prostration: Jos 7:6; 1Ki 18:42; Ne 8:6. In the Christian church, kneeling only: (Ac 7:60) Stephen, (Ac 9:40) Peter, (Ac 20:36; 21:5) Paul imitating Christ in Gethsemane. In post apostolic times, standing on the Lord's day, and from Easter to Whitsunday, to commemorate His resurrection and ours with Him. The hands were lifted up, or spread out (Ex 9:33; Ps 28:2; 134:2).
The spiritual songs in the Pentateuch (Ex 15:1-19; Nu 21:17-18; Deuteronomy 32) and succeeding books (Judges 5; 2/1/type/moffatt'>1Sa 2:1-10,2 Samuel 22; 1Ki 8:23-53; Ne 9:5-38) abound in prayer accompanied with praise. The Psalms give inspired forms of prayer for public and private use. Hezekiah prayed in the spirit of the Psalms. The prophets contain many such prayers (Isaiah 12; 25; 26; Isa 37:14-20; 38:9-20; Da 9:3-23). The praise and the reading and expounding of the law constituted the service of the synagogue under the sheliach hatsibbur, "the apostle" or "legate of the church."
THE LORD'S PRAYER, (Mt 6:9-13) couched in the plural, "when ye pray, say, Our Father ... give us ... forgive us ... lead us" shows that forms suit public joint prayer. "Thou when thou prayest, enter into thy closet ... shut thy door, pray to thy Father [which is] in secret" (Mt 6:6); in enjoining private prayer Christ gives no form. The Lord's prayer is our model. The invocation is the plea on which the prayer is grounded, God's revealed Fatherhood. Foremost stand the three petitions for hallowing God's name, God's kingdom coming, God's will being done below as above; then our four needs, for bread for body and soul, for forgiveness producing a forgiving spirit in ourselves, or not being led into temptation, and for deliverance from evil. The petitions are seven the sacred number (Mt 6:5-13).
Prayer was the breath of th
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But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Also, when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they like to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street-corners, so as to be seen by men; I tell you truly, they do get their reward.
Also, when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they like to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street-corners, so as to be seen by men; I tell you truly, they do get their reward. When you pray, go into your room and shut the door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is secret will reward you.
When you pray, go into your room and shut the door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is secret will reward you.
When you pray, go into your room and shut the door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is secret will reward you. Do not pray by idle rote like pagans, for they suppose they will be heard the more they say; read more. you must not copy them; your Father knows your needs before you ask him.
you must not copy them; your Father knows your needs before you ask him. Let this be how you pray: 'our Father in heaven, thy name be revered,
Let this be how you pray: 'our Father in heaven, thy name be revered, thy Reign begin, thy will be done on earth as in heaven!
thy Reign begin, thy will be done on earth as in heaven!
thy Reign begin, thy will be done on earth as in heaven! give us to-day our bread for the morrow,
give us to-day our bread for the morrow, and forgive us our debts as we ourselves have forgiven our debtors,
and forgive us our debts as we ourselves have forgiven our debtors, and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.'
and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.'
Ask and the gift will be yours, seek and you will find, knock and the door will open to you; for every one who asks receives, the seeker finds, the door is opened to anyone who knocks.
When he went indoors the blind men came up to him, and Jesus asked them, "Do you believe I can do this?" They said, "Yes, sir."
He took the seven loaves and the fish and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples to the crowds.
All that ever you ask in prayer you shall have, if you believe."
Pray that you may not have to fly in winter or on the sabbath,
Then in the early morning, long before daylight, he got up and went away out to a lonely spot.
So I tell you, whatever you pray for and ask, believe you have got it and you shall have it. Also, whenever you stand up to pray, if you have anything against anybody, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."
Also, whenever you stand up to pray, if you have anything against anybody, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."
the mass of the people all remaining in prayer outside at the hour of incense.
Now when all the people had been baptized and when Jesus had been baptized and was praying, heaven opened
It was in these days that he went off to the hillside to pray. He spent the whole night in prayer to God,
While he was praying the appearance of his face altered and his dress turned dazzling white.
He was praying at a certain place, and when he stopped one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples."
He was praying at a certain place, and when he stopped one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples."
And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, let me have three loaves; for a friend of mine travelling has come to my house and I have nothing to set before him.' read more. And suppose he answers from the inside, 'Don't bother me; the door is locked by this time, and my children are in bed with me. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give you anything because you are a friend of his, he will at least rise and give you whatever you want, because you persist. So I tell you, ask and the gift will be yours, seek and you will find, knock and the door will open to you; for everyone who asks receives, the seeker finds, the door is opened to anyone who knocks. What father among you, if asked by his son for a loaf, will hand him a stone? Or, if asked for a fish, will hand him a serpent instead of a fish? Or, if asked for an egg, will he hand him a scorpion? Well, if for all your evil you know to give your children what is good, how much more will your Father give the holy Spirit from heaven to those who ask him?"
He also told them a parable about the need of always praying and never losing heart.
"Two men went up to pray in the temple; one was a Pharisee and the other was a taxgatherer. The Pharisee stood up and prayed by himself as follows; 'I thank thee, O God, I am not like the rest of men, thieves, rogues, and immoral, or even like yon taxgatherer.
I tell you, he went home accepted by God rather than the other man; for everyone who uplifts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be uplifted."
saying, "Father, if it please thee, take this cup away from me. But thy will, not mine, be done."
he fell into an agony and prayed with greater intensity, his sweat dropping to the ground like clots of blood.]
and as the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they embarked in the boats themselves and made for Capharnahum in search of Jesus.
God, we know, does not listen to sinners; he listens to anyone who is devout and who obeys his will.
and I will do whatever you ask in my name, that the Father may be glorified in the Son;
are placed in the middle of verse 13:31] "I am the real Vine, and my Father is the vine-dresser;
You have not chosen me, it is I who have chosen you, appointing you to go and bear fruit ??fruit that lasts, so that the Father may grant you whatever you ask in my name.
And on that day you will not ask me any questions. Truly, truly I tell you, whatever you ask the Father, he will give you in my name; hitherto you have asked nothing in my name; ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full. read more. I have told you this in figures, but the time is coming when I shall speak to you in figures no longer; I shall let you know plainly about the Father. On that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father loves you himself, because you have loved me and believed that I came forth from God.
All these men resorted with one mind to prayer, together with the women, with Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brothers.
and they prayed, "O Lord, who readest the hearts of all, do thou single out from these two men him whom thou hast chosen to fill the place in this apostolic ministry which Judas left in order to go to his own place."
During the course of the day of Pentecost they were all together,
these men are not drunk, as you imagine. Why, it is only nine in the morning!
They devoted themselves to the instruction given by the apostles and to fellowship, breaking bread and praying together.
Day after day they resorted with one accord to the temple and broke bread together in their own homes; they ate with a glad and simple heart,
Peter and John were on their way up to the temple for the hour of prayer at three in the afternoon,
Peter and John were on their way up to the temple for the hour of prayer at three in the afternoon,
and on hearing this the entire company raised their cry to God, "O Sovereign Lord, thou art he who made heaven, earth, and sea, and all that in them is,
and on hearing this the entire company raised their cry to God, "O Sovereign Lord, thou art he who made heaven, earth, and sea, and all that in them is,
and on hearing this the entire company raised their cry to God, "O Sovereign Lord, thou art he who made heaven, earth, and sea, and all that in them is, who said to our fathers by the holy Spirit through the lips of thy servant David, Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples vainly conspire?
who said to our fathers by the holy Spirit through the lips of thy servant David, Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples vainly conspire? The kings of the earth stood ready, the rulers mustered together against the Lord and his Christ.
The kings of the earth stood ready, the rulers mustered together against the Lord and his Christ. In this very city they actually mustered against thy holy Servant Jesus, whom thou didst consecrate ??Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,
In this very city they actually mustered against thy holy Servant Jesus, whom thou didst consecrate ??Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, mustering to carry out what thy hand had traced, thy purpose had decreed.
mustering to carry out what thy hand had traced, thy purpose had decreed. So now, O Lord, consider the threats of these men, and grant that thy servants may be perfectly fearless in speaking thy word,
So now, O Lord, consider the threats of these men, and grant that thy servants may be perfectly fearless in speaking thy word, when thy hand is stretched out to heal and to perform miracles and wonders by the name of thy holy Servant Jesus."
when thy hand is stretched out to heal and to perform miracles and wonders by the name of thy holy Servant Jesus."
[Move first half of vs to start of vs 15] Many miracles and wonders were performed among the people by the apostles. Now they all without exception met in the portico of Solomon.
but we will continue to devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the word."
these men they presented to the apostles, who, after prayer, laid their hands upon them.
Then he knelt down and cried aloud, "Lord, let not this sin stand against them!" With these words he slept the sleep of death.
Peter put them all outside; then he knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body said, "Tabitha, rise." She opened her eyes, and on seeing Peter she sat up.
Peter put them all outside; then he knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body said, "Tabitha, rise." She opened her eyes, and on seeing Peter she sat up.
About three o'clock in the afternoon he distinctly saw in a vision an angel of God entering and saying to him, "Cornelius." He stared at the angel in terror, saying, "What is it?" He replied, "Your prayers and your alms have risen before God as a sacrifice to be remembered.
saying, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, your alms are remembered by God.
So Peter was closely guarded in prison, while earnest prayer for him was offered to God by the church.
So Peter was closely guarded in prison, while earnest prayer for him was offered to God by the church.
As they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the holy Spirit said, "Come! set me apart Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and let them go.
But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing to God, while the prisoners listened,
But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing to God, while the prisoners listened,
With these words he knelt down and prayed beside them all.
With these words he knelt down and prayed beside them all.
but, when our time was up, we started on our journey, escorted by them, women and children and all, till we got outside the town. Then, kneeling on the beach, we prayed
but, when our time was up, we started on our journey, escorted by them, women and children and all, till we got outside the town. Then, kneeling on the beach, we prayed
With these words he took a loaf and after thanking God, in presence of them all, broke it and began to eat.
God is my witness, the God whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, how unceasingly I always mention you in my prayers, asking if I may at last be sped upon my way to you by God's will.
So too the Spirit assists us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray aright, but the Spirit pleads for us with sighs that are beyond words,
So too the Spirit assists us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray aright, but the Spirit pleads for us with sighs that are beyond words, and He who searches the human heart knows what is in the mind of the Spirit, since the Spirit pleads before God for the saints.
who shall condemn? Will Christ? ??the Christ who died, yes and rose from the dead! the Christ who is at God's right hand, who actually pleads for us!
[Now to Him who can strengthen you by my gospel, by the preaching of Jesus Christ, by revealing the secret purpose which after the silence of long ages has now been disclosed and made known on the basis of the prophetic scriptures (by command of the eternal God) to all the Gentiles for their obedience to the faith ??27 to the only wise God be glory through Jesus Christ for ever and ever: Amen.]
(He saith, I have heard you in the time of favour, and helped you on the day of salvation. Well, here is the time of favour, here is the day of salvation.)
My wealth of visions might have puffed me up, so I was given a thorn in the flesh, an angel of Satan to rack me and keep me from being puffed up; three times over I prayed the Lord to make it leave me, read more. but he told me, "It is enough for you to have my grace: it is in weakness that [my] power is fully felt." So I am proud to boast of all my weakness, and thus to have the power of Christ resting on my life. It makes me satisfied, for Christ's sake, with weakness, insults, trouble, persecution, and calamity; for I am strong just when I am weak.
we are to hold by the truth, and by our love to grow up wholly into Him. For He, Christ, is the head, and under him, as the entire Body is welded together and compacted by every joint with which it is supplied, the due activity of each part enables the Body to grow and build itself up in love. read more. Now in the Lord I insist and protest that you must give up living like pagans; for their purposes are futile, their intelligence is darkened, they are estranged from the life of God by the ignorance which their dulness of heart has produced in them ??19 men who have recklessly abandoned themselves to sensuality, with a lust for the business of impurity in every shape and form.
That is not how you have understood the meaning of Christ (for it is Christ whom you have been taught, it is in Christ that you have been instructed ??the real Christ who is in Jesus);
praying at all times in the Spirit with all manner of prayer and entreaty ??be alive to that, attend to it unceasingly, interceding on behalf of all the saints
I thank my God for all your remembrance of me; in all my prayers for you all I always pray with a sense of joy read more. for what you have contributed to the gospel from the very first day down to this moment; of this I am confident, that he who has begun the good work in you will go on completing it until the day of Jesus Christ. It is only natural for me to be thinking of you all in this way, for alike in my prison and as I defend and vindicate the gospel, I bear in mind how you all share with me in the grace divine. (God is my witness that I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus himself!) And it is my prayer that your love may be more and more rich in knowledge and all manner of insight, enabling you to have a sense of what is vital, so that you may be transparent and no harm to anyone in view of the day of Christ, your life covered with that harvest of righteousness which Jesus Christ produces to the glory and the praise of God.
Never be anxious, but always make your requests known to God in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving;
Hence, from the day we heard of it, we have never ceased to pray for you, asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and insight, so that you may lead a life that is worthy of the Lord and give him entire satisfaction. May you be fruitful and increase in the doing of all good, as you thus know God! read more. May his glorious might nerve you with full power to endure and to be patient cheerfully, whatever comes, thanking the Father who has qualified us to share the lot of the saints in the Light, rescuing us from the power of the Darkness and transferring us to the realm of his beloved Son! In him we enjoy our redemption, that is, the forgiveness of sins. He is the likeness of the unseen God, born first before all the creation ??16 for it was by him that all things were created both in heaven and on earth, both the seen and the unseen, including Thrones, angelic Lords, celestial Powers and Rulers; all things have been created by him and for him;
Well, my very first counsel is that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgiving, are to be offered for all men ??2 for kings and all in authority, that we may lead a tranquil life in all piety and gravity;
Well, my very first counsel is that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgiving, are to be offered for all men ??2 for kings and all in authority, that we may lead a tranquil life in all piety and gravity;
Tell the older men to be temperate, serious, masters of themselves, sound in faith, in love, and in stedfastness.
let your words be sound and such that no exception can be taken to them, so that the opposite side may be confounded by finding nothing that they can say to our discredit.
In the days of his flesh, with bitter cries and tears, he offered prayers and supplications to Him who was able to save him from death; and he was heard, because of his godly fear.
May the God of peace who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, with the blood of the eternal covenant, furnish you with everything for the doing of his will, creating in your lives by Jesus Christ what is acceptable in his own sight! To him be glory for ever and ever: Amen.
Only, let him ask in faith, with never a doubt; for the doubtful man is like surge of the sea whirled and swayed by the wind;
you do ask and you do not get it, because you ask with the wicked intention of spending it on your pleasures.
Is anyone ill? let him summon the presbyters of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; the prayer of faith will restore the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; even the sins he has committed will be forgiven him. read more. So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed; the prayers of the righteous have a powerful effect.
So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed; the prayers of the righteous have a powerful effect.
and we get from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commands and do what is pleasing in his sight.
Now the confidence we have in him is this, that he listens to us whenever we ask anything in accordance with his will;
Now the confidence we have in him is this, that he listens to us whenever we ask anything in accordance with his will; and if we know he listens to whatever we ask, we know we obtain the requests we have made to him.
and if we know he listens to whatever we ask, we know we obtain the requests we have made to him.
And another angel went and stood at the altar with a golden censer; he was given abundant incense, to be laid with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar in front of the throne; and the smoke of the incense with the prayers of all the saints rose up from the angel's hand before God.
Hastings
Prayer in the Bible is the uplifting of the heart to God with whatever motive. It includes supplication, whether in view of material or of spiritual needs; intercession, for individuals or communities; confession of sin
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Also, when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they like to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street-corners, so as to be seen by men; I tell you truly, they do get their reward.
Do not pray by idle rote like pagans, for they suppose they will be heard the more they say;
Do not pray by idle rote like pagans, for they suppose they will be heard the more they say; you must not copy them; your Father knows your needs before you ask him.
you must not copy them; your Father knows your needs before you ask him.
For if you forgive men their trespasses, then your heavenly Father will forgive you;
Seek God's Realm and his goodness, and all that will be yours over and above.
Then Jesus said to the captain, "Go; as you have had faith, your prayer is granted." And the servant was cured at that very hour.
No one sews a piece of undressed cloth on an old coat, for the patch breaks away from it, and the tear is made worse:
When he went indoors the blind men came up to him, and Jesus asked them, "Do you believe I can do this?" They said, "Yes, sir."
and you will be hated by all men on account of my name; but he will be saved who holds out to the very end.
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and whoever receives a little child like this for my sake, receives me.
I tell you another thing: if two of you agree on earth about anything you pray for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three have gathered in my name, I am there among them."
For where two or three have gathered in my name, I am there among them." Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often is my brother to sin against me and be forgiven? Up to seven times?" read more. Jesus said to him, "Seven times? I say, seventy times seven!
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedaeus came up to him with her sons, praying him for a favour. He said to her, "What do you want?" She said, "Give orders that my two sons are to sit at your right hand and at your left in your Realm." read more. Jesus replied, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?" They said to him, "We can." "You shall drink my cup," said Jesus, "but it is not for me to grant seats at my right hand and at my left; these belong to the men for whom they have been destined by my Father."
Pray that you may not have to fly in winter or on the sabbath,
From that moment he sought a good opportunity to betray him.
Then he went forward a little and fell on his face praying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass me. Yet, not what I will but what thou wilt."
So he left them and went back for the third time, praying in the same words as before.
and about three o'clock Jesus gave a loud cry, "Eli, eli, lema sabachthani" (that is, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?)
He was still speaking when a message came from the house of the synagogue-president, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher to come any further?"
also they cast out a number of daemons and cured a number of sick people by anointing them with oil.
He said to her, "Let the children be satisfied first of all; it is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."
and looking up to heaven with a sigh he said to him, "Ephphatha" (which means, Open).
Jesus said to him, "'If you can'! Anything can be done for one who believes."
He said to them, "Nothing can make this kind come out but prayer and fasting."
He said to them, "Nothing can make this kind come out but prayer and fasting."
I tell you truly, whoever says to this hill, 'Take and throw yourself into the sea,' and has not a doubt in his mind but believes that what he says will happen, he will have it done.
Also, whenever you stand up to pray, if you have anything against anybody, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."
they prey upon the property of widows and offer long unreal prayers. All the heavier will their sentence be!"
Then he went forward a little and fell to the earth, praying that the hour might pass away from him, if possible.
the mass of the people all remaining in prayer outside at the hour of incense.
and having been a widow for eighty-four years. She was never away from the temple; night and day she worshipped, fasting and praying.
Now when all the people had been baptized and when Jesus had been baptized and was praying, heaven opened
It was in these days that he went off to the hillside to pray. He spent the whole night in prayer to God,
It was in these days that he went off to the hillside to pray. He spent the whole night in prayer to God,
It was in these days that he went off to the hillside to pray. He spent the whole night in prayer to God, and when day broke he summoned his disciples, choosing twelve of them, to whom he gave the name of 'apostles':
"Daughter," he said to her, "your faith has made you well; depart in peace."
Then taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven he blessed them, broke them in pieces and handed them to the disciples to set before the crowd.
While he was praying the appearance of his face altered and his dress turned dazzling white.
He was praying at a certain place, and when he stopped one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples."
And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, let me have three loaves; for a friend of mine travelling has come to my house and I have nothing to set before him.' read more. And suppose he answers from the inside, 'Don't bother me; the door is locked by this time, and my children are in bed with me. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give you anything because you are a friend of his, he will at least rise and give you whatever you want, because you persist. So I tell you, ask and the gift will be yours, seek and you will find, knock and the door will open to you; for everyone who asks receives, the seeker finds, the door is opened to anyone who knocks. What father among you, if asked by his son for a loaf, will hand him a stone? Or, if asked for a fish, will hand him a serpent instead of a fish? Or, if asked for an egg, will he hand him a scorpion? Well, if for all your evil you know to give your children what is good, how much more will your Father give the holy Spirit from heaven to those who ask him?"
Well, it is the same with you; when you have done all you are bidden, say, 'We are but servants; we have only done our duty.' "
He also told them a parable about the need of always praying and never losing heart. "In a certain town," he said, "there was a judge who had no reverence for God and no respect even for man. read more. And in that town there was a widow who used to go and appeal to him for 'Justice against my opponent!' For a while he would not, but afterwards he said to himself, 'Though I have no reverence for God and no respect even for man, still, as this widow is bothering me, I will see justice done to her ??not to have her for ever coming and pestering me.' Listen," said the Lord, "to what this unjust judge says! And will not God see justice done to his elect who cry to him by day and night? Will he be tolerant to their opponents? I tell you, he will quickly see justice done to his elect! And yet, when the Son of man does come, will he find faith on earth?" He also told the following parable to certain persons who were sure of their own goodness and looked down upon everybody else. "Two men went up to pray in the temple; one was a Pharisee and the other was a taxgatherer. The Pharisee stood up and prayed by himself as follows; 'I thank thee, O God, I am not like the rest of men, thieves, rogues, and immoral, or even like yon taxgatherer.
The Pharisee stood up and prayed by himself as follows; 'I thank thee, O God, I am not like the rest of men, thieves, rogues, and immoral, or even like yon taxgatherer. Twice a week I fast; on all my income I pay tithes.' read more. But the taxgatherer stood far away and would not lift even his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'O God, have mercy on me for my sins!'
But the taxgatherer stood far away and would not lift even his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'O God, have mercy on me for my sins!' I tell you, he went home accepted by God rather than the other man; for everyone who uplifts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be uplifted."
but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail. And you in turn must be a strength to your brothers."
Then he went outside and made his way to the Hill of Olives, as he was accustomed. The disciples followed him, and when he reached the spot he said to them, "Pray that you may not slip into temptation." read more. He withdrew about a stone's throw and knelt in prayer,
He withdrew about a stone's throw and knelt in prayer, saying, "Father, if it please thee, take this cup away from me. But thy will, not mine, be done." read more. [And an angel from heaven appeared to strengthen him; he fell into an agony and prayed with greater intensity, his sweat dropping to the ground like clots of blood.] Then rising from prayer he went to the disciples, only to find them asleep from sheer sorrow. He said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not slip into temptation."
Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, they do not know what they are doing." Then they distributed his clothes among themselves by drawing lots.
Then with a loud cry Jesus said, "Father, I trust my spirit to thy hands," and with these words he expired.
"Woman," said Jesus, "believe me, the time is coming when you will be worshipping the Father neither on this mountain nor at Jerusalem. You are worshipping something you do not know; we are worshipping what we do know ??for salvation comes from the Jews. read more. But the time is coming, it has come already, when the real worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit and in reality; for these are the worshippers that the Father wants.
So, as some boats from Tiberias had put in near the spot where they had eaten bread after the Lord's thanksgiving,
The man replied to them, "Well, this is astonishing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he has opened my eyes! God, we know, does not listen to sinners; he listens to anyone who is devout and who obeys his will. read more. It is unheard of, since the world began, that anyone should open a blind man's eyes. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."
Then they removed the boulder, and Jesus, lifting his eyes to heaven, said, "Father, I thank thee for listening to me. (I knew thou wouldst always listen to me, but I spoke on account of the crowd around, that they might believe thou hast sent me.)"
and I will do whatever you ask in my name, that the Father may be glorified in the Son;
Remain in me, as I remain in you: just as a branch cannot bear fruit by itself, without remaining on the vine, neither can you, unless you remain in me.
are placed in the middle of verse 13:31] "I am the real Vine, and my Father is the vine-dresser;
You have not chosen me, it is I who have chosen you, appointing you to go and bear fruit ??fruit that lasts, so that the Father may grant you whatever you ask in my name.
And on that day you will not ask me any questions. Truly, truly I tell you, whatever you ask the Father, he will give you in my name; hitherto you have asked nothing in my name; ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full. read more. I have told you this in figures, but the time is coming when I shall speak to you in figures no longer; I shall let you know plainly about the Father.
I pray for them ??not for the world but for those whom thou hast given me do I pray; for they are thine
On entering the city they went to the upper room where they were in the habit of meeting; there were Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James (the son of Alphaeus) and Simon who had been a Zealot, with Judas the son of James. All these men resorted with one mind to prayer, together with the women, with Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brothers.
and they prayed, "O Lord, who readest the hearts of all, do thou single out from these two men him whom thou hast chosen
Then they cast lots for them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, who was assigned his position with the eleven apostles.
these men are not drunk, as you imagine. Why, it is only nine in the morning!
Peter and John were on their way up to the temple for the hour of prayer at three in the afternoon,
Peter and John were on their way up to the temple for the hour of prayer at three in the afternoon,
But Peter said, "I have no silver or gold, but I will give you what I do have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, [get up and] walk!"
and when they recognized this was the very man who used to sit and beg at the Gate Beautiful, they were lost in awe and amazement at what had happened to him.
and when they recognized this was the very man who used to sit and beg at the Gate Beautiful, they were lost in awe and amazement at what had happened to him.
On being released they went to their friends and related what the high priests and elders had said;
At their prayer the place of meeting was shaken, and they were all filled with the holy Spirit, speaking God's word fearlessly;
these men they presented to the apostles, who, after prayer, laid their hands upon them.
So they stoned Stephen, who called on the Lord, saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" Then he knelt down and cried aloud, "Lord, let not this sin stand against them!" With these words he slept the sleep of death.
Then he knelt down and cried aloud, "Lord, let not this sin stand against them!" With these words he slept the sleep of death.
When the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they despatched Peter and John, who came down and prayed that the Samaritans might receive the holy Spirit. read more. (As yet it had not fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the holy Spirit.
So repent of this wickedness of yours, and ask God whether you cannot be forgiven for your heart's purpose.
So the eunuch said to Philip, "Pray, who is the prophet speaking about? Is it himself or someone else?"
"But, Lord," Ananias answered, "many people have told me about all the mischief this man has done to thy saints at Jerusalem! And in this city too he has authority from the high priests to put anyone in chains who invokes thy Name!"
And in this city too he has authority from the high priests to put anyone in chains who invokes thy Name!"
And in this city too he has authority from the high priests to put anyone in chains who invokes thy Name!" But the Lord said to him, "Go; I have chosen him to be the means of bringing my Name before the Gentiles and their kings as well as before the sons of Israel. read more. I will show him all he has to suffer for the sake of my Name." So Ananias went off and entered the house, laying his hands on him with these words, "Saul, my brother, I have been sent by the Lord, by Jesus who appeared to you on the road, to let you regain your sight and be filled with the holy Spirit."
Peter put them all outside; then he knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body said, "Tabitha, rise." She opened her eyes, and on seeing Peter she sat up.
Peter put them all outside; then he knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body said, "Tabitha, rise." She opened her eyes, and on seeing Peter she sat up.
He stared at the angel in terror, saying, "What is it?" He replied, "Your prayers and your alms have risen before God as a sacrifice to be remembered.
Next day they were still on the road and not far from the town, when Peter went up to the roof of the house about noon to pray.
Next day they were still on the road and not far from the town, when Peter went up to the roof of the house about noon to pray.
"Three days ago," said Cornelius, "at this very hour I was praying in my house at three o'clock in the afternoon, when a man stood before me in shining dress,
"Three days ago," said Cornelius, "at this very hour I was praying in my house at three o'clock in the afternoon, when a man stood before me in shining dress,
"Three days ago," said Cornelius, "at this very hour I was praying in my house at three o'clock in the afternoon, when a man stood before me in shining dress,
So Peter was closely guarded in prison, while earnest prayer for him was offered to God by the church.
So Peter was closely guarded in prison, while earnest prayer for him was offered to God by the church.
When he grasped the situation, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was surnamed Mark, where a number had met for prayer.
When he grasped the situation, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was surnamed Mark, where a number had met for prayer.
Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and let them go.
Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and let them go.
They chose presbyters for them in every church, and with prayer and fasting entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
On the sabbath we went outside the gate to the bank of the river, where as usual there was a place of prayer; we sat down and talked to the women who had gathered.
Now it happened as we went to the place of prayer that a slave-girl met us, possessed by a spirit of ventriloquism, and a source of great profit to her owners by her power of fortune-telling.
On receiving so strict a charge, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks. But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing to God, while the prisoners listened,
But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing to God, while the prisoners listened,
Travelling on through Amphipolis and Apollonia they reached Thessalonica. Here there was a Jewish synagogue, and Paul as usual went in; for three sabbaths he argued with them on the scriptures,
After waiting on for a number of days Paul said goodbye to the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. (As the latter was under a vow, he had his head shaved at Cenchreae.)
and after Paul laid his hands on them the holy Spirit came upon them, they spoke with 'tongues' and prophesied.
I showed you how this was the way to work hard and succour the needy, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, who said, 'To give is happier than to get.'"
but, when our time was up, we started on our journey, escorted by them, women and children and all, till we got outside the town. Then, kneeling on the beach, we prayed and said goodbye to one another. We went on board and they went home.
When I returned to Jerusalem, it happened that while I was praying in the temple I fell into a trance and saw Him saying to me, 'Make haste, leave Jerusalem quickly, for they will not accept your evidence about me.' read more. 'But, Lord,' I said, 'they surely know it was I who imprisoned and flogged those who believed in you throughout the synagogues, and that I stood and approved when the blood of your martyr Stephen was being shed, taking charge of the clothes of his murderers!' But he said to me, 'Go; I will send you afar to the Gentiles ????'"
With these words he took a loaf and after thanking God, in presence of them all, broke it and began to eat.
His father, it so happened, was laid up with fever and dysentery, but Paul went in to see him and after prayer laid his hands on him and cured him.
His father, it so happened, was laid up with fever and dysentery, but Paul went in to see him and after prayer laid his hands on him and cured him.
concerning his Son, who was born of David's offspring by natural descent
asking if I may at last be sped upon my way to you by God's will.
For the sons of God are those who are guided by the Spirit of God. You have received no slavish spirit that would make you relapse into fear; you have received the Spirit of sonship. And when we cry, "Abba! Father!", read more. it is this Spirit testifying along with our own spirit that we are children of God;
So too the Spirit assists us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray aright, but the Spirit pleads for us with sighs that are beyond words, and He who searches the human heart knows what is in the mind of the Spirit, since the Spirit pleads before God for the saints.
who shall condemn? Will Christ? ??the Christ who died, yes and rose from the dead! the Christ who is at God's right hand, who actually pleads for us!
I could have wished myself accursed and banished from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my natural kinsmen;
Oh for their salvation, brothers! That is my heart's desire and prayer to God!
let your hope be a joy to you; be stedfast in trouble, attend to prayer,
May the God who inspires stedfastness and encouragement grant you such harmony with one another, after Christ Jesus,
Brothers, I beg of you, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love that the Spirit inspires, rally round me by praying to God for me;
Brothers, I beg of you, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love that the Spirit inspires, rally round me by praying to God for me;
Brothers, I beg of you, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love that the Spirit inspires, rally round me by praying to God for me;
to the church of God at Corinth, to those who are consecrated in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, as well as to all who, wherever they may be, invoke the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord no less than ours:
For if I pray with a 'tongue,' my spirit prays, no doubt, but my mind is no use to anyone.
Otherwise, suppose you are blessing God in the Spirit, how is the outsider to say 'Amen' to your thanksgiving? The man does not understand what you are saying!
Otherwise, if there is no such thing as a resurrection, what is the meaning of people getting baptized on behalf of their dead? If dead men do not rise at all, why do people get baptized on their behalf?
three times over I prayed the Lord to make it leave me,
and I pray to God that you may not go wrong ??not to prove I am a success, that is not the point, but that you should come right, even if I seemed to be a failure.
but when the time had fully expired, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, to ransom those who were under the Law, that we might get our sonship. read more. It is because you are sons that God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying 'Abba! Father!' So you are servant no longer but son, and as son you are also heir, all owing to God.
Hence, as I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
for it is through him that we both enjoy our access to the Father in one Spirit.
through whom, as we have faith in him, we enjoy our confidence of free access.
For this reason, then, I kneel before the Father
For this reason, then, I kneel before the Father
For this reason, then, I kneel before the Father
praying at all times in the Spirit with all manner of prayer and entreaty ??be alive to that, attend to it unceasingly, interceding on behalf of all the saints
I thank my God for all your remembrance of me; in all my prayers for you all I always pray with a sense of joy
And it is my prayer that your love may be more and more rich in knowledge and all manner of insight, enabling you to have a sense of what is vital,
Never be anxious, but always make your requests known to God in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving;
We always thank the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ when we pray for you, since we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all the saints,
Hence, from the day we heard of it, we have never ceased to pray for you, asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and insight,
May his glorious might nerve you with full power to endure and to be patient cheerfully, whatever comes,
Striving? Yes, I want you to understand my deep concern for you and for those at Laodicea, for all who have never seen my face.
Striving? Yes, I want you to understand my deep concern for you and for those at Laodicea, for all who have never seen my face.
He cancelled the regulations that stood against us ??all these obligations he set aside when he nailed them to the cross,
Attend to your prayers, maintain your zest for prayer by thanksgiving; and pray for me as well, that God may give me an opening for the word, to speak of the open secret of Christ for which I am in custody.
Epaphras, who is one of yourselves, salutes you ??a servant of Christ Jesus who is always earnest in prayer for you, that you may stand firm like mature and convinced Christians, whatever be the will of God for you.
Salute the brothers at Laodicea, also Nympha and the church which meets at her house.
Well, my very first counsel is that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgiving, are to be offered for all men ??2 for kings and all in authority, that we may lead a tranquil life in all piety and gravity;
Now I want the men to offer prayer at any meeting of the church; and let the hands they lift to heaven be holy ??they must be free from anger and dissension.
whereas the widow who plunges into dissipation is dead before ever she dies.
(may he find favour with the Lord on the great Day! The Lord grant it!). And you know very well what a help he was to me in Ephesus.
It has been said by one of themselves, by a prophet of their own, that ??"Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons."
Tell the older men to be temperate, serious, masters of themselves, sound in faith, in love, and in stedfastness. Tell the older women also to be reverent in their demeanour and not to be slanderers or slaves to drink;
let your words be sound and such that no exception can be taken to them, so that the opposite side may be confounded by finding nothing that they can say to our discredit.
I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers;
And get quarters ready for me, for I am hoping that by your prayers I shall be restored to you.
for ours is no high priest who is incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every respect like ourselves, yet without sinning. So let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in the hour of need.
In the days of his flesh, with bitter cries and tears, he offered prayers and supplications to Him who was able to save him from death; and he was heard, because of his godly fear.
Hence for all time he is able to save those who approach God through him, as he is always living to intercede on their behalf.
Brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy Presence in virtue of the blood of Jesus, by the fresh, living way which he has inaugurated for us through the veil (that is, through his flesh), read more. and since we have a great Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart, in absolute assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from a bad conscience, and our bodies washed in pure water;
let us draw near with a true heart, in absolute assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from a bad conscience, and our bodies washed in pure water;
Only, let him ask in faith, with never a doubt; for the doubtful man is like surge of the sea whirled and swayed by the wind; that man need not imagine he will get anything from God, read more. double-minded creature that he is, wavering at every turn.
you do ask and you do not get it, because you ask with the wicked intention of spending it on your pleasures.
As an example of fortitude and endurance, brothers, take the prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord.
Is anyone of you in trouble? let him pray. Is anyone thriving? let him sing praise. Is anyone ill? let him summon the presbyters of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;
Is anyone ill? let him summon the presbyters of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; the prayer of faith will restore the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; even the sins he has committed will be forgiven him.
the prayer of faith will restore the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; even the sins he has committed will be forgiven him.
the prayer of faith will restore the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; even the sins he has committed will be forgiven him.
the prayer of faith will restore the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; even the sins he has committed will be forgiven him. So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed; the prayers of the righteous have a powerful effect.
So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed; the prayers of the righteous have a powerful effect.
So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed; the prayers of the righteous have a powerful effect. Elijah was a man with a nature just like our own; but he offered prayer that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain; read more. then he prayed again, and the sky yielded rain, the earth brought forth its fruit.
and we get from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commands and do what is pleasing in his sight.
But do you, beloved, build up yourselves on your most holy faith and pray in the holy Spirit,
But do you, beloved, build up yourselves on your most holy faith and pray in the holy Spirit,
And when it took the scroll, the four living Creatures and the four and twenty Presbyters fell down before the Lamb, each with his harp and with golden bowls full of incense (that is, full of the prayers of the saints),
And when it took the scroll, the four living Creatures and the four and twenty Presbyters fell down before the Lamb, each with his harp and with golden bowls full of incense (that is, full of the prayers of the saints),
And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain for adhering to God's word and to the testimony which they bore; and they cried aloud, "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long wilt thou refrain from charging and avenging our blood upon those who dwell on earth?"
And another angel went and stood at the altar with a golden censer; he was given abundant incense, to be laid with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar in front of the throne; and the smoke of the incense with the prayers of all the saints rose up from the angel's hand before God.
and the smoke of the incense with the prayers of all the saints rose up from the angel's hand before God.
"Come," say the Spirit and the Bride: let the hearer too say, "Come"; and let the thirsty come, let anyone who desires it, take the water of Life without price.
He who bears this testimony says, "Even so: I am coming very soon." Amen, Lord Jesus, come!
Morish
This has been described as 'the intercourse of a dependent one with God.' It may take the form of communion in one brought nigh, or it may be the making requests for oneself or for others. There are twelve different words used for prayer in the O.T., and eight in the N.T., with various shades of meaning, as there are in English: 'asking, begging, beseeching,' etc. In the synoptic Gospels the word used in connection with Christ is that most commonly employed for "praying," but in John's gospel the word is that generally rendered, 'ask' or, 'demand.' The change is explained by the different aspect in which the Lord is presented in John.
God hears and encourages prayer. A cry to God is the mark of a soul truly turning to Him: "Behold, he prayeth," was said of Saul of Tarsus. Ac 9:11. To the saints it is said, "Pray without ceasing;" "ask and ye shall receive." "If we ask anything according to his will he heareth us, and . . . . we know that we have the petitions." "All things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer believing ye shall receive." "Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you." The disciples as left here, representative of Christ and charged with His interests, were to ask in His name; and the same is true in principle as regards believers now. Mr 11:24; Joh 14:13; 15:16; 16:23,26; Jas 1:5-7; 1Jo 5:14-15. Christians are exhorted to make known all their petitions, or requests, to God, and having done so, the peace of God shall keep their hearts and minds. Php 4:6-7. This is their wondrous privilege: they have addressed God, and in peace they leave it with Him to grant their petitions or not.
The above passages demonstrate that to receive what is prayed for, requests must be in faith, they must be according to the light of God's will, and hence made in the name of the Lord Jesus. While prayer is always to God, it is suggested that requests would naturally be made to the Father in respect of all that tends to the promotion of Christ in believers, as well as in things referring to their discipline in the pathway here. On the other hand prayer would be made to the Lord in relation to that over which He is set as administrator, such as the service of the gospel, the saints, the house of God, etc.
The attitudes in prayer which are recorded are: 'standing,' 1Sa 1:26; '/Mark/11/25/type/moffatt'>Mr 11:25; 'kneeling,' Da 6:10; Lu 22:41; and 'falling down,' De 9:25; Jos 7:6.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
So I tell you, whatever you pray for and ask, believe you have got it and you shall have it. Also, whenever you stand up to pray, if you have anything against anybody, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."
He withdrew about a stone's throw and knelt in prayer,
and I will do whatever you ask in my name, that the Father may be glorified in the Son;
are placed in the middle of verse 13:31] "I am the real Vine, and my Father is the vine-dresser;
You have not chosen me, it is I who have chosen you, appointing you to go and bear fruit ??fruit that lasts, so that the Father may grant you whatever you ask in my name.
And on that day you will not ask me any questions. Truly, truly I tell you, whatever you ask the Father, he will give you in my name;
On that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you I will ask the Father on your behalf;
And the Lord said to him, "Go away to the street called 'The Straight Street,' and ask at the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus called Saul. He is praying at this very moment,
Never be anxious, but always make your requests known to God in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving; so shall God's peace, that surpasses all our dreams, keep guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Whoever of you is defective in wisdom, let him ask God who gives to all men without question or reproach, and the gift will be his. Only, let him ask in faith, with never a doubt; for the doubtful man is like surge of the sea whirled and swayed by the wind; read more. that man need not imagine he will get anything from God,
Smith
Prayer.
The object of this article will be to touch briefly on --
1. The doctrine of Scripture as to the nature and efficacy of prayer;
2. Its directions as to time, place and manner of prayer;
3. Its types and examples of prayer.
1. Scripture does not give any theoretical explanation of the mystery which attaches to prayer. The difficulty of understanding real efficacy arises chiefly from two sources: from the belief that man lives under general laws, which in all cases must be fulfilled unalterably; and the opposing belief that he is master of his own destiny, and need pray for no external blessing. Now, Scripture, while, by the doctrine of spiritual influence it entirely disposes of the latter difficulty, does not so entirely solve that part of the mystery which depends on the nature of God. It places it clearly before us, and emphasizes most strongly those doctrines on which the difficulty turns. Yet while this is so, on the other hand the instinct of prayer is solemnly sanctioned and enforced on every page. Not only is its subjective effect asserted, but its real objective efficacy, as a means appointed by God for obtaining blessing, is both implied and expressed in the plainest terms. Thus, as usual in the case of such mysteries, the two apparently opposite truths are emphasized, because they are needful: to man's conception of his relation to God; their reconcilement is not, perhaps cannot be, fully revealed. For, in fact, it is involved in that inscrutable mystery which attends on the conception of any free action of man as necessary for the working out of the general laws of God's unchangeable will. At the same time it is clearly implied that such a reconcilement exists, and that all the apparently isolated and independent exertions of man's spirit in prayer are in some way perfectly subordinated to the one supreme will of God, so as to form a part of his scheme of providence. It is also implied that the key to the mystery lies in the fact of man's spiritual unity with God in Christ, and of the consequent gift of the Holy Spirit. So also is it said of the spiritual influence of the Holy Ghost on each individual mind that while "we know not what to pray for, "the indwelling" Spirit makes intercession for the saints, according to the will of God."
Here, as probably in still other cases, the action of the Holy Spirit on the soul is to free agents what the laws of nature are to things inanimate, and is the power which harmonizes free individual action with the universal will of God.
2. There are no directions as to prayer given in the Mosaic law: the duty is rather taken for granted, as an adjunct to sacrifice, than enforced or elaborated. It is hardly conceivable that, even from the beginning public prayer did not follow every public sacrifice. Such a practice is alluded to in
Lu 1:10
as common; and in one instance, at the offering of the first-fruits, it was ordained in a striking form.
De 26:12-15
In later times it certainly grew into a regular service both in the temple and in the synagogue. But, besides this public prayer, it was the custom of all at Jerusalem to go up to the temple, at regular hours if possible, for private prayer, see
Lu 18:10; Ac 3:1
and those who were absent were wont to "open their windows toward Jerusalem," and pray "toward" the place of God's presence.
1Ki 8:46-49; Ps 5:7; 28:2; 138:2; Da 6:10
The regular hours of prayer seem to have been three (see)
the evening, that is the ninth hour
the hour of the evening sacrifice,
the "morning," that is, the third hour
that of the morning sacrifice; and the sixth hour, or "noonday." Grace before meat would seem to have been a common practice. See
The posture of prayer among the Jews seems to have been most often standing,
1Sa 1:26; Mt 6:5; Mr 11:25; Lu 18:11
unless the prayer were offered with especial solemnity and humiliation, which was naturally expressed by kneeling,
comp. 2Chr 6:13; Ezra 9:5; Psal 95:8; Dani 6:10 or prostration.
3. The only form of prayer given for perpetual use in the Old Testament is the one in
De 26:5-15
connected with the offering of tithes and first-fruits, and containing in simple form the important elements of prayer, acknowledgment of God's mercy, self-dedication and prayer for future blessing. To this may perhaps be added the threefold blessing of
couched as it is in a precatory form, and the short prayer of Moses,
at the moving and resting of the cloud the former of which was the germ of the 68th Psalm. But of the prayers recorded in the Old Testament the two most remarkable are those of Solomon at the dedication of the temple,
and of Joshua the high priest, and his colleagues, after the captivity.
It appears from the question of the disciples in
Lu 11:1
and from Jewish tradition, that the chief teachers of the day gave special forms of prayer to their disciples as the badge of their discipleship and the best fruits of their learning. All Christian prayer is, of course, based on the Lord's Prayer; but its spirit is also guided by that of his prayer in Gethsemane and of the prayer recorded by St. John,
Joh 17:1
... the beginning of Christ's great work of intercession. The influence of these prayers is more distinctly traced in the prayers contained in the epistles, see
Ro 16:25-27; Eph 3:14-21; Phm 1:3-11; Col 1:9-15; Heb 13:20-21; 1Pe 5:10-11
etc., than in those recorded in the Acts. The public prayer probably in the first instance took much of its form and style from the prayers of the synagogues. In the record on prayer accepted and granted by God, we observe, as always, a special adaptation to the period of his dispensation to which they belong. In the patriarchal period, they have the simple and childlike tone of domestic application for the ordinary and apparently trivial incidents of domestic life. In the Mosaic period they assume a more solemn tone and a national bearing, chiefly that of direct intercession for the chosen people. More rarely are they for individuals. A special class are those which precede and refer to the exercise of miraculous power. In the New Testament they have a more directly spiritual hearing. It would seem the intention of Holy Scripture to encourage all prayer more especially intercession, in all relations and for all righteous objects.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Also, when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they like to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street-corners, so as to be seen by men; I tell you truly, they do get their reward.
He took the seven loaves and the fish and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples to the crowds.
Also, whenever you stand up to pray, if you have anything against anybody, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."
the mass of the people all remaining in prayer outside at the hour of incense.
He was praying at a certain place, and when he stopped one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples."
The Pharisee stood up and prayed by himself as follows; 'I thank thee, O God, I am not like the rest of men, thieves, rogues, and immoral, or even like yon taxgatherer.
So Jesus spoke; then, lifting his eyes to heaven, he said: "Father, the time has now come; glorify thy Son that thy Son may glorify thee,
Peter and John were on their way up to the temple for the hour of prayer at three in the afternoon,
With these words he took a loaf and after thanking God, in presence of them all, broke it and began to eat.
So too the Spirit assists us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray aright, but the Spirit pleads for us with sighs that are beyond words, and He who searches the human heart knows what is in the mind of the Spirit, since the Spirit pleads before God for the saints.
For this reason, then, I kneel before the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name and nature, read more. praying Him out of the wealth of his glory to grant you a mighty increase of strength by his Spirit in the inner man. May Christ dwell in your hearts as you have faith! May you be so fixed and founded in love that you can grasp with all the saints what is the meaning of 'the Breadth,' 'the Length,' 'the Depth' and 'the Height,' by knowing the love of Christ which surpasses all knowledge! May you be filled with the entire fulness of God! Now to him who by the action of his power within us can do all things, aye far more than we ever ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever and ever: Amen.
Hence, from the day we heard of it, we have never ceased to pray for you, asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and insight, so that you may lead a life that is worthy of the Lord and give him entire satisfaction. May you be fruitful and increase in the doing of all good, as you thus know God! read more. May his glorious might nerve you with full power to endure and to be patient cheerfully, whatever comes, thanking the Father who has qualified us to share the lot of the saints in the Light, rescuing us from the power of the Darkness and transferring us to the realm of his beloved Son! In him we enjoy our redemption, that is, the forgiveness of sins. He is the likeness of the unseen God, born first before all the creation ??16 for it was by him that all things were created both in heaven and on earth, both the seen and the unseen, including Thrones, angelic Lords, celestial Powers and Rulers; all things have been created by him and for him;
grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers; read more. for as I hear of your love and loyalty to the Lord Jesus and to all the saints, I pray that by their participation in your loyal faith they may have a vivid sense of how much good we Christians can attain. I have had great joy and encouragement over your love, my brother, over the way you have refreshed the hearts of the saints. Hence, although in Christ I would feel quite free to order you to do your duty, I prefer to appeal to you on the ground of love. Well then, as Paul the old man, who now-a-days is a prisoner for Christ Jesus, I appeal to you on behalf of my spiritual son born while I was in prison. It is Onesimus! Once you found him a worthless character, but now-a-days he is worth something to you and me.
May the God of peace who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, with the blood of the eternal covenant, furnish you with everything for the doing of his will, creating in your lives by Jesus Christ what is acceptable in his own sight! To him be glory for ever and ever: Amen.
Watsons
PRAYER has been well defined, the offering up of our desires unto God, for things agreeable to his will, in the name or through the mediation of Jesus Christ, by the help of the Holy Spirit, with a confession of our sins, and a thankful acknowledgment of his mercies.
1. Prayer is in itself a becoming acknowledgment of the all-sufficiency of God, and of our dependence upon him. It is his appointed means for the obtaining of both temporal and spiritual blessings. He could bless his creatures in another way: but he will be inquired of, to do for them those things of which they stand in need, Eze 36:37. It is the act of an indigent creature, seeking relief from the fountain of mercy. A sense of want excites desire, and desire is the very essence of prayer. "One thing have I desired of the Lord," says David; "that will I seek after." Prayer without desire is like an altar without a sacrifice, or without the fire from heaven to consume it. When all our wants are supplied, prayer will be converted into praise; till then Christians must live by prayer, and dwell at the mercy seat. God alone is able to hear and to supply their every want. The revelation which he has given of his goodness lays a foundation for our asking with confidence the blessings we need, and his ability encourages us to hope for their bestowment. "O thou that hearest prayer; unto thee shall all flesh come," Ps 65:2.
2. Prayer is a spiritual exercise, and can only be performed acceptably by the assistance of the Holy Spirit, Ro 8:26. "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is his delight." The Holy Spirit is the great agent in the world of grace, and without his special influence there is no acceptable prayer. Hence he is called the Spirit of grace and of supplication: for he it is that enables us to draw nigh unto God, filling our mouth with arguments, and teaching us to order our cause before him, Zec 12:10.
3. All acceptable prayer must be offered in faith, or a believing frame of mind. "If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering
See Verses Found in Dictionary
So too the Spirit assists us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray aright, but the Spirit pleads for us with sighs that are beyond words,
and apart from faith it is impossible to satisfy him, for the man who draws near to God must believe that he exists and that he does reward those who seek him.
Whoever of you is defective in wisdom, let him ask God who gives to all men without question or reproach, and the gift will be his. Only, let him ask in faith, with never a doubt; for the doubtful man is like surge of the sea whirled and swayed by the wind; read more. that man need not imagine he will get anything from God,
Now the confidence we have in him is this, that he listens to us whenever we ask anything in accordance with his will; and if we know he listens to whatever we ask, we know we obtain the requests we have made to him.