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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And when thou prayest, be not as the hypocrites: for they love standing in the synagogues and at the corners of the streets, to pray, that they may make a shew to men. Verily I say unto you, That they have their reward. But when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and shut thy door, to pray to thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father who seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. read more. And when thou art at prayer, use not vain repetitions, like the heathen: for they imagine that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like them: for your Father knoweth of what things ye have need, before you ask him. Thus then pray ye: Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen! For if ye forgive men their offences, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not to men their offences, neither will your Father forgive your offences.
JUDGE not, that ye be not judged. For with the same judgment ye judge others, shall ye be judged: and with the measure ye mete, shall it be measured to you again. read more. And why spiest thou out the mote which is in thy brother's eye, yet payest no attention to the beam which is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Suffer me to take the mote off from thine eye: and behold there is a beam in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, take first the beam out of thine own eye and then shalt thou see clearly to take off the mote from thy brother's eye. Give not that which is holy to dogs, nor cast pearls before swine; lest they tread them under foot, and turning round tear you. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. What man is there of you, of whom if his son ask a loaf, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, evil as ye are, know how to bestow good gifts on your children; how much more will your Father who is in heaven, bestow good things on those who ask him?
And going a little farther, he fell on his face, praying, and saying, My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.
And all the multitude of people was praying without, at the time of the burning the incense.
THEN he spake also to them a parable, to shew that we ought to pray always, and not faint;
Watch therefore, praying at every proper opportunity, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things which are ready to come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
And he withdrew from them about a stone's cast, and kneeling down, he prayed,
Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all things to the glory of God.
praying at every opportunity with all prayer and supplication in Spirit, and watching for this very purpose with perseverance and intercession for all the saints;
Be not anxious about any thing, but in every case by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known unto God.
BUT speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: that the elder men be sober, grave, discreet, sound in faith, in love, in patience. read more. That the elder women also be sacredly becoming in their behaviour, not slanderers, not enslaved by much wine, teachers of propriety;
sound discourse, incapable of confutation; that he who is in opposition may be confounded, having nothing faulty to say of you.
But if any man of you be deficient in wisdom, let him ask it of God, who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not and it shall be given him.
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/haweis'>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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But when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and shut thy door, to pray to thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father who seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Thus then pray ye: Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. read more. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen!
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
And going a little farther, he fell on his face, praying, and saying, My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Therefore I say unto you, That all things whatever ye ask in prayer, believe that ye shall receive them, and they shall be given you. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have a matter against any man: that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
And he went a little farther forward, and fell on the earth, and prayed, that if it were possible the hour might pass from him.
Then the soldiers led him to the hall, which is the Praetorium, and called together the whole band.
But they going forth preached every where, the Lord working mightily with them, and confirming the word, by attendant miracles.
But they going forth preached every where, the Lord working mightily with them, and confirming the word, by attendant miracles.
The Pharisee, standing by himself, made this prayer: God, I thank thee, that I am not as the rest of mankind, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or as this tax-gatherer.
And the tax-gatherer standing at a distance, would not even so much as lift his eyes heaven-ward, but smote on his breast, saying, May God accept the atonement for me a sinner!
And he withdrew from them about a stone's cast, and kneeling down, he prayed,
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Then falling on his knees, he cried with a loud voice, Lord, impute not to them this sin! And thus speaking, fell asleep.
But Peter putting them all out, fell upon his knees, and prayed; and turning to the body, said, Tabitha, arise! And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
But Peter putting them all out, fell upon his knees, and prayed; and turning to the body, said, Tabitha, arise! And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
NOW at that time Herod the king stretched forth his hand to treat cruelly certain persons belonging to the church. And he slew James the brother of John with a sword. read more. And seeing how agreeable this was to the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) Whom having apprehended, he put him in prison, delivering him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep guard over him; intending after the Passover to bring him forth to the people [for execution]. So then Peter was kept in prison: but fervent prayer was offered up by the church to God for him.
So then Peter was kept in prison: but fervent prayer was offered up by the church to God for him. Now when Herod was going to bring him forth, the same night was Peter fast asleep between the two soldiers, fastened to them with two chains: and the guards before the door kept the prison.
Now when Herod was going to bring him forth, the same night was Peter fast asleep between the two soldiers, fastened to them with two chains: and the guards before the door kept the prison. And, lo! an angel of the Lord stood there, and light glared through the apartment: then with a stroke on Peter's side, he roused him up, and said, Arise quickly. And his chains fell from his hands.
And, lo! an angel of the Lord stood there, and light glared through the apartment: then with a stroke on Peter's side, he roused him up, and said, Arise quickly. And his chains fell from his hands. And the angel said to him, Gird thyself up, and bind on thy sandals. And he did so. And he said unto him, Wrap thyself in thy mantle, and follow me.
And the angel said to him, Gird thyself up, and bind on thy sandals. And he did so. And he said unto him, Wrap thyself in thy mantle, and follow me. And going out, he followed him; and knew not that it was a reality which was done by the angel; but he supposed he saw a vision.
And going out, he followed him; and knew not that it was a reality which was done by the angel; but he supposed he saw a vision. So passing through the first ward and the second, they came to the iron door which leads into the city, which opened to them spontaneously: and being come out, they walked forward through one street; and immediately the angel departed from him.
So passing through the first ward and the second, they came to the iron door which leads into the city, which opened to them spontaneously: and being come out, they walked forward through one street; and immediately the angel departed from him. And Peter coming to himself, said, Now I know assuredly, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me from the hand of Herod, and all the eager expectation of the people of the Jews.
And Peter coming to himself, said, Now I know assuredly, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me from the hand of Herod, and all the eager expectation of the people of the Jews. And after considering with himself, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, who is surnamed Mark; where many were thronged together, and praying.
And after considering with himself, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, who is surnamed Mark; where many were thronged together, and praying.
And it so happened that the father of Publius was then confined to his bed with an attack of fever and dysentery: unto whom Paul went in, and after praying, laid his hands upon him, and healed him.
And that I might not be lifted up above measure by the transcendent greatness of the revelations, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, the angel Satan, to buffet me, that I might not be lifted up above measure. For this thrice I besought the Lord, that he might depart from me. read more. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may fix its residence in me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then am I strong.
for through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
For this end I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
For this end I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God even the Father;
And everything that ye do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
sound discourse, incapable of confutation; that he who is in opposition may be confounded, having nothing faulty to say of you.
let us come to him with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and the body washed with pure water:
Is any man sick among you? let him send for the presbyters of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
Confess your offences one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. The energetic prayer of a righteous man is mightily prevalent. Elias was a man of like feelings with us, and he prayed fervently that it should not rain; and there fell no rain on the earth during three years and six months. read more. And he prayed again, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth shot up 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/haweis'>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 say unto you, Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who treat you insolently, and persecute you;
And when thou prayest, be not as the hypocrites: for they love standing in the synagogues and at the corners of the streets, to pray, that they may make a shew to men. Verily I say unto you, That they have their reward.
And when thou prayest, be not as the hypocrites: for they love standing in the synagogues and at the corners of the streets, to pray, that they may make a shew to men. Verily I say unto you, That they have their reward. But when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and shut thy door, to pray to thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father who seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
But when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and shut thy door, to pray to thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father who seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
But when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and shut thy door, to pray to thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father who seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. And when thou art at prayer, use not vain repetitions, like the heathen: for they imagine that they shall be heard for their much speaking. read more. Be not ye therefore like them: for your Father knoweth of what things ye have need, before you ask him.
Be not ye therefore like them: for your Father knoweth of what things ye have need, before you ask him. Thus then pray ye: Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thus then pray ye: Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen!
And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen!
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
So when he came into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus said to them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yes, Lord.
entreat therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth workmen for his harvest.
And taking the seven loaves and the fishes, he gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
And pray that your flight be not in winter, nor on the sabbath.
And very early (the night being far advanced towards morning) rising up, he went forth, and retired into a desert place, and there prayed.
Therefore I say unto you, That all things whatever ye ask in prayer, believe that ye shall receive them, and they shall be given you. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have a matter against any man: that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have a matter against any man: that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
And all the multitude of people was praying without, at the time of the burning the incense.
Now it came to pass, at the time when John was baptising all the people, that Jesus also was baptised, and as he prayed, the heaven was opened,
Now it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray and continued all night in an oratory of God.
And it came to pass, as he was at prayer, that the appearance of his countenance was altered, and his raiment white and refulgent.
AND it came to pass, as he was in a certain place praying, when he had done, one of his disciples said to him, Lord, teach us to pray, even as John also taught his disciples.
AND it came to pass, as he was in a certain place praying, when he had done, one of his disciples said to him, Lord, teach us to pray, even as John also taught his disciples.
And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and he shall go to him at midnight, and say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine is come to me off a journey, and I have nothing to set before him. read more. And he from within answering, shall say, Give me no farther trouble: my door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed; I am unable to rise and give thee. I tell you, though even he would not rise and give him because he is his friend; yet because of his importunity, roused up, he will give him as many as he needeth. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one who asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. For what father of you, if his son ask a loaf, will he give him a stone? or if a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? or if he ask also an egg, will he give him a scorpion? If ye then, evil as ye are, know how to give good gifts to your children; how much more shall your Father, who is in heaven, give his Holy Spirit to those who ask him?
THEN he spake also to them a parable, to shew that we ought to pray always, and not faint;
Two men went up to the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, the other a tax-farmer. The Pharisee, standing by himself, made this prayer: God, I thank thee, that I am not as the rest of mankind, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or as this tax-gatherer.
I say to you, Went this man down to his house justified, or the other? for every one who exalteth himself shall be humbled; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
saying, Father, if thou wilt, remove this cup from me! nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done.
And being in an agony, he prayed with greater intenseness: and his sweat was as clots of blood falling on the ground.
then when the multitude saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they also went into the vessels, and came to Capernaum, in search of Jesus.
Now we know that God doth not hearken to sinners: but if any man be a devout worshipper, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and appointed you that ye should go forth and bear fruit, and that your fruit should be permanent: that so whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he may give it you.
And in that hour ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, That whatsoever things ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give you. Hitherto ye have asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be complete. read more. These things have I spoken to you in parables: but the hour is coming when I will no more speak to you in parables, but will plainly inform you respecting the Father. In that day ye shall ask in my name: and I do not say to you, I will entreat the Father for you: for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.
These all persevered unanimously in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
And joining in prayer, they said, Do thou, O Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, point out the one of these two which thou hast chosen, to take a part in this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, to go to his own place.
SO when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with unanimity assembled together.
for these men are not, as ye suppose, drunk, for it is only the third hour of the day.
And they persevered stedfastly in the doctrine of the apostles, and in communion, and in breaking bread, and in prayers.
And daily continuing with one mind at the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they partook of their food with great joy and simplicity of heart,
NOW at that time Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth;
NOW at that time Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth;
Now when they heard it, they lifted up their united voice to God, and said, Lord, thou art the God which made the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and all things which are in them:
Now when they heard it, they lifted up their united voice to God, and said, Lord, thou art the God which made the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and all things which are in them:
Now when they heard it, they lifted up their united voice to God, and said, Lord, thou art the God which made the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and all things which are in them: who by the mouth of David thy servant saidst, Why do the heathen so furiously rage, and the people meditate vain things?
who by the mouth of David thy servant saidst, Why do the heathen so furiously rage, and the people meditate vain things? The kings of the earth rose up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.
The kings of the earth rose up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah. For they have been in truth collected together against thy holy Son Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, even Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the heathen, and the people of Israel,
For they have been in truth collected together against thy holy Son Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, even Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the heathen, and the people of Israel, to do all that thy hand and thy counsel predestined should come to pass.
to do all that thy hand and thy counsel predestined should come to pass. And as to the present transactions, Lord, look upon their threatnings: and grant thy servants power with all boldness to speak thy word,
And as to the present transactions, Lord, look upon their threatnings: and grant thy servants power with all boldness to speak thy word, by stretching out thy hand for healing; and that signs and miracles may be performed by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
by stretching out thy hand for healing; and that signs and miracles may be performed by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
But by the hands of the apostles were many signs and miracles done among the people; (and they were all with one accord in the portico of Solomon.
But we will devote ourselves constantly to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
whom they presented before the apostles: and having prayed, they laid their hands upon them.
Then falling on his knees, he cried with a loud voice, Lord, impute not to them this sin! And thus speaking, fell asleep.
who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
But Peter putting them all out, fell upon his knees, and prayed; and turning to the body, said, Tabitha, arise! And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
But Peter putting them all out, fell upon his knees, and prayed; and turning to the body, said, Tabitha, arise! And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming to him, and saying to him, Cornelius. Then looking stedfastly on him, and being terrified, he said, What means this, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
and said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thy alms are remembered before God.
So then Peter was kept in prison: but fervent prayer was offered up by the church to God for him.
So then Peter was kept in prison: but fervent prayer was offered up by the church to God for him.
And as they were employed in the ministry, and kept a fast, the Holy Ghost said, Set apart for me now both Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. Then having kept a fast and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them out.
But about midnight Paul and Silas, after joining in prayer, sang hymns to God: and the prisoners heard them.
But about midnight Paul and Silas, after joining in prayer, sang hymns to God: and the prisoners heard them.
And when he had spoken these things, he fell on his knees, and prayed with them all.
And when he had spoken these things, he fell on his knees, and prayed with them all.
But when we had stayed out those days, we departed, and went on our journey, all of them attending us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and kneeling down on the sea shore, we joined in prayer;
But when we had stayed out those days, we departed, and went on our journey, all of them attending us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and kneeling down on the sea shore, we joined in prayer;
And so saying, and taking a loaf, he gave thanks to God before them all, and breaking it, began to eat.
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the Gospel of his Son, how incessantly I make mention of you, always in my prayers entreating that haply now at last I may have a prosperous journey by the will of God, to come to you.
In like manner also the Spirit affords assistance to our infirmities: for even this, what we should pray for as we ought, we know not: but the same Spirit more abundantly maketh intercession for us with groanings unutterable.
In like manner also the Spirit affords assistance to our infirmities: for even this, what we should pray for as we ought, we know not: but the same Spirit more abundantly maketh intercession for us with groanings unutterable. Now he that trieth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, for he maketh intercession for the saints according to God's will.
Who is he that condemneth? Christ? He died, yea, rather, also is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Now to him that is able to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, agreeable to the revelation of the mystery; which was concealed from all former ages, but is now made manifest, and by the prophetical scriptures, according to the commandment of the eternal God, notified to all the Gentiles to bring them to the obedience of faith: read more. to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
for he saith, "In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I succoured thee." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
And that I might not be lifted up above measure by the transcendent greatness of the revelations, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, the angel Satan, to buffet me, that I might not be lifted up above measure. For this thrice I besought the Lord, that he might depart from me. read more. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may fix its residence in me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then am I strong.
that we should be no longer infants, floating on the waves, and carried about with every wind of novel doctrine, by the juggling of men, by their craftiness after the delusive wiles of error; but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, who is the head, even Christ: read more. From whom the whole body nicely joined together, and firmly connected by every joint of exact proportion, according to the energy exerted in the measure of every several part, causeth the increase of the body unto the edification of itself in love. This then I urge and testify in the Lord, that ye walk no more as the other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind, darkened in understanding; alienated from the life of God through the ignorance which is in them; through the blindness of their hearts: who insensible to remorse, have delivered themselves over in lasciviousness, to the practice of all impurity, with insatiable avidity. But ye have not so learned Christ; if indeed ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
praying at every opportunity with all prayer and supplication in Spirit, and watching for this very purpose with perseverance and intercession for all the saints;
I give thanks to my God on every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all, making request with joy, read more. for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day even until now; being confident of this very thing, that he who hath wrought in you the good work will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ: as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I bear you on my heart, both in my bonds and in my defence and the confirmation of the gospel, as being all of you sharers in my grace. For God is my witness, how earnestly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all understanding; that ye may prove the things that are excellent, in order that ye may be sincere and without offence unto the day of Christ; filled with fruits of righteousness, which by Jesus Christ are to the glory and praise of God.
Be not anxious about any thing, but in every case by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known unto God.
For this cause we also from the day we heard it have not ceased praying for you, and beseeching God that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye may walk worthy of the Lord, well pleasing him in all things, in every good work fruitful, and increasing in the knowledge of God; read more. strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joy; giving thanks to God, even the Father, who hath made us meet for a portion in the inheritance of the saints in light; who hath plucked us out from the dominion of darkness, and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of his love: in whom we have redemption through his blood, and forgiveness of sins. Who is the image of the invisible God, the prime author of all creation:
I EXHORT therefore, first of all, that there be offered supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings for the whole race of mankind:
I EXHORT therefore, first of all, that there be offered supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings for the whole race of mankind:
that the elder men be sober, grave, discreet, sound in faith, in love, in patience.
sound discourse, incapable of confutation; that he who is in opposition may be confounded, having nothing faulty to say of you.
who in the days of his flesh, with strong crying and tears, having offered up prayers and supplications to him who was able to save him from death, and being heard for his reverential awe,
Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great pastor of the sheep, by the blood of the everlasting testament, make you fit for every good work to do his will, producing in you that which is acceptable in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory unto the everlasting ages. Amen.
But let him ask in faith, harbouring no doubt: for he who is doubtful is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind, and in constant agitation.
Ye ask, and receive nothing, because ye ask vilely, in order to consume it on your sensual appetites.
Is any man sick among you? let him send for the presbyters of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall recover the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he hath committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. read more. Confess your offences one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. The energetic prayer of a righteous man is mightily prevalent.
Confess your offences one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. The energetic prayer of a righteous man is mightily prevalent.
And whatsoever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments, and do the things which are pleasing in his sight.
And this is the confidence that we have towards him, that whatsoever we ask according to his will, he heareth us.
And this is the confidence that we have towards him, that whatsoever we ask according to his will, he heareth us. And if we know that he heareth us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we receive the petitions, which we have requested, from him.
And if we know that he heareth us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we receive the petitions, which we have requested, from him.
And another angel came, and stood by the altar, holding a golden censer; and there were given to him many perfumes, to offer with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the perfumes went up with the prayers of the saints, out of 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
And when thou prayest, be not as the hypocrites: for they love standing in the synagogues and at the corners of the streets, to pray, that they may make a shew to men. Verily I say unto you, That they have their reward.
And when thou art at prayer, use not vain repetitions, like the heathen: for they imagine that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
And when thou art at prayer, use not vain repetitions, like the heathen: for they imagine that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like them: for your Father knoweth of what things ye have need, before you ask him.
Be not ye therefore like them: for your Father knoweth of what things ye have need, before you ask him.
For if ye forgive men their offences, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
But seek ye, in the first place, the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be given you over.
And Jesus said to the centurion, Go; and as thou hast believed, be it to thee. And his servant was cured at that very hour.
But no man ingrafts a patch of undressed cloth into an old garment, for the piece supplied taketh from the garment, and the rent becomes worse.
So when he came into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus said to them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yes, Lord.
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end, that man shall be saved.
But this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
And whosoever shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me.
Again I say unto you, That if two of you are concurring upon earth, respecting any matter, which ye shall ask, it shall be done for them by my Father who is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Then Peter coming to him, said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? read more. Jesus saith to him, I tell thee not until seven times, but unto seventy times seven.
Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children, with her sons, paying him obeisance, and petitioning a favour of him. Then he said to her, What is thy wish? She saith unto him, Tell me that these my two sons shall sit, the one at thy right hand, and the other at thy left, in thy kingdom. read more. Then Jesus answering said, Ye know not what ye ask. Can ye drink of the cup that I am going to drink, and be baptised with the baptism with which I am baptised? They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of my cup, and with the baptism with which I am baptised, shall ye be baptised; but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, it is not in my power to bestow, but on those, for whom it was prepared by my Father.
And pray that your flight be not in winter, nor on the sabbath.
And from that time he sought an opportunity to deliver him up to them.
And going a little farther, he fell on his face, praying, and saying, My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.
And leaving them, he went away again, and prayed the third time, repeating the same sentence.
But about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with an exceeding loud cry, saying, Eli! Eli! lama, sabacthani? that is, My God! my God! why hast thou forsaken me?
And while he was yet speaking, they came from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying, Thy daughter is dead; why dost thou trouble the master any further?
And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many sick persons, and cured them.
And Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be fed, for it is not proper to take the children's bread, and throw it to the dogs.
and looking up to heaven, he heaved a deep sigh, and saith unto him, Ephphatha! that is, Be opened.
Then said Jesus unto him, This [is the point]: if thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
And he said to them, this kind can be driven out by nothing but prayer and fasting.
And he said to them, this kind can be driven out by nothing but prayer and fasting.
For verily I say to you, That whosoever shall say to this mountain, Be thou lifted up, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall harbour no doubt in his heart, but believe that what he saith shall come to pass; whatsoever he may speak shall be done for him.
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have a matter against any man: that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
who devour widows' houses, and in pretence make long prayers: such shall receive greater damnation.
And he went a little farther forward, and fell on the earth, and prayed, that if it were possible the hour might pass from him.
And all the multitude of people was praying without, at the time of the burning the incense.
though she was now a widow, of about eighty-four years, who departed not from the temple, attending the divine service, with fastings and prayers night and day:
Now it came to pass, at the time when John was baptising all the people, that Jesus also was baptised, and as he prayed, the heaven was opened,
Now it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray and continued all night in an oratory of God.
Now it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray and continued all night in an oratory of God.
Now it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray and continued all night in an oratory of God. And when it was day, he called his disciples to him; and elected from them twelve, whom he named Apostles:
Then he said unto her, Be of good cheer, daughter, thy faith hath made thee well; go in peace.
And taking the five loaves, and the two fishes, looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.
And it came to pass, as he was at prayer, that the appearance of his countenance was altered, and his raiment white and refulgent.
AND it came to pass, as he was in a certain place praying, when he had done, one of his disciples said to him, Lord, teach us to pray, even as John also taught his disciples.
And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and he shall go to him at midnight, and say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine is come to me off a journey, and I have nothing to set before him. read more. And he from within answering, shall say, Give me no farther trouble: my door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed; I am unable to rise and give thee. I tell you, though even he would not rise and give him because he is his friend; yet because of his importunity, roused up, he will give him as many as he needeth. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one who asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. For what father of you, if his son ask a loaf, will he give him a stone? or if a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? or if he ask also an egg, will he give him a scorpion? If ye then, evil as ye are, know how to give good gifts to your children; how much more shall your Father, who is in heaven, give his Holy Spirit to those who ask him?
So also ye, when ye have done all things commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: for we have but done what was our duty to do.
THEN he spake also to them a parable, to shew that we ought to pray always, and not faint; saying, There was a certain judge in a particular city, having no fear of God, nor respect for man: read more. and there was a certain widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, Do me justice against my adversary. And he would not for a long while: but after this he said, Though I fear not God, nor respect man; yet because this woman is so troublesome to me, I will do her justice, lest by her perpetual coming she stun me with her importunity, Then said the Lord, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God execute vengeance for his own elect, who cry out to him day and night, though he bear long with them? Yes, I tell you, that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, ah! shall he find faith on the earth? Then he spake also this parable to certain persons, who had confidence in themselves, that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up to the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, the other a tax-farmer. The Pharisee, standing by himself, made this prayer: God, I thank thee, that I am not as the rest of mankind, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or as this tax-gatherer.
The Pharisee, standing by himself, made this prayer: God, I thank thee, that I am not as the rest of mankind, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or as this tax-gatherer. I keep a fast twice a week, I pay the tenth of all things I possess. read more. And the tax-gatherer standing at a distance, would not even so much as lift his eyes heaven-ward, but smote on his breast, saying, May God accept the atonement for me a sinner!
And the tax-gatherer standing at a distance, would not even so much as lift his eyes heaven-ward, but smote on his breast, saying, May God accept the atonement for me a sinner! I say to you, Went this man down to his house justified, or the other? for every one who exalteth himself shall be humbled; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith may not fail: and when thou art returned, stablish thy brethren.
And going out, he went, according to his custom, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. And when he came to the spot, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. read more. And he withdrew from them about a stone's cast, and kneeling down, he prayed,
And he withdrew from them about a stone's cast, and kneeling down, he prayed, saying, Father, if thou wilt, remove this cup from me! nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done. read more. And an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. And being in an agony, he prayed with greater intenseness: and his sweat was as clots of blood falling on the ground. And when he rose up from prayer, on coming to his disciples, he found them sleeping from sorrow. And he said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise up, and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.
And Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. Then dividing his garments, they cast the lot.
And Jesus crying with a loud voice, said, Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit: and having said this, he expired.
Jesus saith to her, Woman, believe me, that the hour approaches, when ye shall worship the Father neither in this mountain, nor at Jerusalem. Ye worship ye know not what: we worship what we do know: for salvation cometh from the Jews. read more. But the hour is coming, yea, is now come, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such worshippers of him.
(but now little vessels had come from Tiberias near to the spot where they had eaten bread, after the Lord had given thanks:)
The man replied, and said to them, Now herein is something very surprising, that you know not whence he is, though he hath opened my eyes. Now we know that God doth not hearken to sinners: but if any man be a devout worshipper, and doeth his will, him he heareth. read more. From the creation of the world hath it never been heard, that any man opened the eyes of one born blind. If this man were not from God, he could not do any thing.
Then they removed the stone where the deceased was lying. And Jesus lifted his eyes upwards, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me! And I knew that thou always dost hear me: but for the sake of the multitude standing by I spake, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abide in the vine: so neither can ye, except ye abide in me.
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and appointed you that ye should go forth and bear fruit, and that your fruit should be permanent: that so whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he may give it you.
And in that hour ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, That whatsoever things ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give you. Hitherto ye have asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be complete. read more. These things have I spoken to you in parables: but the hour is coming when I will no more speak to you in parables, but will plainly inform you respecting the Father.
I entreat for them: I make no request for the world; but for those thou hast given me; for they are thine.
And when they had arrived, they went up to an upper room, where abode Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James son of Alpheus, and Simon the zealous, and Jude brother to James. These all persevered unanimously in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
And joining in prayer, they said, Do thou, O Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, point out the one of these two which thou hast chosen,
And they drew lots for them and the lot fell to Matthias and he was by unanimous suffrage numbered with the eleven apostles.
for these men are not, as ye suppose, drunk, for it is only the third hour of the day.
NOW at that time Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth;
NOW at that time Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth;
Then said Peter, I have neither silver nor gold; but what I have, that I give thee: By the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarean, arise, and walk!
and they took notice of him, that it was the same person who had sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with astonishment and amazed at what had happened to him.
and they took notice of him, that it was the same person who had sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with astonishment and amazed at what had happened to him.
But they being dismissed, came unto their own friends, and told them all things which the high-priests and elders had said.
And while they were praying, the place in which they were assembled was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
whom they presented before the apostles: and having prayed, they laid their hands upon them.
And they stoned Stephen, in the act of prayer, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit! Then falling on his knees, he cried with a loud voice, Lord, impute not to them this sin! And thus speaking, fell asleep.
Then falling on his knees, he cried with a loud voice, Lord, impute not to them this sin! And thus speaking, fell asleep.
But when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: read more. for as yet he had not fallen on any one of them: only they had been baptised into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray to God, if haply this thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee.
Then the eunuch addressing himself to Philip, said, I pray thee, of whom doth the prophet thus speak? of himself, or of some other person?
But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how many evils he hath inflicted on thy saints at Jerusalem: and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name.
and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name.
and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go: for this man is an elect vessel for me, to bear my name before nations, and kings, and the children of Israel: read more. for I will shew him how many things he must suffer for my name's sake. Then went Ananias, and entered into the house; and laying his hands upon him, said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who was seen by thee in the way that thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest recover thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
But Peter putting them all out, fell upon his knees, and prayed; and turning to the body, said, Tabitha, arise! And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
But Peter putting them all out, fell upon his knees, and prayed; and turning to the body, said, Tabitha, arise! And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
Then looking stedfastly on him, and being terrified, he said, What means this, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
Then the next morning, as they were on their journey, and drew near to the city, Peter went up to the flat roof to pray about the sixth hour:
Then the next morning, as they were on their journey, and drew near to the city, Peter went up to the flat roof to pray about the sixth hour:
Then Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting till this hour; and at the ninth hour I was praying in my house, and, lo! a man stood before me in shining apparel,
Then Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting till this hour; and at the ninth hour I was praying in my house, and, lo! a man stood before me in shining apparel,
Then Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting till this hour; and at the ninth hour I was praying in my house, and, lo! a man stood before me in shining apparel,
So then Peter was kept in prison: but fervent prayer was offered up by the church to God for him.
So then Peter was kept in prison: but fervent prayer was offered up by the church to God for him.
And after considering with himself, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, who is surnamed Mark; where many were thronged together, and praying.
And after considering with himself, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, who is surnamed Mark; where many were thronged together, and praying.
Then having kept a fast and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them out.
Then having kept a fast and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them out.
Then appointing them presbyters in every city, by prayer with fastings they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.
And on the sabbath-day we went forth out of the city to the river side, where an oratory was by custom established; and sitting down, we spoke to the women who there assembled.
Now it happened as we were going to the oratory, a certain damsel having a pythonic spirit met us, who produced for her masters much gain as a fortuneteller:
who, receiving such an injunction, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. But about midnight Paul and Silas, after joining in prayer, sang hymns to God: and the prisoners heard them.
But about midnight Paul and Silas, after joining in prayer, sang hymns to God: and the prisoners heard them.
SO journeying through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of Jews: And Paul, according to his usual custom, went in to them, and for three sabbaths he reasoned with them from the scriptures,
Then Paul abode there yet many days, and taking leave of the disciples, he set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having cut off his hair at Cenchrea: for he had a vow.
And Paul laying on them his hands, the Holy Ghost came upon them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
In all things I have set you the example, that so labouring hard ye ought to help the infirm, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, because he himself said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."
But when we had stayed out those days, we departed, and went on our journey, all of them attending us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and kneeling down on the sea shore, we joined in prayer; and embracing one another, we went on ship-board, and they returned to their own homes,
Now it came to pass, that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance; and beheld him saying to me, Make haste, and depart quickly from Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony of me. read more. And I said, Lord, they know that I was imprisoning and scourging from synagogue to synagogue those who believe on thee: and when the blood of Stephen thy martyr was shed, I myself even stood by, and took delight in his execution, and guarded the garments of those who slew him. And he said to me, Go: for I will send thee forth to the Gentiles afar off.
And so saying, and taking a loaf, he gave thanks to God before them all, and breaking it, began to eat.
And it so happened that the father of Publius was then confined to his bed with an attack of fever and dysentery: unto whom Paul went in, and after praying, laid his hands upon him, and healed him.
And it so happened that the father of Publius was then confined to his bed with an attack of fever and dysentery: unto whom Paul went in, and after praying, laid his hands upon him, and healed him.
concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; made from the seed of David after the flesh,
always in my prayers entreating that haply now at last I may have a prosperous journey by the will of God, to come to you.
For as many as are guided by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received a spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye have received a Spirit of adoption, by which we cry, Abba, Father. read more. The same spirit beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.
In like manner also the Spirit affords assistance to our infirmities: for even this, what we should pray for as we ought, we know not: but the same Spirit more abundantly maketh intercession for us with groanings unutterable. Now he that trieth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, for he maketh intercession for the saints according to God's will.
Who is he that condemneth? Christ? He died, yea, rather, also is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
For could I myself wish that an anathema should be from Christ upon my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh?
BRETHREN, the kind wish of my heart indeed, and the prayer which I offer to God for Israel, is for their salvation.
rejoicing in hope; patient in affliction; persevering in prayer:
Now the God of patience and consolation give you to be like-minded among each other, according to Christ Jesus:
Now I exhort you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, that you wrestle earnestly with me in prayers for me unto God;
Now I exhort you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, that you wrestle earnestly with me in prayers for me unto God;
Now I exhort you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, that you wrestle earnestly with me in prayers for me unto God;
to the church of God which is at Corinth, sanctified in Christ Jesus, to the called saints, with all those who invoke the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, both their's and our's:
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my mind produces no fruit.
Else, though thou bless God in spirit, how shall he who filleth the place of an illiterate man, say Amen after thy thanksgiving, seeing he knoweth not what thou sayest?
Else what will they do who are baptised? for the dead, if wholly dead they rise no more. Why are they then baptised for the dead?
For this thrice I besought the Lord, that he might depart from me.
Now I pray unto God that ye do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you may do that which is laudable, though we should be as reprobates.
but when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son born of a woman, born under the law, that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. read more. But because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father! Therefore thou art no more a slave, but a son, and if a son, an heir also of God through Christ.
For this cause I also, since I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and the love ye have to all saints,
for through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
in whom we have boldness and access with confidence to God by the faith of him.
For this end I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
For this end I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
For this end I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
praying at every opportunity with all prayer and supplication in Spirit, and watching for this very purpose with perseverance and intercession for all the saints;
I give thanks to my God on every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all, making request with joy,
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all understanding;
Be not anxious about any thing, but in every case by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known unto God.
We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, always praying for you, having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and the love ye show to all the saints;
For this cause we also from the day we heard it have not ceased praying for you, and beseeching God that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joy;
FOR I wish you to know how great a struggle I sustain for you, and those at Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
FOR I wish you to know how great a struggle I sustain for you, and those at Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
and hath blotted out the handwriting in ordinances that was against us, which was the obstacle to us, and took it from the midst, nailing it to the cross;
Persevere in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving; praying also at the same time for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, that I may speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains:
Epaphras, one of you, saluteth you, a servant of Christ, always wrestling for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
Salute the brethren that are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is at his house.
I EXHORT therefore, first of all, that there be offered supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings for the whole race of mankind:
I will then that men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands without wrath or doubting:
But she who lives voluptuously is dead, though she liveth.
The Lord grant that he may find mercy with the Lord in the great day; and how liberally he ministered to me at Ephesus, thou knowest better than any other person.
but hath manifested in his own appointed season his word by the preaching, with which I have been entrusted, according to the command of our Saviour God;
One of them, a poet of their own nation, hath said, The Cretans are always liars, wicked beasts, slothful gluttons.
that the elder men be sober, grave, discreet, sound in faith, in love, in patience. That the elder women also be sacredly becoming in their behaviour, not slanderers, not enslaved by much wine, teachers of propriety;
sound discourse, incapable of confutation; that he who is in opposition may be confounded, having nothing faulty to say of you.
I thank my God always, making mention of thee in my prayers,
But at the same time prepare me also a lodging: for I hope that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.
For we have not an high-priest incapable of a fellow-feeling with our infirmities, but one tempted in all points, in exact resemblance with ourselves, sin excepted. Let us therefore approach with boldness the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and find grace for seasonable help.
who in the days of his flesh, with strong crying and tears, having offered up prayers and supplications to him who was able to save him from death, and being heard for his reverential awe,
Wherefore also he is able to save to the uttermost those who come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Having therefore, brethren, entire liberty of entrance into the holies by the blood of Jesus??20 a way, which he hath consecrated for us, newly opened, and giving life, through the vail, that is, his flesh;
and having a great priest over the house of God, let us come to him with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and the body washed with pure water:
let us come to him with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and the body washed with pure water:
But let him ask in faith, harbouring no doubt: for he who is doubtful is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind, and in constant agitation. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing from the Lord. read more. A double-minded man is unsteady in all his ways.
Ye ask, and receive nothing, because ye ask vilely, in order to consume it on your sensual appetites.
My brethren, take a pattern for suffering affliction, and patience from the prophets, who have spoken to you in the name of the Lord.
Is any man among you under afflictions? let him pray. Is any man happy in mind? let him sing psalms. Is any man sick among you? let him send for the presbyters of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
Is any man sick among you? let him send for the presbyters of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall recover the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he hath committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
and the prayer of faith shall recover the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he hath committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
and the prayer of faith shall recover the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he hath committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
and the prayer of faith shall recover the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he hath committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your offences one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. The energetic prayer of a righteous man is mightily prevalent.
Confess your offences one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. The energetic prayer of a righteous man is mightily prevalent.
Confess your offences one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. The energetic prayer of a righteous man is mightily prevalent. Elias was a man of like feelings with us, and he prayed fervently that it should not rain; and there fell no rain on the earth during three years and six months. read more. And he prayed again, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth shot up its fruit.
And whatsoever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments, and do the things which are pleasing in his sight.
But ye, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying by the Holy Ghost,
But ye, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying by the Holy Ghost,
And when he had taken the book, the four living beings and the four and twenty presbyters prostrated themselves before the lamb, having each harps, and vases of gold, full of perfumes smoaking, which are the prayers of the saints.
And when he had taken the book, the four living beings and the four and twenty presbyters prostrated themselves before the lamb, having each harps, and vases of gold, full of perfumes smoaking, which are 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 the word of God, and for the testimony which they maintained. And they cried with a loud voice, How long will it be, O sovereign, the holy one and the true, ere thou judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?
And another angel came, and stood by the altar, holding a golden censer; and there were given to him many perfumes, to offer with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the perfumes went up with the prayers of the saints, out of the angel's hand before God.
And the smoke of the perfumes went up with the prayers of the saints, out of the angel's hand before God.
And the spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him who is athirst come: and whosoever is desirous, let him take of the water of life freely.
He that testifieth these things saith, Verily, I come quickly. Amen. Yea come, Lord Jesus!
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/haweis'>Mr 11:25; 'kneeling,' Da 6:10; Lu 22:41; and 'falling down,' De 9:25; Jos 7:6.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Therefore I say unto you, That all things whatever ye ask in prayer, believe that ye shall receive them, and they shall be given you. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have a matter against any man: that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
And he withdrew from them about a stone's cast, and kneeling down, he prayed,
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and appointed you that ye should go forth and bear fruit, and that your fruit should be permanent: that so whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he may give it you.
And in that hour ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, That whatsoever things ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give you.
In that day ye shall ask in my name: and I do not say to you, I will entreat the Father for you:
Then the Lord said to him, Arise, go into the street called Strait, and inquire at the house of Judas for one named Saul a man of Tarsus: for, behold, he is praying,
Be not anxious about any thing, but in every case by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known unto God. And the peace of God which surpasseth all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
But if any man of you be deficient in wisdom, let him ask it of God, who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, harbouring no doubt: for he who is doubtful is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind, and in constant agitation. read more. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing from the Lord.
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
And when thou prayest, be not as the hypocrites: for they love standing in the synagogues and at the corners of the streets, to pray, that they may make a shew to men. Verily I say unto you, That they have their reward.
And taking the seven loaves and the fishes, he gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have a matter against any man: that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
And all the multitude of people was praying without, at the time of the burning the incense.
AND it came to pass, as he was in a certain place praying, when he had done, one of his disciples said to him, Lord, teach us to pray, even as John also taught his disciples.
The Pharisee, standing by himself, made this prayer: God, I thank thee, that I am not as the rest of mankind, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or as this tax-gatherer.
THESE things spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son may glorify thee:
NOW at that time Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth;
And so saying, and taking a loaf, he gave thanks to God before them all, and breaking it, began to eat.
In like manner also the Spirit affords assistance to our infirmities: for even this, what we should pray for as we ought, we know not: but the same Spirit more abundantly maketh intercession for us with groanings unutterable. Now he that trieth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, for he maketh intercession for the saints according to God's will.
For this end I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named; read more. that he would give you according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell by faith in your hearts; that rooted and grounded in love, ye may be strengthened to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth and length, and height and depth; and to know the love of Christ, transcendently surpassing knowledge, that ye may be filled with all the fulness of God. Now to him that is able to do above all things, exceeding abundantly, beyond what we ask or think, according to the power which effectually worketh in us; to him be glory in the church, in Christ Jesus, unto all generations for ever and ever. Amen.
For this cause we also from the day we heard it have not ceased praying for you, and beseeching God that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye may walk worthy of the Lord, well pleasing him in all things, in every good work fruitful, and increasing in the knowledge of God; read more. strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joy; giving thanks to God, even the Father, who hath made us meet for a portion in the inheritance of the saints in light; who hath plucked us out from the dominion of darkness, and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of his love: in whom we have redemption through his blood, and forgiveness of sins. Who is the image of the invisible God, the prime author of all creation:
grace be to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always, making mention of thee in my prayers, read more. hearing of thy love and faith which thou hast towards the Lord Jesus, and unto all the saints; that there may be an operative communication of thy faith made known by every good thing, which is in you towards Jesus Christ. For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed by thee, brother. Wherefore, though I have in Christ great liberty to enjoin thee what is becoming, I rather for love's sake entreat, being such as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner for Jesus Christ. I entreat thee for my son, whom I have begotten during my bonds, Onesimus: who in time past hath been an unprofitable servant to thee, but now very profitable to thee and to me:
Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great pastor of the sheep, by the blood of the everlasting testament, make you fit for every good work to do his will, producing in you that which is acceptable in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory unto the everlasting ages. 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
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In like manner also the Spirit affords assistance to our infirmities: for even this, what we should pray for as we ought, we know not: but the same Spirit more abundantly maketh intercession for us with groanings unutterable.
But without faith it is impossible to be acceptable; for he must believe, who cometh unto God, that he exists, and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.
But if any man of you be deficient in wisdom, let him ask it of God, who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, harbouring no doubt: for he who is doubtful is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind, and in constant agitation. read more. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing from the Lord.
And this is the confidence that we have towards him, that whatsoever we ask according to his will, he heareth us. And if we know that he heareth us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we receive the petitions, which we have requested, from him.