“He will call upon me, and I will answer him… and show him my salvation”. Psalms 91:15-16.
The moments we dedicate to the Lord in prayer have the potential to unleash incredible, transformative power that has the ability to change the course of history.
While the Bible outlines various aspects of prayer, this lesson will focus on the importance of individual prayer.
The strength of our collective prayer as a community is directly linked to the depth of our personal connection with the Lord.
A. THE SECRET PLACE
“But when you pray, go into your most private room, and closing the door, pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you in the open” Matthew 6:6
We have been beckoned into deep prayer by the Lord Himself. This form of “hidden” prayer implies and guarantees:
1. The Right Motives Matthew 6:5
2. A Right Relationship With God As Father Luke 11:11-13
3. A Real Trust In The Lord Psalms 55:16-17
4. A Dispensing Of False Fronts Mark 7:6-7
In our conversations with God, we can express our feelings and worries through various means: through adoration (Psalm 34:1-4), confession (1 John 1:9), supplication (Matthew 7:7), or gratitude (Ephesians 5:4-20).
B. FIVE COMMANDS RELATED TO PRAYER
1. Watch And Pray Always
“Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man” Luke 21:36.
See also Mark 13:335-37.
2. Pray Lest you Fall Into Temptation
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak” Matthew 26:41.
3. Pray For Workers
“He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field’” Luke 10:2.
4. Pray For Those In Authority
“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” 1Timothy 2:1-2.
5. Pray For Your Enemies
“Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” Luke 6:28.
C. WHEN TO PRAY
The Bible provides numerous instances of individuals engaging in prayer, as seen in 1 Chronicles 4:10. Many of the faith’s heroes are noted for dedicating specific times throughout the day for prayer, typically establishing three regular periods: morning, noon, and evening.
“As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me. Evening, and morning, and noon, will I pray and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice” Psalms 55:16-17. See also Daniel 6:10.
A prime illustration of a consistent practice of sincere, heartfelt prayer—free from empty religious rituals—can be seen in the Lord Jesus Himself:
1. Early In The Morning Mark 1:35
2. All Night Luke 6:12
3. Before Each Meal Mark 6:41
D. WHAT TO PRAY
1. For Ourselves
“Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ And God granted his request” 1Chronicles 4:10.
2. For One Another
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other… ” James 5:16.
3. For The Ministries In The Body Of Christ
“Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honoured, just as it was with you” 2 Thessalonians 3:1.
4. For The Sick And Distraught
“Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray… is any one of you sick? He should call for the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the Name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up … pray for each other so that you may be healed… ” James 5:14-16.
5. For Those Ensnared In Sin
“If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life… ” 1 John 5:16.
E. HELP IN PRAYER
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express”. Romans 8:26
A key role of the Holy Spirit is to educate us, as mentioned in Luke 12:12, to assist us in our prayers as stated in Romans 8:27, and to strengthen our faith, highlighted in Ephesians 3:16-17.
At times, the Holy Spirit uniquely empowers a believer’s prayer, a phenomenon referred to as “praying in the Holy Spirit” (Jude 20; Ephesians 6:18).
To further aid us in our prayer life, the Holy Spirit has bestowed upon believers a special gift: the Gift of Tongues, which involves speaking in a different language while conversing with the Lord in prayer (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).
“… the prayer of the upright is his delight… He hears the prayer of the righteous” Proverbs 15:8,29.
F. YOKEFELLOW
When two people unite in prayer, there are significant benefits: “Truly, I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:19).
G. THE CHURCH PRAYING
When two individuals come together in prayer, their combined strength is immense. Imagine the power of an entire assembly of God’s people united in prayer! Refer to Acts 4:24 for insight.
Today, God is urging His people to engage in prayer! The mission of the Church is to transform individual lives, families, communities, cities, and nations through the power of prayer!
