"PRAYER"
The Practice Of Prayer - II
INTRODUCTION
- In part one of "The Practice Of Prayer", we considered...
- How to pray, with the aid of the Lord's prayer
- When to pray, suggesting both set times and spontaneous prayers
- In part two of "The Practice Of Prayer", we shall now consider...
- With whom to pray, alone or with others?
- For what to pray, besides what has already been suggested
[Again we turn to Jesus the master teacher, especially with regards to
prayer, as we consider...]
- WITH WHOM TO PRAY
- PRAYING ALONE...
- Jesus encouraged the practice of praying in secret - Mt 6:5-6
- Private prayer cultivates our spiritual nature through regular
exercise
- "Prayer is the spiritual gymnasium in which we exercise and
practice godliness." - V. L. Crawford
- "...Prayer is educative. The man who prays grows; and the
muscles of the soul swell from this whipcord to iron bands."
- Frederick B. Meyer
- The opposite is also true: "Seven days without prayer makes
one weak." - Allan E. Bartlette
- Private prayer forms a close union and fellowship with our
Heavenly Father
- It is just you and Him
- Time spent together strengthens the bond of fellowship
- Private prayer is a true test of your sincerity and devotion
- You certainly are not doing it to please men (they cannot
see you)
- You can't be trying to falsely impress God (He will see
right through you)
- Private prayer will be rewarded "openly" - Mt 6:6
- The answers to our prayer will be seen by others
- Both here and in the hereafter
-- Private prayer should be a priority in the practice of praying
- PRAYING WITH OTHERS...
- Jesus also spoke of praying with others - Mt 18:19-20
- Where the requests of two or three are answered by our
Father in heaven
- For in their midst is Jesus Himself, who also intercedes for
them - cf. Ro 8:34
- Early Christians prayed together often...
- In times of trouble - Ac 4:23-24; 12:5,12; 16:25
- In times of departure - Ac 20:36; 21:5
- Immediate blessings when God's people pray together
- A sweetness of fellowship
- A sense of strength
-- Praying with others should be done whenever possible
[In the "Lord's Prayer" (Mt 6:9-14) we find what sort of things we
should pray about. Elsewhere in the Scriptures, we find there are many
things for which we can pray as we consider...]
- FOR WHAT TO PRAY
- AS REVEALED IN SCRIPTURE...
- Self
- For physical daily needs - Mt 6:11
- For personal growth in Christ-likeness and devotion to God
- Col 1:9-12
- Family
- For spouse, children, parents, siblings, etc.
- For their nurture and growth in the teaching of the Lord
- Ep 6:4
- Community
- For peace to prevail
- E.g., Jer 29:7
- Church
- For love and unity to prevail - Jn 13:35; 17:20-21
- For the spiritual growth of each member - Php 1:9-11
- For the gospel to have free course - 2Th 3:1
- Nation
- For national repentance and consciousness of who God is
- Ps 33:12; Pr 14:34
- For leaders to rule wisely - 1Ti 2:2
- Nonbelievers
- For their salvation - Ro 10:1
- For the effort of those involved in teaching them - Ep 6:18-20
- The sick
- For their restoration to health - Jm 5:14-15
- For spiritual strength and peace of mind - Jm 5:16
- The poor and oppressed
- Such as the homeless, fatherless, unborn children - Pr 29:7
- Those in other nations oppressed by their own rulers or
outside influences
-- There is certainly much for which we ought to pray!
- USING A PRAYER STRATEGY...
- On Monday - Family
- Pray for both immediate and extended family members
- For both their physical and spiritual well-being
- On Tuesday - Church
- For members in the local congregation
- For Christians and congregations throughout the world
- On Wednesday - Community
- For community leaders
- For your neighbors
- On Thursday - Nation
- For elected officials
- For efforts to bring peace and righteousness
- On Friday - World
- For world peace
- For nations that are "closed" to the gospel
- On Saturday - Afflicted
- For the poor, homeless, jobless
- For those in prison
- For those who are sick
- For widows, single mothers, fatherless children
-- A simpler prayer strategy: morning-family; noon-church;
evening-community
CONCLUSION
- Such strategies are simply suggestions to provide some direction in
prayer...
- Develop one that suits you
- One might also keep a list or journal of those for whom you are
praying
- The important thing is to PRAY, and to do so:
- "always"
- "in everything"
- "earnestly"
- "being vigilant"
- "without ceasing"
I pray this study on prayer will encourage us to be more diligent in
utilizing the wonderful privilege of prayer...!
"Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with
thanksgiving;"
- Col 4:2