PRAYER

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GOD hears prayer

  • The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer Psalm 34:15 BST
  • I love the Lord, because He hears My voice and my supplications. Psalm 116:1 NASB
  • O You who hear prayer, To You all men come. Psalm 65:2 NASB
  • this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 1 John 5:14-15 NKJV
  • this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us. And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him. 1 John 5:14-15 AMPC

How our Prayer is to GOD

  • Let my prayer be counted as incense before You Psalm 141:2 AMP
  • when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. Revelation 5:8 NKJV
  • the prayer of the upright is His delight. Proverbs 15:8 BSB
  • “FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE [looking favorably] UPON THE RIGHTEOUS (the upright), AND HIS EARS ARE ATTENTIVE TO THEIR PRAYER (eager to answer) 1 Peter 3:12 AMP

Hinderances to prayer

  • your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear. Isaiah 59:2 NKJV
  • If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened Psalm 66:18 NIV 1984
  • If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear. Psalm 66:18 NKJV
  • We know that God does not listen to sinners; but if someone is God-fearing and does His will, He listens to him. John 9:31 NASB

COMMENT: These are not reasons to despair and not pray, rather sort it out (i.e. ask God for forgiveness etc) and then pray.

The Prayer GOD Always Hears

There is one prayer that God will always answer: A sinner’s repentant prayer. Even if it is the vilest sinner!

Examples

  • Ahab: (There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited. He acted very abominably in going after idols, as the Amorites had done, whom the Lord cast out before the people of Israel.) And when Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his flesh and fasted and lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly. And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,  “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son’s days I will bring the disaster upon his house.” 1 Kings 21:25-29 ESV
  • Cain: Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, this day You have driven me from the face of the earth, and from Your face I will be hidden; I will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” “Not so!” replied the LORD. “If anyone slays Cain, then Cain will be avenged sevenfold.” And the LORD placed a mark on Cain, so that no one who found him would kill him. Genesis 4:13-15 BSB

God will hear a sinner’s prayer for forgiveness

  • If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises], and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose]. 1 John 1:9 AMP
  • Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin. Psalm 32:5 NIV 

Blanket Prayer Promises

  • If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. John 14:14 NASB
  • whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. John 16:23 NKJV
  • if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. John 16:23 NASB
  • Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives, and he who keeps on seeking finds, and to him who keeps on knocking, it will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8 AMP

How To Pray

Pray in Advance

Lord Jesus
 
  • When Jesus saw that a crowd had come running, He rebuked the unclean spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” He said, “I command you to come out and never enter him again.”   feet, and he stood up… After Jesus had gone into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” Jesus answered, “This kind cannot come out, except by prayer and fasting.” Mark 5:25, 28-29 BSB

COMMENT: Jesus cast out the evil spirit by saying just one sentence. When His disciples asked Him why they could not cast out the evil spirit, His reply would imply that His time in prayer and fasting earlier enabled Him to do what they could not. 

  • Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. John 11:41 BSB

COMMENT: This passage said in the context of Lazarus being raised from the dead would imply that Jesus had prayed in advance for him (Lazarus) to be raised from the dead and His getting the assurance before the actual event happened. Read: Praying Through.

  • In those days Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and He spent the night in prayer to God. When daylight came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated as apostles Luke 6:12-13 BSB

COMMENT: Before choosing His disciples, He spent the night in prayer.

Nehemiah

  • When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Nehemiah 1:4 NIV 1984
  • The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king … It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time…. And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests. Nehemiah 2:2-8 NIV 1984
COMMENT: Nehemiah prayed in advance, so when the the King asked him, he was able to do a quick prayer and make several requests, all of which were granted by the King.

Pray with Agreement

  • “Again I say to you, that if two believers on earth agree [that is, are of one mind, in harmony] about anything that they ask [within the will of God], it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. Matthew 18:19 AMP
See examples
  • When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:1-4 NKJV
  • Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church… Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. Acts 12:5,16-17 ESV

Pray with Confession

  • While I was speaking, praying, confessing my sin and that of my people Israel, and presenting my petition before the LORD my God concerning His holy mountain— while I was still praying, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. Daniel 9:20-21 BSB
  • please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You, day and night, on behalf of Your servants, the sons (descendants) of Israel (Jacob), confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have committed against You; I and my father’s house have sinned. Nehemiah 1:6 AMP

Pray with Confidence

  • Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Heb 4:16 BSB
  • without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 BSB
  • But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 NKJV
  • The LORD will hear when I call to Him. Psalm 4:3 NKJV
  • The LORD hears and responds when I call to Him. Psalm 4:3 AMP

Pray Continually

  • pray continually 1 Thess 5:17 NIV
  • we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” Acts 6:4 NKJV
  • I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all 1 Corinthians 14:18 NKJV
  • Now Jesus was telling the disciples a parable to make the point that at all times they ought to pray and not give up and lose heart Luke 18:1 AMP
  • Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. Acts 12:5 KJV

Pray with Fasting

  • this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. Luke 2:37 NKJV
  • Then after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them [in approval and dedication] and sent them away [on their first journey]. Acts 13:3 AMP
  • You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.1 Isaiah 58:4 NIV

COMMENT:
1Fasting to get Heaven’s (God’s) attention: This verse suggests fasting correctly can get Heaven’s attention. Read: FASTING

 

Pray Earnestly (Fervently)

Key Verses

  • The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) is able to accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power]. James 5:16 AMP
  • The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. James 5:16 AMPC
  • The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16 NKJV
  • The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16 NIV 1984
  • Pour out your heart before Him. Psalm 62:8 AMP

COMMENT: To summarise, James 5:16: The heartfelt continued prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Examples

Lord Jesus

  • And being in agony, He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground. Luke 22:44 NASB

Jacob

  • Yes, he wrestled with the angel and prevailed; He wept and implored His favor. Hosea 12:4 NASB

Hannah

  • In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. … I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. 1 Samuel 1:10, 15 NIV 

The Church (Believers)

  • Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him. Acts 12:5 BSB
  • Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made to God intensely by the church. Acts 12:5 NASB

Pray with Perseverance

Key Verses

  • “Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you … For everyone who keeps on asking receives Matthew 7:7-8 AMP
  • be unceasing and persistent in prayer 1 Thess 5:17 AMP
  • Now Jesus was telling the disciples a parable to make the point that at all times they ought to pray and not give up and lose heart Luke 18:1 AMP
  • as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the Lord our God, Until He has mercy on us. Psalm 123:2 NKJV
  • Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly] 1 Thess 5:17 AMP

Examples: 

Daniel

At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over. Daniel 10:2 NIV

Then he (the angel) said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. Daniel 10:2 NKJV

Elijah

Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he bent down to the earth and put his face between his knees. 1 Kings 18:42 NKJV

seven times he said, “Go again.” Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’ ” 1 Kings 18:42, 43 NKJV

Persistent Widow

Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected men. And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.” For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect men, yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice. Then she will stop wearing me out with her perpetual requests.’ ” And the Lord said, “Listen to the words of the unjust judge. Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He continue to defer their help? I tell you, He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?” Luke 18:1-8 BSB

Persevere definition: “continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no indication of success.”  Reference: Oxford Languages. Link HERE

Pray till Prayed Through

Praying Through refers to praying either till

  1. you get the assurance that God has heard your Prayer or
  2. till you get the answer in the physical realm.

In the context of this study, we look at the former i.e. Inner Assurance before Actual Physical event. Watch: Praying through & Read: Praying Through

Key Verses

  • as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till He has mercy upon us. Psalm 123:2 ESV
  • The LORD hears and responds1 when I call to Him. Psalm 4:3 AMP
  • On the day I called, You answered2 me; You made me bold with strength in my soul. Psalm 138:3 NASB
  • Leave me, all you who practice injustice, For the Lord has heard3 the sound of my weeping. The Lord has heard my pleading, The Lord receives my prayer. All my enemies will be put to shame and greatly horrified; They shall turn back, they will suddenly be put to shame. Psalm 6:8-10 NASB

COMMENTS:

1The surest way of knowing that anyone has heard us is our getting a response from them.

1&2 If He responded to David, he is “obliged” to respond to you. Read: No Favouritism

3heard = past tense (inner assurance) now BUT will/shall = future tense (actual event)

Lazarus

  • Now a man named Lazarus was sick… So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” … After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to 1wake him up.” … Jesus said to her, “Your brother 2will rise again.”  … Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said. So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have 3heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. John 11:1-44 BSB

COMMENTS

The above statements1,2,3 would suggest that Jesus got assurance from God the Father beforehand that Lazarus would be raised from the dead. Could this be the reason that He stayed back when He heard that Lazarus was sick? i.e. to Pray Through

Ezra

  • And there by the Ahava Canal I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. For I was ashamed to ask the king for an escort of soldiers and horsemen to protect us from our enemies on the road, since we had told him, “The hand of our God is gracious to all who seek Him, but His great anger is against all who forsake Him. So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He granted our request. On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem, and the hand of our God was upon us to protect us from the hands of the enemies and bandits along the way. Ezra 8:21-31 BSB

COMMENTS

The above passages suggest that Ezra got assurance from God beforehand that they would have a safe journey, though the journey happened only later.

Hannah
 
  • But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.” Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.” And she said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad … So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the Lord.” 1 Samuel 1:15-20 NKJV

Pray using Scripture Examples

Key Verse:

Read: No Favouritism

Example:

  • Lady healed touching hem of His garment: suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour. Matthew 9:20-22 NKJV (Mk 5:39 Lk 8:40)
  • Others healed touching hem of His garment: when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well. Matthew 14:36 NKJV

COMMENT: He healed a lady who touched the hem of his garment. Later on others were healed touching the hem of his garment. What God did for anyone else, He can do for you. So find scripture verses that pertain to what you want that God did for others and ask the same for yourself. See examples below:

  • Full Life Span & Health: Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished. Deut 34:7 NKJV
  • Deliverence from enemies: Then David spoke to the LORD the words of this song, on the day when the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. 2 Sam 22:1 NKJV

Pray using Scripture Promises

COMMENT: While praying, use promises God has given. 

Pray Specifically

  • Then she made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.” 1 Samuel 1:11 NKJV
  • He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves Luke 11:5 NKJV

Pray with Tenacity

Shunammite woman

  • Now when she came to the man of God at the hill, she caught him by the feet, but Gehazi came near to push her away. But the man of God said, “Let her alone; for her soul is in deep distress, and the LORD has hidden it from me, and has not told me.” 2 Kings 4:27 NKJV
  • The mother of the boy said, “As surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So he got up and followed her. 2 Kings 4:30 NASB

Jacob

  • He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.”But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” Genesis 32:26 NKJV

Epaphras

  • He is always wrestling in prayer for you, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in the full will of God. Col 4:12 BSB

Pray with Tongues

Pray with Words & Tongues

  • if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive [because it does not understand what my spirit is praying]. 1 Cor 14:14 AMP
  • Then what am I to do? I will pray with the spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me] and I will pray with the mind [using words I understand]; I will sing with the spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me] and I will sing with the mind [using words I understand]. 1 Corinthians 14:15 AMP

COMMENTS: 

Suggestion: Pray in your language followed by tongues. Read: TONGUES

 

Prayer Combinations

  • if My people who are called by My name will 1humble themselves, and 2pray and 3seek My face, and 4turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chr 7:14 NKJV
  • While I was still speaking and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God in behalf of the holy mountain of my God, while I was still speaking in prayer and extremely exhausted, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me about the time of the evening sacrifice. Daniel 9:20-21 AMP

COMMENTS: 
1Through Fasting. Read: FASTING
2Prayer
3Through Worship. Read: Seeking God through Worship
4Through Repentance. Read: REPENTANCE

 

 

 

Prayer Transforms Us

  • Jesus: As 1He was praying, the appearance of His face became different [actually transformed], and His clothing became white and flashing with the brilliance of lightning. Luke 9:26 AMP
  • Moses: When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hand, he did not know that the skin of his face was shining [with a unique radiance] because 2he had been speaking with God. Exodus 34:29 AMP

1The Lord Jesus’s appearance changed as He was praying. We can all pray to God.

2Moses’s face shone because he i.e. Moses had been speaking with God (not the other way round). 

Posture In Prayer

Kneeling in Prayer

  • Come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. Ps 95:6 NASB 1977
  • When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. Daniel 6:10 ESV
  • He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray Luke 22:41 NASB
  • Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. Acts 9:40 NKJV

Lifting up hands in Prayer

  • Let my prayer be set before You as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Ps 141:2 NKJV
  • As long as Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed; but when he lowered them, Amalek prevailed. Exodus 17:11 BSB
  • I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands 1 Tim 2:8 NKJV

Kneeling and Lifting Hands

  • And so it was, when Solomon had finished praying all this prayer and supplication to the LORD, that he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven. 1 Kings 8:54 NKJV
  • at the evening sacrifice I rose from my fasting, with my garment and my cloak torn, and fell upon my knees and spread out my hands to the LORD my God Ezra 9:5 ESV

COMMENT: God will still hear all sincere prayers irrespective of posture. See below

  • Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD Isa 38:2 NASB
  • “O LORD, God of my master Abraham,” he prayed, “please grant me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. Here I am, standing beside the spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. Gen 24:12-13 BSB
  • When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven. Neh 1:4 BSB

ABCs of Prayer

Ask

  • Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you Mt 7:7 AMP
  • You do not have because you do not ask [it of God]. James 4:2 AMP

Bind

  • I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Mt 16:19 NIV
  • how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. Mt 12:29 ESV

Command

  • when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” Mark 9:25 ESV
  • Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Mark 11:23 ESV

COMMENT: Just as a soldier uses different weapons at different times, use all the weapons (ask, bind, command) at your disposal till you get the desirable end result (answer to prayer).

Different Kinds of Prayer

  • Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. Eph 6:18 BSB

COMMENT: There are different kinds of prayer; few examples given below

Supplication

  • Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6-7 NKJV

Groanings

  • Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Romans 8:26 NKJV

Intercession

  • With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all God’s people. Ephesians 6:18 AMP
  • Yet now, if You would only forgive their sin…. But if not, please blot me out of the book that You have written.” Exodus 32:32 BSB
  • So now, take seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. Then My servant Job will pray for you, for I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken accurately about Me, as My servant Job has.” Job 42:8 BSB

Reasons for Lack

Not Asking

12192 ἔχω [E)/XW] {échō} \ekh’-o\
including an alternate form σχέω [SXE/W] {schéō} \skheh’-o\
(used in certain tenses only) a primary verb; to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition):–be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, + return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use.

Not asking GOD

  • They do not cry out to Me from their heart When they wail on their beds [in unbelieving despair] Hosea 7:14 AMP

Things to Pray For

  1. Prayer for material things e.g job, finances etc
  2. Prayer for spiritual things e.g. salvation for family, Holy Spirit gifts etc
  3. Prayer for GOD Himself. See David’s cry: My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Ps 84:2 NKJV

Dare to ask GOD for the "Impossible"

  • Then Joshua spoke to the Lord on the day when the Lord handed over the Amorites to the sons of Israel, and Joshua said in the sight of Israel, “Sun, stand still at Gibeon, And moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.” So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, Until the nation [of Israel] took vengeance upon their enemies. Is it not written in the Book of Jashar? So the sun stood still in the middle of the sky and was in no hurry to go down for about a whole day. There has not been a day like that before it or after it, when the Lord listened to (heeded) the voice of a man; for the Lord was fighting for Israel. Joshua 10:12-14 AMP

What We Can Aspire To Be

  • King David: I am a man of prayer. Ps 109:4 BSB
  • Apostle Paul: I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you 1all 1 Corinthians 14:18 NKJV
  •  I thank God that I speak in [strange] tongues (languages) more than any of you or all of you put together 1 Corinthians 14:18 AMPC
  • Apostles: we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” Acts 6:4 NKJV
  • we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” Acts 6:4 NASB
  • Anna the prophetess: She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Luke 2:37 BSB
  • did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. Luke 2:37 NKJV

COMMENT: 1This would imply that he was speaking in tongues all the time. Probably the secret of Paul’s spirituality and fruitfulness.

Instant/Quick Answer to Prayer

  • On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul. Psalm 138:3 NASB
  • On the day I called, You answered me; And You made me bold and confident with [renewed] strength in my life. Psalm 138:3 AMP
  • Before Eliezer had finished speaking (praying), Rebekah came out with her [water] jar on her shoulder. Rebekah was the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. Gen 24:15 AMP
  • It shall also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear. Isa 65:24 AMP

Pray and see outcome in the Physical realm

  • As long as Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed; but when he lowered them, Amalek prevailed. Exodus 17:11 BSB

COMMENT: As long as Moses held up his hands (in prayer; see below), Israel saw victory.

  • I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands 1 Tim 2:8 NKJV

Make Time to Pray

  • Then King David went in and sat [in prayer] before the LORD 2 Sam 7:18 AMP
  • Now at this time Jesus went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. Luke 6:12 AMP

Expect GOD to answer

  • In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will prepare [a prayer and a sacrifice] for You and watch and wait [for You to speak to my heart]. Ps 5:3 AMP
  • he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 NKJV
  • “Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you … For everyone who keeps on asking receives Mt 7:7-8 AMP

COMMENT: Read: GOD SPEAKS

 

 

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10 thoughts on “PRAYER”

  1. Anonymous

    As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes are on the LORD our God until He shows us mercy. Ps 123:2 BSB

  2. Anonymous

    With tongues

    15What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.
    1 Corinthians 14:15 NKJV

    With fasting
    https://biblehub.com/luke/2-37.htm
    Mark 9:29

  3. Anonymous

    Example 2:

    In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.” 2 Kings 20:1 NIV

    Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my people, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the Lord. I will add fifteen years to your life. 2 Kings 20:4-6 NIV

  4. Anonymous

    Tenacity
    Genesis 32:26 | NKJV
    He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.”But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”

  6. Anonymous

    So find scripture verse that pertain to what you want and ask the same for yourself. See examples below:

    Protection: The LORD will

    Put actual examples Deut 34:7

  8. Anonymous

    Praying with vows
    She made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head.”

    1 Samuel 1:11 | NASB

    If at all you do this – make promises you can keep eg fast one day

  9. Anonymous

    Possibly the first prayer showing God’s mercy

    13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is too great to bear! 14 “Behold, You have driven me this day from the face of the ground; and from Your face I will be hidden, and I will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” 15 So the Lord said to him, “Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord appointed a sign for Cain, so that no one finding him would slay him.

    Genesis 4:13-15 | NASB

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