Is prayer just something you say, or something you believe in?

[Amelia]

Is prayer just something you say, or something you believe in?

By The Rev. Rick L. Stonestreet

Prayer might be the most misunderstand subject in the world today.

Numerous people will use the word loosely, not even knowing what it means. Sometimes it is said as a mark of courtesy or respect as in the case of a death. People will say, "our prayers are with you and your family."

Do we understand the true meaning of prayer? Is it just something we say or is it something we believe in?

To better understand the meaning of prayer, we are to go to the Scriptures. God orchestrated prayer and defines it clearly throughout His Word. Simply put, prayer is asking.

n Matthew 7:7: Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

n John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

n Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

n James 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. In each of these passages the emphasis is on the asking. A person who prays is one who is asking God for something. We are not asking man for something but approaching God Himself who is able to do all things. He can move mountains, calm the storm, and hold all things in the palm of His hands.

This means God can take care of our needs.

However, to approach God in prayer, one must have a relationship with Him. This does not mean we live a good life or be a member of a church. Prayer is the privilege of those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. God loves us and wants to save us from our sins. After we have received Him, we are given direct access to God daily.

Prayer is one of the great benefits of being a Christian. It is not a religion exercise but the privilege communication of His children with Him. Prayer actually comes out of a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. He cares for us and wants to know us more intimately as we pray.

The common misconceptions of prayer are numerous. Some think they should pray certain repetitious prayers to court the favor of God or get Him to excuse their disobedience.

Some believe prayer is a religious exercise which gives them a special standing with God. The Pharisees thought their arrogant prayers were heard when they would stand in the street and announce their spirituality to the spectators. God made clear in Scripture He is not impressed with pride in praying. When we hear these misconceptions, go back to the Bible to better understand the truth.

Prayer is asking God to do something because we have a relationship with Him. The deeper our relationship with Him, the better our prayer life will be. God will respond to those who love Him and seek to know His will daily. Remember the next time you hear the word prayer, understand the lesson God is teaching us.

The Rev. Rick L. Stonestreet is the pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Fairfield

[Planey]

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Amelia said:

Prayer is asking God to do something because we have a relationship with Him. The deeper our relationship with Him, the better our prayer life will be.

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So I'm guessing the converse is also true - if God ignores your prayers, it is because You don't have a sufficiently deep relationship?

I find it very hard to maintain a one-sided relationship. If He would just give me a little hint sometimes that he has heard even one word I've said, I'd be happy.

Graeme

[Bravus]

Prayer is something I believe in, but I almost completely disagree with Pastor Stonestreet's definitions and approach. Prayer that is just a series of requests and petitions is not real prayer, and there is a strong, Biblical theology of prayer that includes praise, requests and just conversation. Look at the Psalms for a far more balanced approach to what David prayed.

Planey, I share your frustration with that approach. Note that he did say 'the better our prayer life will be', not 'the more answers we'll get'...

God knows our needs, and loves us, and wants to fulfil them. Apparently sometimes the terms of engagement in the Great COntroversy, or some rules He has set in place for Himself mean he can't. Just asking again is irrelevant, so we need to ask for the ability to keep on loving and believing and holding on...

[Neil D]

Planey was known to have said-

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I find it very hard to maintain a one-sided relationship. If He would just give me a little hint sometimes that he has heard even one word I've said, I'd be happy.

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Whereupon Bravus replied-

Quote:

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God knows our needs, and loves us, and wants to fulfil them. Apparently sometimes the terms of engagement in the Great COntroversy, or some rules He has set in place for Himself mean he can't. Just asking again is irrelevant, so we need to ask for the ability to keep on loving and believing and holding on...

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While I share in the desire to "keep on..." I also have a tendency to believe that prayer is definately a TWO WAY conversation with God. That is, while I do my part in talking with God, I also believe that He does his part. The problem is that Sin has interfered with the communication. Please note, interferred does not mean obliterate . It is hard for us to hear God many times but that does not mean that He doesn't participate in the conversation. It means that we don't listen, or cant hear. And sometimes that means that we can not decern that "yes" "no" or "wait" from God.

Just some of my thoughts on this deep subject.

[Clio]

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Amelia said:

Is prayer just something you say, or something you believe in?

*SNIP*

To better understand the meaning of prayer, we are to go to the Scriptures. God orchestrated prayer and defines it clearly throughout His Word. Simply put, prayer is asking.

*SNIP*

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Erhm... no... simply put, prayer is not asking. Prayer is a conversation.

Ooops... Let me back up and answer the question first. I do NOT believe in prayer. I believe in True Jesus. I talk to Him. I tell Him everything. People call that prayer.

Let me illustrate why I disagree so emphatically with Rev. Stonestreet.

When True Jesus was asked to teach His disciples to pray, He responded with what has come to be known as the Lord's Prayer. Presumably, since it is a direct response to a plea to "teach us to pray", this prayer has all the theological requirements of prayer in it.

"Our Father Who art in Heaven"

This is Who we are praying to... but think about the concept of a Father. Do you speak to your father just to ask for things? If you do, and you're older than 2, he might be feeling pretty "used" by now. "Clio only talks to me when she wants something..." (NOT!)

We receive love, understanding and wisdom from our imperfect earthly parents. How much more love and understanding, and wisdom will we then receive from Abba Father? Does He not tell us in Psalms that He delights in us? That He places the desires in our hearts that He might fulfill them and give us joy?

"Hallowed be Thy Name"

Praise! Holy is Your Name Abba! I praise and thank You for all You have done for me. For do not all GOOD things come from the Hand of Abba Father?

"Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven"

Let me walk always in Thy perfect will Abba. Let me hear the Voice behind me, saying this is the way, walk ye in it. Let me be an errand runner for You. In other words, far from asking for something, one of the topics of conversation is, "How can I help you today Father?"

"Give us this day, our daily bread"

Oh the depth and bredth contained in that one request. We do not rely on Abba Father the way some must for their daily bread. How many of you have looked at your bank account and recognized with distress that there's no food in the house for your children, no money in the bank, and it's 10 days to payday?

Do you rely on Abba Father for food? He will provide it... every day. And yet it's so much more than food. Is not True Jesus our daily bread? Is He not the food which satisfies and delights? We know that Abba Father tenderly cares for the sparrows and the lilies of the field. How much more will He care for you, a being created to be His friend?

"And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors"

Forgive us, wash us clean in True Jesus Blood, atoning for our sin. Cast our sins into the sea of forgetfulness that they be remembered no more. Create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit within us.

Do you believe He forgives you? Then why carry the guilt. True Jesus did not come to condemn us or to make us feel guilty. That's the other guy's method.

John 3:17 for I did not come to condemn, but to save.

"Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil"

We are to pray to be delivered from evil. We are to ask for help when we need it... which is ALL THE TIME.

"For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory forever, Amen."

More Praise, acknowledging Abba Father's Headship over everything. It ALL belongs to Him. Even our cars, our bank accounts, the buildings on the earth, the airplanes, the computers, the food, the water, the asphalt we drive on, our toasters, our pillows and blankets, the fuel oil in our heaters... it's all His.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray without ceasing." If all you're doing is asking... this gets pretty boring. Ephesians 6:10-18... Abba Father offers you armor... all you have to do is pick it up from the Armory in the morning.

I have a running conversation with True Jesus most of the day. <img src="/ubbtreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> We have a little lounge area in the women's bathroom at work. When I go into the bathroom, I take a few minutes and just tell True Jesus what's on my mind.... sometimes someone comes in and "catches" me talking to myself.... but I love just talking to Jesus. He listens so well.

That's not to say we SHOULDN'T ask for stuff we need. But we need to pray in ways Abba Father can bless. And treating Him like a toy dispenser, or just a bail-out bottle when we've messed up our life, or it's spun out of control, is not a way to pray that Abba Father can bless.

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Matthew 7:7: Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

n John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

n Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

n James 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

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True Jesus told us we must ask in His Name, and then have FAITH that it will happen.

But in each conversation True Jesus had with Abba Father, He did more than ask. He praised Him, carefully, thoroughly, and with intimate detail. Even going so far as to pray for each of us, "the ones You have given Me", all down through the ages. True Jesus acknowledged Abba Father's Headship over all things and submitted His will to Abba Father's.

He asked for what He needed and left the how's, the tactical considerations to Abba. After all, Abba does know best.

Prayer is a two-way conversation. But you gotta clean the junk out of your life in order to "hear" Him. Shatter your strongholds, clean them out, walk in miracle territory and give Him the honor, glory, and praise for His answers.

Things I've learned in conversations with Abba Father:

1. When He asks if you will give your life, He doesn't mean to die. Jesus already did that. He means to live, no matter how discouraged, how tired, or how much it looks like nothing's happening.

2. Abba Father always gives a choice if it's going to be something that will tax you to the utmost. He really does understand that our hearts fail us for fear at times. That doesn't mean He'll quit asking us, just that we always have a choice.

3. It's ok ... in fact it's a very good idea, to crawl up on His lap once in a while and just sob out all the hurt, fear, and sorrow of our daily lives. He's got really big shoulders, and wants to hear it all. Hear what falls out of your mouth as you talk to Him, and let Him heal what you may not even have realized needed His touch.

4. When Abba Father sits as a refiner of silver, I am soooo thankful that He only works on one issue at a time! First it was submission... and then we rested... then it was fear... and then we rested... and fear again, but a different kind of fear... and then we rested... then faith... and then we rested...

5. When you have conversations with Abba Father, the Adversary gets upset... so you better be wearing your armor... cuz his minions WANT you to fail... want you to be discouraged, want to wreak havoc in your life. We know from Job that they can work weather catastrophes, touch us with illness, touch our families, even unto death.

If you are interested in really digging in to prayer, try the book Shattering Your Strongholds by Liberty Savard. It's about moving the junk out of our lives so we have room to receive all True Jesus longs to give us. It's about getting the foundation pieces in place so we don't fall over when He gives us new tasks to help us grow in Him.

Clio