Brief theology of prayer
What is prayer?
Prayer is the essential human act, a priceless point of contact between us and the God of the universe.
Philip Yancey
Prayer is a powerful thing, for God has bound and tied Himself thereto.
Martin Luther
Avail yourself of the greatest privilege this side of heaven. Jesus Christ died to make this communion with the Father possible.
Billy Graham
God's acquaintance is not made hurriedly. He does not bestow His gifts on the casual or hasty comer and goer. To be much alone with God is the secret of knowing Him and of influence with Him.
E. M. Bounds
How do we pray?
Genuinely
Psalm 51:17 – The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
Submissively
Matthew 6:10 – Your kingdom come,
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 26:42 – He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father,
if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless
I drink it, may Your will be done.”
Reverently
Matthew 6:9 – This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.”
Psalm 106:48 – Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from
everlasting to everlasting. Let all the people say,
“Amen!” Praise the Lord.
Persistently
Luke 11:5-8 – 5Then He said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend,
and goes to him at midnight and says to him, 'Friend, lend
me three loaves; 6for a friend of mine has come to me
from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; 7and
from inside he answers and says, 'Do not bother me; the
door has already been shut and my children and I are in
bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.' 8"I tell you,
even though he will not get up and give him anything
because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence
he will get up and give him as much as he needs. ”
Unceasingly
1 Thessalonians 5:17 – Pray without ceasing;
Intentionally
Mark 14:38 – Keep watching and praying that you may not come into
temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Confidently
1 Kings 3:9 – So give Your servant a discerning heart to govern Your
people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For
who is able to govern this great people of Yours?
Hebrews 4:16 – 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.
Humbly
2 Chronicles 7:14 – If My people, who are called by My name, will
humble themselves and pray and seek My face and
turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from
heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their
land.
1 Peter 5:7 – Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
Repentantly
1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will
forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Expectantly
Isaiah 30:18-19 – 18Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; He rises
to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of
justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him! 19O people
of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more.
How gracious He will be when you cry for help! As
soon as He hears, He will answer you.
Isaiah 52:8 – Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they
shout for joy. When the Lord returns to Zion, they will see
it with their own eyes.
Individually
Matthew 6:6 – But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and
pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father,
who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Corporately
Acts 12:5 – So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly
praying to God for him.
Prayer Related Links:
A Summary Theology of Prayer by John Piper
A Biblical Theology of Prayer by Edmund P. Clowney