Prayer: Just Do It. ~ Day 3

Many of us struggle with understanding the purpose of prayer. For some, they have such reverence of God that they dare not ask a thing of Him. For others, they've been so hurt, they don't trust God enough to speak to Him about anything. And for still others, prayer falls somewhere in between the must-do, want to do, haven't made time for dilemma. For all of us, however, John Calvin offers a wonderful perspective on the purpose of prayer, setting up the backdrop for looking more closely at the Scriptures:

“Believers do not pray with the view of informing God about things unknown to Him, as of exciting Him to do His duty, or of urging Him as though He were reluctant. On the contrary they pray in order that they may arouse themselves to seek Him, that they may exercise their faith in Meditating on His promises, that they may relieve themselves of their anxieties by pouring them into His bosom; in a word, they may declare that from Him alone thy hope and expect both for themselves and for others all good things.”

What are Biblical examples or reasons for prayer?

• Romans 15:30 ~ I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.
• Ephesians 6:18 ~ always keep on praying for all the saints.
• Colossians 1:9 ~ For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
• Daniel 9:4 ~ I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: "O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands,
• Daniel 9:20 ~ [The Seventy "Sevens"] While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the LORD my God for his holy hill-
• Psalm 6:9 ~ The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer.
• 1 Samuel 1:10 ~ In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD.
• Daniel 6:11 ~ Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.
• Jeremiah 29:12 ~ Then you will call upon me and come pray to me, and I will listen to you.
• Matthew 26:41 ~ "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
• Ephesians 1:16 ~ I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
• Ephesians 1:18 ~ I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
• Ephesians 3:16-18 ~ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love
• Ephesians 6:19-20 ~ that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,
• Philippians 1:9 ~And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
• Philippians 4:6 ~ Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
• Colossians 1:10 ~ And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
• 2 Thessalonians 1:11 ~ that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.
• James 5:13-16 ~ [The Prayer of Faith ] Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord…Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Here is another idea for practicing prayer:

Scala Claustralium (Ladder of Monks)
Bible teacher, Maxie Dunnam, writes about this type of prayer in “The Workbook of Spiritual Disciplines.” Picture a ladder with four rungs, each one reminding you to move through four steps of prayer:

• Reading: Spend time reading Scripture, especially the Gospels.
• Meditation: Spend a few minutes or more actively considering the Scripture looking for the Living Christ and consider how Scripture applies to your life.
• Prayer: This is the time to share with God what is on your heart and mind. Go through the steps of thanksgiving, confession, affirming your faith, petition, interceding for others, listening to God, and responding to His call.
• Contemplation: Sit quietly before the Lord and wait in silence to hear God speak to your heart and to permeate your total being with His truth.

Tomorrow we will look at Scriptures that describe some other components that go along with prayer. May you be blessed today by the Word and instruction from the Lord, and grow in your relationship with Christ through the practice of prayer.