Prayer is a way of communicating with Almighty God and Our Creator. In Prayer we can seek God’s blessing, guidance, help in times of trial & temptations, wisdom for understanding Bible, gift of Holy Spirit, healing, anything and everything can be put in God’s care through prayer. We can pray to our heavenly Father from any place on earth and at any time of the day or night. Prayer is a free of cost communication service with our creator God and most important thing to be mentioned would be that God listens to every prayer even a silent prayer said from our heart and soul. Surely God answers our genuine and honest prayers and no prayer is ever left unanswered because God loves us all.
Need for Prayer
Prayer is really important for our spiritual well-being and for strengthening our relationship with God. Nothing should stop us from praying to our God, no matter how hard the situation is we should never stop prayer. If we need something we should ask in prayer and if we are happy and well satisfied then we should not forget to offer a prayer of thanksgiving to our heavenly Father.
Daniel the prophet of God, even when the king put forth orders that no one should pray to anyone else except the King (King had declared himself as the God). This did not terrify Daniel and he still continued to pray even at the cost of death. But God saved Daniel for his courage and immense faith and devotion to God Almighty.
Daniel 6:10
Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
Daniel knew that he worshiped a living God, and he never stopped prayer even when he was taken as a slave to another nation, this pleased God so much that God’s blessings were on Him. King also knew that Daniel’s God can save him.
Daniel 6:16
So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”
When we pray to God and seek help with all our heart and soul, God has the power and might to rescue us from any situation of difficulty we might be facing. Just cast your burden and put forth your problem or situation into God’s care and experience the wonderful miracle of God in your life. Just like God saved Daniel from the den of hungry Lions.
Daniel 6:19-23
At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”
Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”
The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
How we should pray to God
Prayer is neither complicated nor is it a difficult task to do. Prayer is simple, just like we talk to our friends or parents. God is our heavenly Father so you need not be afraid by thinking you might do a wrong prayer. Just simply put into words your concerns and put them in front of God.
Let us see what Bible tells us about prayer. To start a prayer let’s consider prayer as telephonic or email conversation with God. When we communicate we have to address the person whom we are intending to talk with, here that person is our Loving Heavenly Father God. In Old Testament God is addressed as ‘God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob’, God has no name for He is almighty to be restricted by any name, therefore when Moses asked for God’s identity he got the reply ‘I am who I am’. Jesus called him Father. So to begin our prayer we could start like “Our Heavenly Father…” and then say normally and respectfully what we want to say to God. Jesus gave his disciples a modal prayer when they asked how we should pray.
Matthew 6:9-13
This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
When we are done with our petitions, requests and thanks giving, we are to end our prayer by asking in name of Jesus. We do so for Jesus told us to ask God in his name and Father will give us whatever we ask in His holy and precious name. So we can end our prayer like “We ask this prayer in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen”.
John 16:23-24
In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
Hence, we see that prayer is not difficult and even any uneducated person can pray to God with a sincere heart. But keep in mind not to show off to be extra religious in your prayers because God is almighty and knows even before we ask what we need. It is only that God wants us to open up and ask God for favor and He will provide all our needs. Here are some instructions that Jesus gave us concerning how we should pray.
Matthew 6:5-8
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 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. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
When should we Pray to God
We should be praying always be it good time or bad time. Group prayers done in fellowship and church are often more powerful and effective. In letter of James we read about the power of Prayer. James cites the example of Elijah how God answered his prayers.
James 5:13-18
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
Jesus himself spend a lot of time in prayer. We see in Gospels that Jesus always devoted a lot of time for prayer. Even on the night when he was captured to be sentenced to death, when disciples were sleeping, Jesus prayed for all his disciples and also for you and me! That much is importance of prayer. So ask God in prayer and see wonderful power of God working in your life.
Matthew 7:7-11
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Always pray with full faith without any doubt in your mind, and believe in your heart that your prayer is answered. Never forget to thank God in your happiness and when your time of suffering is over. No matter where you are, whatever circumstances always remember to pray regularly.
Psalm 3:4
I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain.