OVERVIEW

Prayer is our way of talking to God. Prayer to a god or gods is a feature of many religions, but here we will focus on the biblical teaching about prayer and some of its implications. A classic definition of Christian prayer is “an offering up of our desires to God, for things agreeable to his will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies” (Westminster Shorter Catechism). Quite simply, in prayer we can talk to God and he, in turn, can talk to us. Through prayer, we discover the will of God. Thus, prayer should be a vital part of every Christian’s life.

PRAYER IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

Adam and Eve, made for fellowship with God, lived in close communion with him. Sin broke this intimate, direct relationship. Nevertheless, when the Lord formed his covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15), the relationship between the covenant partners was open again. Abraham’s prayer for Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:23-33) is a striking combination of boldness and persistence and is a recognition of his own smallness and inferiority compared to God. The same could be said about Jacob wrestling with the angel at Peniel (Genesis 32:22-31). But boldness and directness are not to be confused with familiarity. Biblical prayer is characterized by the reality that there is a distance between the Creator and the creature due to human sin, bridged only by God’s grace. The basis of a person’s approach to God in prayer is never simply “man’s search for God.” It is God’s gracious initiative, the establishing of the covenant, and the promise of help and deliverance on the basis of that covenant. Thus, in patriarchal times prayer was always joined with sacrifice and obedience.

Moses was not only the political leader of Israel but also its divinely appointed mediator and intercessor with the Lord. Repeatedly he “pleads the name of the Lord” in the face of the human uncertainties of the wilderness journey and his own people’s unbelief and disobedience. Pleading the name of the Lord is not to be thought of as an incantation but as a reminder to God of who he has revealed himself to be. (In Moses’ case, God’s revelation came in the presence of a burning bush.) In this revelation of himself, God made promises to his people, and in prayer Moses held God to these promises. Moses was by no means the only intercessor. Aaron, Samuel, Solomon, and Hezekiah were among those who interceded for the people.

With the formation of the priesthood and the establishment of the ritual worship of the tabernacle, the worship of God seems to be characterized by distance. There is little indication that the people personally prayed to God, and—with the exception of Deuteronomy 26:1-15—there is nothing about prayer in all the instructions for worship given to the people. However, there is indication in the psalms that sacrifice and prayer would be coupled together (Psalm 50:7-15; Psalm 55:14). Many of the psalms are remarkable for the way in which personal questions are acknowledged or even argued with God until the person praying comes to an ultimate resolution of the conflict through prayer (Psalm 73:1).

The prophets were men who prayed, and it seems that God’s Word came to them in prayer (Isaiah 6:5-13; Jeremiah 11:20-23). Jeremiah’s ministry was characterized by times of conflict in prayer (Jeremiah 18:19-23) as well as more settled times of fellowship with God (Jeremiah 10:23-25). At the Exile, with the establishment of the synagogue, corporate prayer became an element in Jewish worship. After the Exile there was an emphasis on spontaneity in prayer (Nehemiah 2:4; Nehemiah 4:4).

PRAYER IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

The New Testament’s teaching on prayer is dominated by Jesus Christ’s own example and teaching. His dependence on his Father expresses itself in repeated prayer, culminating in his High Priestly prayer in John 17, the agony of Gethsemane, and the prayer from the cross. His teaching on prayer, particularly in the Sermon on the Mount, contrasts with the Jewish practices at that time. Prayer is an expression of sincere desire. It is not to inform God of matters that he would otherwise be ignorant of, and the validity of prayer is not affected by length or repetitiveness. Private prayer is to be discreet and secret (Matthew 6:5-15).

The parables are another important source of Christ’s teaching, emphasizing persistence in prayer (Luke 18:1-8), simplicity and humility (Luke 18:10-14), and tenacity (Luke 11:5-8). A third source of teaching is the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). Once again there is the blend of directness (“Our Father”) and distance (“in heaven, may your name be honored”). The requests given in the Lord’s Prayer are concerned first with God and then with the disciples’ needs. Occasionally, it seems from our Lord’s teaching that anything that is prayed for will, without restriction, be granted. But such teaching ought to be understood in the light of Christ’s overall teaching about prayer (“May your kingdom come soon. May your will be done here on earth, just as it is in heaven”).

Christ stated that when the Holy Spirit, the Counselor, came, the disciples would pray to the Father in the name of Christ (John 16:23-27). Accordingly, we find that after the coming of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, the early church is characterized by prayer (Acts 2:42) under the leadership of the apostles (Acts 6:4). The church praises God for the gift of his Son and his Spirit, and petitions God in times of difficulty (Acts 4:24; Acts 12:5, 12).

It is in Paul’s writings that the theology of prayer is fully developed. The New Testament believer is a son, not only a servant. The Spirit who has come to the church, as a result of Christ’s triumph, is the Spirit of adoption, enabling the Christian to come to God as his Father, with all his needs. Prominent among these needs, in the mind of the apostle, are a deepening of faith in Christ, a love for God, and a growing appreciation of God’s love in return (Ephesians 3:14-19). Prayer is a part of the Christian’s armor against satanic attack; the effective ministry of the Word of God depends on the prayers of God’s people (Ephesians 6:18-19). Christians are encouraged to pray for all sorts of things with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6) to be free from anxiety. Paul’s own example in prayer is as instructive as the teaching he gives.

The Christian’s prayer is rooted in the intercession of Christ and in the enabling of the Spirit of God. The church is a kingdom of priests, offering spiritual sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving (Hebrews 13:15; 1 Peter 2:5), but Christ is the “great High Priest.” This thought is developed fully in the book of Hebrews. Because of Christ’s human sympathy, the power of his intercessory work, and his superiority over the old priesthood, the church is encouraged to come to God boldly, to find grace when it is needed (Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 10:19-23). Nowhere in either the Old Testament or New Testament is there any encouragement to pray to individuals other than God. Nowhere in Scripture is it suggested that there is any other mediator between God and men except Christ (1 Timothy 2:5).

THE ELEMENTS OF PRAYER

There are various elements in prayer. Praise involves the recognition of who God is and what he does. It is “giving God the glory,” not in the sense of adding to his glory, but of willingly recognizing God as God. Typical expressions of such praise are to be found in the psalms (Psalm 148; Psalm 150). When God’s goodness is recognized, then the prayer is one of thanksgiving or gratitude. Thanksgiving can be for life itself, for the use and beauty of the physical universe, for Christ and his benefits (2 Corinthians 9:15), or for specific answers to prayer. Confession of sin recognizes the holiness of God and his supreme moral authority. Confession involves an unreserved recognition of sin, both in inner motives and outer actions. Psalm 51, David’s confession of sin regarding Bathsheba, is the classic biblical instance of a prayer of confession. Petitions are prayers for the one praying. When prayer concerns others, it is called intercession. Scripture never regards prayer for oneself as improper, as can be seen from the pattern in the Lord’s Prayer. Prayer for others is an obvious expression of love for one’s neighbor, which is fundamental to biblical ethics.

THE MYSTERY OF PRAYER

WHAT IS PRAYER?

BIBLE READING: Genesis 18:16-33
KEY BIBLE VERSE: The two other men went on toward Sodom, but the LORD remained with Abraham for a while. Abraham approached him and said, “Will you destroy both innocent and guilty alike? Suppose you find fifty innocent people there within the city-will you still destroy it, and not spare it for their sakes?” (Genesis 18:22-24)

PRAYER IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING OUR WILL INTO LINE WITH GOD’S PLAN

Did Abraham change God’s mind? Of course not. The more likely answer is that God changed Abraham’s mind. Abraham knew that God is just and that he punishes sin, but he may have wondered about God’s mercy. Abraham seemed to be probing God’s mind to see how merciful he really was. He left his conversation with God convinced that God was both kind and fair. Our prayers won’t change God’s mind, but they may change ours just as Abraham’s prayer changed his. Prayer helps us better understand the mind of God.

PRAYER IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE OUR TRUST IN GOD

Why did God let Abraham question his justice and intercede for a wicked city? Abraham knew that God must punish sin, but he also knew from experience that God is merciful to sinners. God knew there were not ten righteous people in the city, but he was merciful enough to allow Abraham to intercede. He was also merciful enough to help Lot, Abraham’s nephew, get out of Sodom before it was destroyed. God does not take pleasure in destroying the wicked, but he must punish sin. He is both just and merciful. We should be thankful that God’s mercy extends to us.

BIBLE READING: Psalm 4:1-8
KEY BIBLE VERSE: You can be sure of this: The LORD has set apart the godly for himself. The LORD will answer when I call to him. (Psalm 4:3)

PRAYER IS SPEAKING WITH GOD

The godly are those who are faithful and devoted to God. David knew that God would hear him when he called and would answer him. We too can be confident that God listens to our prayers and answers when we call on him. Sometimes we think that God will not hear us because we have fallen short of his high standards for holy living. But if we have trusted Christ for salvation, God has forgiven us, and he will listen to us. When you feel as though your prayers are bouncing off the ceiling, remember that as a believer, you have been set apart by God-and he loves you. He hears and answers, although his answers may not be what you expect. Look at your problems in the light of God’s power instead of looking at God in the shadow of your problems.

BIBLE READING: Hebrews 4:14-16
KEY BIBLE VERSE: So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it. (Hebrews 4:16)

PRAYER IS AN AWESOME PRIVILEGE

Prayer is our approach to God, and we are to come boldly. Some Christians approach God meekly with heads hung low, afraid to ask him to meet their needs. Others pray flippantly, giving little thought to what they say. Come with reverence because he is your King. But also come with bold assurance because he is your Friend and Counselor.

MOTIVES FOR PRAYER

WHY SHOULD WE PRAY?

BIBLE READING: Genesis 25:19-34
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Isaac pleaded with the LORD to give Rebekah a child because she was childless. So the LORD answered Isaac’s prayer, and his wife became pregnant with twins. (Genesis 25:21)

PRAYER REFLECTS OUR DEPENDENCE ON GOD

As Isaac pleaded with God for children, so the Bible encourages us to ask-and even plead-for our most personal and important requests. God wants to grant our requests, but he wants us to ask him. Even then, as Isaac learned, God may decide to withhold his answer for a while in order to

(1) deepen our insight into what we really need,

(2) broaden our appreciation for his answers, or

(3) allow us to mature so we can use his gifts more wisely.

BIBLE READING: Exodus 17:1-7
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Tormented by thirst, they continued to complain, “Why did you ever take us out of Egypt? Why did you bring us here? We, our children, and our livestock will all die!” (Exodus 17:3)

PRAYER IS FAR BETTER THAN COMPLAINING TO EACH OTHER

Again the people of Israel complained about their problem instead of praying. They had followed God’s leading into the desert, but now were doubting his ability to take care of them. Some problems can be solved by careful thought or by rearranging our priorities. Some can be solved by discussion and good counsel. But some problems can be solved only by prayer. We should make a determined effort to pray when we feel like complaining, because complaining only raises our level of stress. Prayer quiets our thoughts and emotions and prepares us to listen.

BIBLE READING: Judges 16:23-31
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Samson prayed to the LORD, “Sovereign LORD, remember me again. O God, please strengthen me one more time so that I may pay back the Philistines for the loss of my eyes.” (Judges 16:28)

PRAYER CAN RESTORE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

In spite of Samson’s past, God still answered his prayer and destroyed the pagan temple and worshipers. God still loved him. He was willing to hear Samson’s prayer of confession and repentance and use him this final time. One of the effects of sin in our life is to keep us from feeling like praying. But perfect moral behavior is not a condition for prayer. Don’t let guilt feelings over sin keep you from your only means of restoration. No matter how long you have been away from God, he is ready to hear from you and restore you to a right relationship. Every situation can be salvaged if you are willing to turn again to him. If God could still work in Samson’s situation, he can certainly make something worthwhile out of yours.

METHODS OF PRAYER

HOW SHOULD WE PRAY?

BIBLE READING: Ezra 8:1-36
KEY BIBLE VERSE: There by the Ahava Canal, I gave orders for all of us to fast and humble ourselves before our God. We prayed that he would give us a safe journey and protect us, our children, and our goods as we traveled. (Ezra 8:21)

WE SHOULD PRAY WITH AN ATTITUDE OF DEEP RESPECT FOR GOD

Ezra knew God’s promises to protect his people, but he didn’t take them for granted. He also knew that God’s blessings are appropriated through prayer; so Ezra and the people humbled themselves by fasting and praying. And their prayers were answered. Fasting humbled them because going without food was a reminder of their complete dependence on God. Fasting also gave them more time to pray and meditate on God.

Too often we pray glibly and superficially. Serious prayer, by contrast, requires concentration. It puts us in touch with God’s will and can really change us. Without serious prayer, we reduce God to a quick-service pharmacist with painkillers for our every ailment.

BIBLE READING: Nehemiah 2:1-10
KEY BIBLE VERSE: The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?” With a prayer to the God of heaven, I replied, “If it please Your Majesty and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.” (Nehemiah 2:4-5)

WE SHOULD PRAY WITH CONFIDENCE IN GOD’S GRACE

With little time to think, Nehemiah immediately prayed. Eight times in this book we read that he prayed spontaneously (2:4; 4:4-5, 9; 5:19; 6:14; 13:14, 22, 29). Nehemiah prayed at any time, even while talking with others. He knew that God is always in charge, is always present, and hears and answers every prayer. Nehemiah could confidently pray throughout the day because he had established an intimate relationship with God during times of extended prayer (1:4-7). If we want to reach God with our emergency prayers, we need to take time to cultivate a strong relationship with God through times of in-depth prayer.

BIBLE READING: Matthew 6:5-15
KEY BIBLE VERSE: When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered only by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, because your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! (Matthew 6:7-8)

WE SHOULD PRAY WITH HUMILITY AND SINCERITY

Some people, especially the religious leaders, wanted to be seen as “holy,” and public prayer was one way to get attention. Jesus saw through their self-righteous acts, however, and taught that the essence of prayer is not public style, but private communication with God. There is a place for public prayer, but to pray only where others will notice you indicates that your real audience is not God.

BIBLE READING: Colossians 1:1-14
KEY BIBLE VERSE: We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for we have heard that you trust in Christ Jesus and that you love all of God’s people. (Colossians 1:3-4)

WE SHOULD PRAY FOR OTHERS

Sometimes we wonder how to pray for missionaries and other leaders we have never met. Paul had never met the Colossians, but he faithfully prayed for them. His prayers teach us how to pray for others, whether we know them or not. We can request that they

(1) understand God’s will,

(2) gain spiritual wisdom,

(3) please and honor God,

(4) bear good fruit,

(5) grow in the knowledge of God,

(6) be filled with God’s strength,

(7) have great endurance and patience,

(8) stay full of Christ’s joy, and

(9) give thanks always.

All believers have these same basic needs. When you don’t know how to pray for someone, use Paul’s prayer pattern for the Colossians.

MODEL PRAYERS

WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF PRAYERS IN THE BIBLE?

BIBLE READING: Joshua 7:1-26
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Joshua and the leaders of Israel tore their clothing in dismay, threw dust on their heads, and bowed down facing the Ark of the LORD until evening. (Joshua 7:6)

BIBLICAL PRAYERS ARE MARKED BY HUMILITY

Joshua and the elders tore their clothing and sprinkled dust on their heads as signs of deep mourning before God. They were confused by their defeat at the small city of Ai after the spectacular Jericho victory, so they went before God in deep humility and sorrow to receive his instructions. When our life falls apart, we also should turn to God for direction and help. Like Joshua and the elders, we should humble ourself so that we will be able to hear his words.

BIBLICAL PRAYERS ARE MARKED BY HONESTY

Imagine praying this way to God. This is not a formal church prayer; it is the prayer of a man who is afraid and confused by what is happening around him. Joshua poured out his real thoughts to God. Hiding your needs from God is ignoring the only one who can really help. God welcomes your honest prayers and wants you to express your true feelings to him. Any believer can become more honest in prayer by remembering that God is all-knowing and all-powerful and that his love is everlasting.

BIBLE READING: 2 Chronicles 6:1-42
KEY BIBLE VERSE: He prayed, “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven and earth. You keep your promises and show unfailing love to all who obey you and are eager to do your will.” (2 Chronicles 6:14)

BIBLICAL PRAYERS ARE WIDE-RANGING AND SPECIFIC

As Solomon led the people in prayer, he asked God to hear their prayers concerning a variety of situations:

(1) crime (6:22-23);

(2) enemy attacks (6:24-25);

(3) drought (6:26-27);

(4) famine (6:28-31);

(5) the influx of foreigners (6:32-33);

(6) war (6:34-35);

(7) sin (6:36-39).

God is concerned with whatever we face, even the difficult consequences we bring upon ourself. He wants us to turn to him in prayer. When you pray, remember that God hears you. Don’t let the extremity of your situation cause you to doubt his care for you.

BIBLE READING: Matthew 6:5-15
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done here on earth, just as it is in heaven. Give us our food for today, and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. (Matthew 6:9-13)

BIBLICAL PRAYER IS PERSONAL

The phrase “Our Father in heaven” indicates that God is not only majestic and holy, but also personal and loving. The first line of this model prayer is a statement of praise and a commitment to honor God’s holy name. We can honor God’s name by being careful to use it respectfully. If we use God’s name lightly, we aren’t remembering God’s holiness.

BIBLICAL PRAYER RECOGNIZES GOD’S POSITION

The phrase “May your Kingdom come soon” is a reference to God’s spiritual reign, not Israel’s freedom from Rome. God’s kingdom was announced in the covenant with Abraham (8:11; Luke 13:28), is present as Christ reigns in the believer’s heart (Luke 17:21), and will be complete when all evil is destroyed and God establishes the new heaven and earth (Revelation 21:1).

BIBLICAL PRAYER RECOGNIZES OUR POSITION

When we pray “May your will be done,” we are not resigning ourself to fate, but praying that God’s perfect purpose will be accomplished in this world as well as in the next.

BIBLICAL PRAYER DEMONSTRATES COMPLETE DEPENDENCE

When we pray, “Give us our food for today,” we are acknowledging that God is our Sustainer and Provider. It is a misconception to think that we provide for our own needs. We must trust God daily to provide what he knows we need.

BIBLICAL PRAYER ASKS GOD FOR GUIDANCE

God doesn’t lead us into temptations, but sometimes he allows us to be tested by them. As disciples, we should pray to be delivered from these trying times and from Satan ("the evil one") and his deceit. All Christians struggle with temptation. Sometimes it is so subtle that we don’t even realize what is happening to us. God has promised that he won’t allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13). Ask God to help you recognize temptation and to give you strength to overcome it and choose God’s way instead.

BIBLE READING: John 17:1-26
KEY BIBLE VERSE: I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony. My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father-that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me. (John 17:20-21)

BIBLICAL PRAYER RECOGNIZES THE SPIRITUAL WARFARE AROUND US

This entire chapter is Jesus’ prayer. From it, we learn that the world is a tremendous battleground where the forces under Satan’s power and those under God’s authority are at war. Satan and his forces are motivated by bitter hatred for Christ and his forces. Jesus prayed for his disciples, including those of us who follow him today. He prayed that God would keep his chosen believers safe from Satan’s power, setting them apart and making them pure and holy, uniting them through his truth.

BIBLICAL PRAYER IS NOT ESCAPE FROM THE WORLD

Jesus didn’t ask God to take believers out of the world, but instead to use them in the world. Because Jesus sends us into the world, we should not try to escape from the world, nor should we avoid all relationships with non-Christians. We are called to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16), and we are to do the work that God sent us to do.

BIBLICAL PRAYER BINDS US WITH OTHER BELIEVERS

Jesus prayed for all who would follow him, including you and others you know. He prayed for unity (17:11), protection from the evil one (17:15), and sanctity (holiness) (17:17). Knowing that Jesus prayed for us should give us confidence as we work for his kingdom.

GOD’S WORD ON PRAYER

The most universally practiced yet least understood of human experiences, prayer is one of the great mysteries of the Christian faith. Its simplest definition is communication with God. Yet so often we approach prayer like a one-way telephone conversation, forgetting that God also wants to speak to us. And how do we pray-on our knees or standing; silently or out loud; alone or with others; by rote or spontaneously? And does prayer really induce God to manipulate events or otherwise act on our behalf? Although the Bible does not take up these and other questions directly, prayer appears on nearly every page as the very essence of a faith relationship with the living God. Simple enough for a child to understand and yet so profound we spend a lifetime plumbing its depths, prayer assumes that it is possible for us to have an intimate relationship with a God who hears, cares, and is able to act.

WHAT IS PRAYER?

• 2 Chronicles 7:14 . . . Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven.
  Prayer is an act of humble worship in which we seek God with all our heart.
• Psalm 38:15-18 . . . I confess my sins; I am deeply sorry for what I have done.
• 1 John 1:9 . . . If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.
  Prayer often begins with a confession of sin.
• 1 Samuel 14:36-45 . . . The priest said, “Let’s ask God first.”
• 2 Samuel 5:17-19 . . . David asked the Lord, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines?”
  Prayer is asking God for guidance and waiting for his direction and leading.
• Mark 1:35 . . . The next morning Jesus awoke long before daybreak and went out alone into the wilderness to pray.
  Prayer is an expression of an intimate relationship with our heavenly Father, who makes his own love and resources available to us.
• Psalm 9:1-2 . . . I will thank you, Lord, with all my heart . . . I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.
  Through prayer we praise our mighty God.

DOES THE BIBLE TEACH A “RIGHT WAY” TO PRAY?

• Nehemiah 1:4-11 . . . For days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.
  Throughout the Bible effective prayer includes elements of adoration, confession, and commitment, as well as requests.
• Matthew 6:5-13 . . . Pray like this.
  Jesus taught his disciples that prayer is an intimate relationship with the Father that includes a dependency for daily needs, commitment to obedience, and forgiveness of sin.
• Luke 18:1-8 . . . One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must never give up.
  Prayer is to be consistent and persistent.
• Nehemiah 2:4 . . . With a prayer to the God of heaven.
  Prayer can be spontaneous.

HOW DO I LEARN TO TALK TO GOD?

• Isaiah 1:16-20 . . . Wash yourselves and be clean!
  All our communication with God must begin with confession.
• Philippians 4:6-7 . . . Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.
  God invites us to bring all our needs to him in prayer.

DOES GOD ALWAYS ANSWER PRAYER?

• James 5:13-18 . . . Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.
• 1 John 5:14-15 . . . We can be confident that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will.
  We can be confident of God’s response to our prayer when we submit first to his will.
• 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 . . . Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said “. . . My power works best in your weakness.”
  Sometimes, like Paul, we will find that God answers prayer by giving us not what we ask for but something better.
• Exodus 14:15 . . . Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving!”
  Our prayer must be accompanied by a willingness to obey with our actions.

PROMISES FROM GOD:

• Psalm 9:12 . . . He does not ignore those who cry to him for help.
  God does not ignore our prayers.
• Psalm 145:18 . . . The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him sincerely.
  Our prayers bring us into God’s presence.
• Matthew 7:7 . . . Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for.
  God honors persistence in prayer.
• James 1:5 . . . If you need wisdom-if you want to know what God wants you to do-ask him, and he will gladly tell you.
  God will give you wisdom if you ask for it.
• James 5:16 . . . The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.
  A sincere prayer brings wonderful result.
• 1 Peter 3:12 . . . The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers.
• 1 John 5:14 . . . We can be confident that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will.
  God hears our prayers when they are in line with his will.

Please stay tuned for more.