In Part One, we will look briefly at defining what prayer is and how and when to pray.
In Part Two, we will look at the types of prayer that can be prayed and what the Bible has to say about this subject, as well as providing some suggestions about what to pray for.
Christians can pray wherever they may be.
PART ONE
Understanding our personal need for prayer, and knowing how to pray, as well as being aware of what to pray for, and knowing when and where to pray, can often be a very daunting and scary practice for some Christians.
Even the thought of how to behave in our approach to God - what stance to take and what posture to adopt: Kneeling (1 Kings 8:45), Bowing the head down (Exodus 4:31, 2 Chronicles 20:18, Matthew 26:39), Prostrate, Sitting, Standing (1 Kings 8:22), are all common difficulties that many Christians face at one time, or another.
When we consider the practice of praying, these thoughts can make a person very fearful of ever coming into the presence of God to 'Pray'.
For the Christian who does not know how to pray, or what to pray for, please rest assured that prayer need NOT be the mysterious practice of an apparently select and religiously devout few.
Furthermore, prayer need not be the verbalized outworking of cleverly speaking individuals, be they members of the Clergy, Pastors of a denomination, or the oration of eloquently educated members of a church, or other oganization.
WHAT IS PRAYER? - How should we define it?
Prayer is simply communicating with God. Communicating with God is a two-way process in which, we not only speak to God but that we also pay careful attention to listen to His response to us.
Communicating with God helps us to grow closer to Him and enables us to become more intimately connected with Him.
Praying is the act, or practice, of addressing God in words but also the act of waiting patiently for God to respond to you.
Praying can also be the result of being in a meditative state in the presence of God and can also be an action brought about by the movement of the Holy Ghost upon a person so moved.
Whatever the circumstances may be, praying is something that is accompanied by, or may be in addition to, an act of praise, thanksgiving, or worship.
Praying need not be the result of specially worded forms that some churches prefer to follow in their addresses to God.
In fact, the Bible shows that prayers that come directly from the heart of the person praying, are far more effective with God than those prayed with the mind alone.
Praying is essentially an action of the spirit of a person rather than the flesh (to add a Biblical perspective).
HOW AND WHEN TO PRAY
Christians should therefore, pray to God devoutly and frequently so that their lives can be refreshed and sanctified, characterized by a heart that is conducively fervent towards God in a loving and prayerful manner.
Prayers that make use of Wordy or Impressive speech, or which are constantly repetative, are deemed to be ineffectual forms of prayer and should be avoided (Matt. 6:7, Eccl.5:2).
If you feel that you really cannot pray and that this is in some way a barrier to your communications with The Lord, then you should ask the Holy Ghost to help you overcome this difficulty in your life (Romans 8:26-27).
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