Prayer

1 Thessalonians 5:17

17 be unceasing and persistent in prayer;

I’ve read this verse more than a few times, even quoted it to myself and others - not impressive, it’s very short.  But, at the time, I was trying to convey the importance of prayer in the Christian life.  In 1 Timothy, there is a call to prayer to call upon God not only for personal issues but for the good of all.

1 Timothy 2:8

8 Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger and disputing or quarreling or doubt [in their mind].

Prayer is very important in our walk with God. He requires it of us in order to stay close to him.  However, for a while, I did not know how to pray, what to ask for and what not to ask for.  There are no real regulations that tell us what we should pray for.  The rest of the passage in 1 Thessalonians shines some light on the subject.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

16 Rejoice always and delight in your faith; 17 be unceasing and persistent in prayer; 18 in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

Firstly, we should rejoice in our faith and be thankful for what God has done for us continually.  As a human, I have a hard time remembering to be thankful every time I pray.  I pray in times of sadness, times of distress, but I found that I had rarely prayed in good times.  I have thanked God for what I have, but the ratio of how much I ask for me and how much I thank and praise God is embarrassing and quite shameful.  We need to remember to rejoice in our faith at all times and continually be thankful for what God has done for us because “this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.”  

But, prayer can be, as it many times is, praying for some kind of assistance with things that are hurting us in some way.  Sometimes, I get so wrapped up in what I need or what is going on in my life that my prayers become a repetitious plea for help.  The bible speaks on this.   

Philippians 4:6

6 Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.

In this verse, we find that we need to be careful about being too worried, but approach God with thanksgiving - again the emphasis on being thankful when we approach God.  He is faithful and can reward us and grant our prayers if he chooses.  I sometimes lose faith in what I prayed because I want it to happen faster or I doubt I’m even worthy of the help that I ask for.  However, God is greater than that.

Matthew 7:11

11 If you then, evil (sinful by nature) as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give what is good and advantageous to those who keep on asking Him.

Comparing God’s nature to ours is an eye-opener.  We will dote on our children and give them everything we can.  I, specifically, will give my kids anything they need or want that is in my power to give.  Applying that to the mind of God, he is more powerful than anyone can even imagine - he knows how to give.  

He won’t give us everything, though.  We have to be sure that we are in the will of God and very importantly, seeking God’s will

James 4:3

3 You ask [God for something] and do not receive it, because you ask [d]with wrong motives [out of selfishness or with an unrighteous agenda], so that [when you get what you want] you may spend it on your [hedonistic] desires.

I have asked God for something that I just wanted and wouldn’t improve my life or help me grow closer to him.  I didn’t get it.  We have to have the will of God in mind when we pray and not pray for things that we will use selfishly.  The Amplified text adds “hedonistic.”  It can be defined as the pursuit of pleasure and sensually self-indulgent.  

1 John 5:14-15

14 This is the [remarkable degree of] confidence which we [as believers are entitled to] have before Him: that [c]if we ask anything according to His will, [that is, consistent with His plan and purpose] He hears us. 15 And if we know [for a fact, as indeed we do] that He hears and listens to us in whatever we ask, we [also] know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted to us] the requests which we have asked from Him.

If we come before him focused on things that are according to his plan, this passage tells us that we are heard.  The next verse sticks in my mind.  If we know for a fact, or in my mind believe and have faith that what I ask for will be granted, I can rest in the knowledge that I will receive.  I spend a great deal of time praying for things that I don’t believe deep down will be given to me.  I have to know without a doubt that, if I am I accordance with his will, I will be taken care of.  Faith is more than just hope, it's an active hope with the expectancy of relief.

Romans 8:24-27

24 For in this hope we were saved [by faith]. But hope [the object of] which is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait eagerly for it with patience and composure.

26 In the same way, the Spirit [comes to us and] helps us in our weakness. We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should, but the Spirit Himself [knows our need and at the right time] intercedes on our behalf with sighs and groanings too deep for words. 27 And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is because the Spirit intercedes [before God] on behalf of [c]God’s people in accordance with God’s will.

In our faith or our hope, we are saved.  However, hope in things that are seen is not hope, because we should not hope for things that we already have.  But if we hope for things that we do not see, we wait eagerly and with patience.   Verse 26 says that the Spirit helps us.  We don’t really even know how to pray or what to pray for but he intercedes for us, speaking to God in ways that are too deep for words.  We pray the way he tells us to, in accordance to his will, and the spirit will intercede for us.  The bible tells us that the spirit is our guide and will teach us the will of God, helping us to stay in his favor and receive his blessings.

Ephesians 6:18

18 With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all [e]God’s people.

Therefore, we should pray at all times, again in the spirit.  Just like the call to prayer in Timothy, we are told to pray for God’s people.  In other passages, we learn that we are to seek the good of others above ourselves and this attitude spills over into prayer.  We are to pray for God’s people, all people and those that we call our enemies.  Prayer is powerful.  Prayer changes things.  There are studies that show the scientific effect of prayer.  There was an experiment completed that showed increased performance on the Stroop Test (a test that mismatches colors with their written name, for instance the word “green” written in red) by those that prayed over those that simply thought about a situation.

“Participants who were asked to pray about a topic of their choosing for five minutes showed significantly better performance on the stroop task after emotion suppression, compared to participants who were simply asked to think about a topic of their choosing. And this effect held regardless of whether participants identified as religious (70 percent) or not.”

Prayer for only 5 min showed good results compared to those that didn’t pray.  And what’s even more mind-boggling is that even those that didn’t believe had good results as well.

Another study found that “Prayer has been reported to improve outcomes in human as well as nonhuman species, to have no effect on outcomes, to worsen outcomes and to have retrospective healing effects.”

Prayer has been reported to both improve outcomes and have no effect.  To worsen outcomes but have retrospective healing properties.  This shows to me, that God will answer prayers in his own time and if it is in his will.  Others may have their wishes granted, but I need to wait patiently as the bible says.  Be persistent in my petitions.  Like the parable of the woman that asked the judge repeatedly for help and was only given help after constant petition.  I don’t think that this is to say God will begrudgingly help us, but that we need have continued faith that we will be heard.  Continued, intense faith that God hears you and will decide in your best interests or even the interests of others.  Jesus displayed this near the end of his life on earth.  

Matthew 14:23

23 After He had dismissed the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When it was evening, He was there alone.

This is just one example of a record of Jesus praying.  His prayer isn’t shared, but after he was finished, Jesus walked on water to the boat where his disciples were waiting.  However, in Matthew 26:39, the prayer recorded is heart-wrenching.

Matthew 26:39

39 And after going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible [that is, consistent with Your will], let this cup [q]pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”

Matthew 26:42

“My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.”

After these two prayers, he went back a third time and prayed the same prayer.  This shows me that Jesus, himself - the son of God- prayed for a reprieve.  He had known his whole life that his purpose on earth was to teach and then die for the sins of humanity.  Yet, he prayed for a different path, believing that his father could hear him and change his mind, but Jesus also acknowledged that he would yield to God’s will. This passage is a shining example of the power of prayer in that the son of God knew his purpose and prayed anyway.  It shows that we can go to God with our fears and worries and accept that it would be granted if it is in his will.  We need to realize a very important thing about prayer which is shown in this passage - God can say no.  However, there are examples of prayer working in favor of the servant as well.  Jesus prayed before raising Lazarus from the dead.

John 11:38-44

41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus raised His eyes [toward heaven] and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 I knew that You always hear Me and listen to Me; but I have said this because of the people standing around, so that they may believe that You have sent Me [and that You have made Me Your representative].”

It hits me hard that he says that God ALWAYS hears him and ALWAYS listen to him.  The prayer was for the benefit of others.  Jesus knew without a doubt that he could be heard.  We might think that was only possible for Jesus and that is a true statement.  Christians can’t usually raise people from the dead.  But, as some of the verses state above, if we live in the will of God, we can approach the throne with not only the faith but the actual expectation that you will be heard.

These commands to pray, examples of Jesus praying, and the scientific evidence that prayer can work all make me realize one important thing.  Prayer can change things.