Prayer is an important part of worship, and we should pray for several reasons. It is sad that in many churches today, prayer has lost importance. I heard a pastor say, “People will come out of the woodwork to attend a banquet. But if I ask the congregation to attend a prayer meeting, it’s a blessing if even the ushers show up.” But it is pleasing to the Lord when we entreat Him. It pleases our Heavenly Father when we petition Him as He has commanded. We should be mindful that we should not implore God as the Pharisees did. They prayed for the praises of people (Matthew 6:5) and to impress other worshipers (Luke 18:9-14). We should pray to please God.
What Is Prayer?
The easiest way to define prayer is “talking with God.” Prayer is when the human spirit communicates with God, the Spirit of spirits, and the Creator of all spirits. While we mostly pray when we want something from God, prayer must be a two-way conversation between us and God. Whenever we entreat God for any reason, we must do so in faith, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).
The Reason for Prayer
It has been said that the purpose of prayer is not to get our will done in heaven but to get God’s will done on earth. What is God’s will? It is God’s will that everyone comes to the knowledge of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. The scripture says that God loved the world (John 3:16), and Christ died for the whole world (1 John 2:2). This does not mean all people without exception, for everyone in the world will not be saved. However, it does mean all people without distinction – Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor.
If God desires salvation for everyone, why are so many lost? 2 Peter 3:9 NIV says, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” But salvation depends on one knowing the truth. Everyone has not heard the truth of the Gospel, and among those who have listened to the Gospel, many have rejected it. Prayer is essential for reaching lost souls.
The Basis For Our Supplication
Prayer is based on the finished work of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Mediator. Because He is both. God and Man, He is the perfect Mediator between us and God the Father. Jesus lived a perfect life as a man. Therefore, He met the just demands of God’s Law. And through His obedience to the Father, He gave His life for everyone who by faith, believes in Him.
Since the basis of prayer is the finished work of Jesus Christ, it is a vital church activity. When we do not pray, we ignore the cross. When we only pray for ourselves and brush aside lost souls, we disregard Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross. We should pray for all because Christ died for all, and God desires that all are saved.
Attitude Is Important
The Bible reveals the essentials for an effective prayer life. We must have a “right relationship” with God and others without murmuring and division. Paul writes:
“I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”
Lifting Holy Hands
Clean hands are symbolic of a clean (holy) life. We cannot petition God effectively if we have unrepented sin active in our lives. We should approach God in a pure and holy manner. Therefore, when we pray, we should (1) come before God in humility, (2) bring the Lamb of God (Jesus) as a sacrifice, and (3) by faith, believe the sacrifice provided by God is sufficient to receive forgiveness for our sins.
Without Wrath
Christians must learn to disagree without being disagreeable. We must not intermingle our prayers with evil passions such as anger. Instead, we should approach God with a calm, benevolent, peaceful mind, as anger alienates our mind from God, for God is love.
Doubting
Without faith, it is impossible to please God, for whoever comes to God must believe that He is God and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Our prayers are powerful. When we petition God in faith, our prayers can heal the sick.
Traditionally, we bow our heads, fold our hands, and close our eyes when we pray. But there are many supplication postures mentioned in the Bible. For example, we can kneel (Daniel 6:10), sit (2 Samuel 7:18), stand with outstretched arms (1 Kings 8:22), or bow our heads (Genesis 24:26). The important thing about prayer is not the posture of the body but the posture of the heart.
