What is prayer?
Why does it work?
Prayer is not a means of grace by which God offers and gives forgiveness and life everlasting, but it is an act of worship in which Christians call upon the LORD God with their hearts and voices, offering up praise and thanksgiving to God and making requests of Him.
David prayed: "Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation" (Psalm 5:1); and, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer" (Psalm 19:14). Thus, prayer can be words spoken by the lips or simply the meditation of our hearts.
Prayer is indeed an act of worship in which we give to God thanksgiving and praise for His goodness and mercy and His many blessings upon us. Again, David prayed: "Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, [bless] his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies..." (Psalm 103:1-4). Psalm 95:1-6 says: "O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD [is] a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand [are] the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills [is] his also. The sea [is] his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry [land]. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker."
Though prayer is not a means of grace, it is a great privilege which God gives to those who trust in Christ Jesus for their salvation. John writes in his first epistle: "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; [and] he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him" (1 John 5:11-15).
St. Paul wrote to the believers at Rome: "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father" (Romans 8:15). Jesus also said: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give [it] you" (John 16:23). In the book of Hebrews we read: "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and [having] an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised)" (10:19-23).
God commands His children to come to Him in prayer and promises to answer the prayers of those who have saving faith in Christ Jesus. God says: "Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me" (Psalm 50:15). Jesus said: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened" (Matt. 7:7-8). He also said that He is "the way, the truth, and the life" and "no man cometh unto the Father, but by" Him (John 14:6).
Therefore, every true Christian should and will desire to pray in Jesus' name regularly and in all things. Again the Bible says: "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God" (Phil. 4:6); and, "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thess. 5:16-18).
Randy Moll is the managing editor of the Westside Eagle Observer. He may be contacted by email at [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 11/19/2014