Prayer

How does Jesus say to pray? What is the point of prayer? How do we pray so that our prayers are answered? Why should we pray if God already knows what we want?

Lady looks up in prayer

What does the Bible say about prayer? -

Example of prayer - 1 Kings 18v41-46
Persistence in prayer - Matthew 7v7-8
Good Gifts - Matthew 7v9-11
Authority to ask - John 16v23-24
Practical Prayer - Matthew 6v9-13

Example of prayer

1 Kings 18:41-46

(This event follows three years without rain and there is no cloud in the sky.)

Then Elijah said to (king) Ahab, “Go get something to eat and drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!”
So Ahab went to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees.
Then he said to his servant, “Go and look out toward the sea.”
The servant went and looked, then returned to Elijah and said, “I didn’t see anything.”
Seven times Elijah told him to go and look. Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.”
Then Elijah shouted, “Hurry to Ahab and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!’”
And soon the sky was black with clouds. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel. Then the Lord gave special strength to Elijah. He tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab’s chariot all the way to the entrance of Jezreel.

Questions for reflection or discussion

What happened in response to Elijah’s prayer?
How confident was Elijah that his prayer was going to be answered?

Thoughts to consider

Elijah had seen God do many wonderful things, even raising a boy from the dead. He had confident that what God would finish what he had started that day and send rain.

Persistence in prayer

Matthew 7:7-8

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

Questions for reflection or discussion

What kind of need would bring someone to pray so persistently?
Why would Jesus want to encourage persistence?

Thoughts to consider

Persistence demonstrates our trust that God will come through with an answer. It also demonstrates to God that we are serious about asking. This is not a flight of fancy it is something we are serious about.

Good Gifts

Matthew 7:9-11

“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.

Questions for reflection or discussion

Why do parents give good gifts to their children?
How do you feel about God answering your prayers as giving you good gifts?

Thoughts to consider

God as a gracious father gives good gifts to all his children, even sending rain and sun to those who reject him. When we ask him as his children, he is delighted to give even more.

Authority to ask

John 16:23-24

At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.

Questions for reflection or discussion

With what authority does Jesus instruct his disciples to pray?
What is the result of asking the Father for something in Jesus’ name?

Thoughts to consider

Jesus is looking for a unity in relationship between ourselves, him and God in heaven. When we are asking in Jesus’ name, we are thinking about what Jesus would have us pray in the situation and so our prayer is one of unity with Jesus and the Father.

(Practical Prayer)

Matthew 6:9-13

Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,

may your name be kept holy.

May your Kingdom come soon.

May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us today the food we need,

and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.

And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

Questions for reflection or discussion

How do the first lines of this prayer position your thinking about who you are praying to?
How do the following lines help you with permission about your various needs?

Thoughts to consider

Try using the prayer Matthew 6v9-13 taking each line and using it as a springboard for your personal prayers. So, you could use “Our Father in heaven” as a springboard for praise and thanks like this – “Dear Father, thank you for being a father to me and providing me all that I need. I am so amazed you do this without my deserving anything.”

You could copy down this prayer in Matthew 6 and use it as a springboard for prayer each day.

Overview questions for reflection or discussion

If God knows everything, why would he desire for us to pray?

Thoughts to consider

Prayer is all about relationship with God and our learning to walk with him in humility and dependence. Just as a parent might withhold what a toddler wants until they ask, so prayer is about our development as well as having needs answered.