What is Prayer?

One of the themes that we focus on during the Lenten Season is prayer. Though most of us have prayed do we truly understand what prayer is? Let’s explore by seeing what the HelpFinder Bible has to say about prayer. The following is taken from the HelpFinder Bible index.

Prayer:
The most universally practiced yet least understood of human experiences, prayer is one of the great mysteries of the Christian faith. Its simplest definition is communication with God. Yet so often we approach prayer like a one-way telephone conversation, forgetting that God also wants to speak to us. And how do we pray—on our knees or standing; silently or out loud; alone or with others; by rote or spontaneously? And does prayer really induce God to change events or otherwise act on our behalf? Prayer appears on almost countless pages of the Bible as the very essence of a faith relationship with the living God. Simple enough for a child to understand and yet so profound we spend a lifetime plumbing its depths, prayer assumes that it is possible for us to have an intimate relationship with a God who hears, cares, and is able to act.

What is prayer?
• 2 CHRONICLES 7:14 | “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven.”
Prayer is a conversation with God. It is simply talking with God and listening to him, honestly telling him your thoughts and feelings, praising him, thanking him, confessing sin, and asking for his help and advice. The essence of prayer is humbly entering the very presence of almighty God.

• PSALM 38:18 | But I confess my sins; I am deeply sorry for what I have done.
• 1 JOHN 1:9 | But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
Prayer often begins with a confession of sin. It is through confession that you demonstrate the humility necessary for open lines of communication with the almighty, holy God.

• 1 SAMUEL 14:36 | But the priest said, “Let’s ask God first.”
• 2 SAMUEL 5:19 | So David asked the Lord, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines?”
Prayer is asking God for guidance and waiting for his direction and leading.

• MARK 1:35 | Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.
Prayer is an expression of an intimate relationship with your heavenly Father, who makes his own love and resources available to you. Just as you enjoy being with people you love, you enjoy spending time with God as you get to know him better and understand just how much he loves you.

• PSALM 9:1-2 | I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart. . . . I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.
Through prayer we praise our mighty God.

• 1 CHRONICLES 17:16-18 | “Who am I, O Lord God . . . that you have brought me this far? . . . You know what your servant is really like.”
Prayer is humbly acknowledging our humanness in relation to God’s greatness and perfection.

• 1 SAMUEL 3:10 | And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”
Good conversation also includes listening, so make time for God to speak to you. When you listen to God, he will make his wisdom and plan known to you.