What Is Prayer?
I have many people ask me, "What exactly is prayer?" So, I thought I would write to you today with an explanation.
What Is Prayer?
1. I Talk to God
Prayer is simply talking to our Father and Creator. I talk with Him, the same as I talk with anyone. I tell Him more personal things than I normally tell others. He never tells my secrets and He never betrays my trust. I confess my sins to Him and I apologize to Him when I hurt Him. He always has time for me. He is always patient to listen to my gripes and complaints. He never interrupts me because of the phone ringing, or because someone else seems to be more interesting than me over at another table (or wherever I am). I always have God's full attention. He is always there anytime (day or night) for me to talk to Him. He is never too tired, too busy, too annoyed, or anything else. He always listens. (I just wish I could say the same for myself.)
2 Chronicles 6:19 Have respect therefore to the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee:
2. God Talks to Me
Yes, God does talk to me. Now wait a minute. Don't stop reading just yet thinking I am a crazy person who thinks I hear the voice of God. I do hear the voice of God, as can anyone else who desires it. I do NOT hear a literal, audible voice. How do I hear God talk to me? I hear Him in my heart and in my mind. How do I know it is God talking to me? Because I weigh what is said against what the Bible says. If what I hear is against what the Bible (God's Word) teaches, then I know that it is not God's voice that I heard. I also hear Him through His Words in the Bible. When I read the Bible, sometimes I am condemned of some sin. Sometimes, I am encouraged, comforted, lead what decision to make. Yes, God does talk to me; and yes, I do hear Him speak.
1 Kings 19:12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
3. God and I Have Conversations
A conversation happens when one person speaks and then another person speaks. The two speak to one another about various subjects. They listen (hopefully) to one another. If the two who are conversing are family members or very close friends, then, they share things in their conversations that they would not normally share with others. I share my secrets, feelings, disappointments, anger, feelings of hatred and everything else with God, my Lord and Saviour. He never betrays my trust. He never looks down His nose at me; although if anyone had that right, it would be God, my Creator. He never judges me unjustly. When God points His finger at me and corrects as an earthly father corrects his children, I know that I deserve it. I have done something I should not do and my Father gently corrects me.
Proverbs 3:11-12 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
4. Anyone can talk to God.
God's Word (the Bible) explains this point much better than I can:
Psalms 50:23 Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.
Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Ephesians 4:17-32 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
"Thank you, Father, for being patient with me and correcting me when I need correction. Thank you, my God, for being there and encouraging me when I feel I can go on no more. Thank you, my Lord and Saviour, for saving my soul and rescuing me out of the pits of darkness, sin, and immorality. I owe all I am to You, God. I owe everything I have to you, Father. Please help me, Father, to never withhold anything back from You. Thank you, my God and Father, for talking to me. Thank you for this great gift of prayer you have given to all of us.~Amen!"
I hope these words will help you better understand "What Is Prayer?"
May God bless you, lead you, guide you. I already know that He will listen to you!
Linda
What Is Prayer?
1. I Talk to God
Prayer is simply talking to our Father and Creator. I talk with Him, the same as I talk with anyone. I tell Him more personal things than I normally tell others. He never tells my secrets and He never betrays my trust. I confess my sins to Him and I apologize to Him when I hurt Him. He always has time for me. He is always patient to listen to my gripes and complaints. He never interrupts me because of the phone ringing, or because someone else seems to be more interesting than me over at another table (or wherever I am). I always have God's full attention. He is always there anytime (day or night) for me to talk to Him. He is never too tired, too busy, too annoyed, or anything else. He always listens. (I just wish I could say the same for myself.)
2 Chronicles 6:19 Have respect therefore to the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee:
2. God Talks to Me
Yes, God does talk to me. Now wait a minute. Don't stop reading just yet thinking I am a crazy person who thinks I hear the voice of God. I do hear the voice of God, as can anyone else who desires it. I do NOT hear a literal, audible voice. How do I hear God talk to me? I hear Him in my heart and in my mind. How do I know it is God talking to me? Because I weigh what is said against what the Bible says. If what I hear is against what the Bible (God's Word) teaches, then I know that it is not God's voice that I heard. I also hear Him through His Words in the Bible. When I read the Bible, sometimes I am condemned of some sin. Sometimes, I am encouraged, comforted, lead what decision to make. Yes, God does talk to me; and yes, I do hear Him speak.
1 Kings 19:12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
3. God and I Have Conversations
A conversation happens when one person speaks and then another person speaks. The two speak to one another about various subjects. They listen (hopefully) to one another. If the two who are conversing are family members or very close friends, then, they share things in their conversations that they would not normally share with others. I share my secrets, feelings, disappointments, anger, feelings of hatred and everything else with God, my Lord and Saviour. He never betrays my trust. He never looks down His nose at me; although if anyone had that right, it would be God, my Creator. He never judges me unjustly. When God points His finger at me and corrects as an earthly father corrects his children, I know that I deserve it. I have done something I should not do and my Father gently corrects me.
Proverbs 3:11-12 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
4. Anyone can talk to God.
God's Word (the Bible) explains this point much better than I can:
Psalms 50:23 Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.
Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Ephesians 4:17-32 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
"Thank you, Father, for being patient with me and correcting me when I need correction. Thank you, my God, for being there and encouraging me when I feel I can go on no more. Thank you, my Lord and Saviour, for saving my soul and rescuing me out of the pits of darkness, sin, and immorality. I owe all I am to You, God. I owe everything I have to you, Father. Please help me, Father, to never withhold anything back from You. Thank you, my God and Father, for talking to me. Thank you for this great gift of prayer you have given to all of us.~Amen!"
I hope these words will help you better understand "What Is Prayer?"
May God bless you, lead you, guide you. I already know that He will listen to you!
Linda
posted by Linda Pearson at
9:38 AM
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