The Mystery of Prayer

For many prayer is a deep mystery. I “pray”, this day, with the help of the Holy Spirit, that this mystery will be removed, for those who are troubled or confused by it; what to pray for, how often to pray, why prayers are unanswered and more.

Prayer is a biblical doctrine of our faith, to start with. The doctrine of prayer is not just insignificantly added on after we have finished the doctrines of God and man, and therefore, allow prayer to remain in the shadows of the unknown.

We need to look at prayer seriously, as one’s view of God’s relation to the world and man’s relation to God. It’s “as essential as daily food.” MYP 115). But “to have a life of prayer it must be maintained b earnest effort.” (ST 607).

Prayer, by definition, means to intervene, intercede, arbitrate, mediate. Intercessory prayer has incredible possibilities for enlarging our territory of service, our scope, when tied in with a knowledge of Biblical scriptures. We may pray for someone in our homes, next door, or one-half way around the world. Some think prayer can affect only the one who prays, as a kind of psychological therapy. Others, still, consider it as merely communion with God. The Bible tells us prayer is effective for one who prays and others for whom he prays… as well as for the general world! What power! Prayer has power in all that is in God’s power. God can, in answer to prayer direct any circumstance in the world which He controls and sustains. Think about it. Today also as always, there is an urgent need for us to pray for “all who are in authority.” (ITim. 2:2). But does the word “all” include the most wicked of leaders? Are there ever people in positions of power and influence who are beyond the help of prayer? The answer is in 1 Tim. 1:12-17, where Paul admitted he was a sinner… “of whom I am chief.” Paul was really saying, “If I, the worst of sinners, can be saved, anyone can.” Paul, therefore, exhorted us to pray for “all” authority, because God desires that all be saved. So, let’s not only pray that honourable leaders will act wisely, but also that ungodly leaders will be saved. God can save “anyone”! But, of course when righteous people pray. So, God really hears those prayers in heaven. The lives for whom we pray are then influenced from above.

In 1 Chronicles 4:10, or our opening verse, Jabez prayed for enlarged borders and protection from harm. His name, Jabez, sounds like the Hebrew word for “distress” or “pain”… maybe so… and his “pleading” prayer. But, God gave him what he asked for! When we pray for others, our “territory” of service can be large and limitless. The prayers of the Bible were for specific things concerning nature and man’s body. Jabez prayed for enlarged borders and protection from harm. When we pray, too, for others our territory for service can be without limits! Our prayers can reach “anyone”, “anywhere”, “anytime”, and because God hears and has promised to answer, wonderful things happen when we pray, not only did Jabez pray for larger borders and protection, but we find others, too, who prayed and asked for deliverance from trouble (Ps. 34:15-22), neither poverty or riches (Prov. 30:7-9), deliverance from belly of fish (Jonah 2:7-10), daily bread (Nath, 6:11), healing of sick (Jam. 5:17,18), and more.

When the disciples prayed, the whole building around them shook (Acts 4:31) and an earthquake occurred, opening the doors of the prison (16:25,26); the prayer of a righteous man has great power. (Jam. 5:16).

Prayer is one of the most unselfish and noble gifts we can give to another. Why? Because only God knows, and He alone receives the glory for the end results. Whether we are asking in prayer to know Him better, for Him to do something in the life of someone else, or for Him to provide for a need, He loves to answer. God delights to give; He’s full of compassion, and loves to answer those requests for those who come unto Him in faith. He gives to us so we can help others, and so become like Himself. (COL 141). He loves to have us approach Him like His children – expecting Him to hear and to answer, and He loves to have us call him our Father. It makes the relationship more real in our minds. He gives us the privilege of calling the Infinite God our Father. It’s a sign for us, of our love and trust to Him. When we pray and ask Him for a favour or blessing, it’s like music to His ears. (COL 142). He taught us that we are to ask from Him so we may give to others and learn how we can give in love to others.

When we ask for something in prayer from Him, He may see that it’s necessary for us to search our hearts and repent of sin. Therefore, He takes us through test and trial. “He humbles us so we can see what’s stopping or interfering with the working of the Holy Spirit through us.” (COL 143).

In Old Testament times the Hebrew language had no word for “impossible”! Maybe that was because God’s people knew that if they were obedient there’s nothing He couldn’t or wouldn’t do for them. Today answers are still promised on conditions of obedience. But, he gives these conditions as guidelines, not to discourage, but to point the way! God has a heaven full of blessings for those who cooperate with Him. All who obey Him can claim His promises. (COL 145).

Our Father wants us to trust Him and to know that He can be trusted. James tells us, we need to “Ask without hesitating.” Abraham believed God and as a result was called “God’s friend.” Often He delays His answer to our prayers to try our faith or test the truthfulness of our desires. When we ask, then believe His promise and press your requests or desires with determination that will not be denied. (COL 145).

When we have difficulties, our very first thought should be to pray! Trust all with God. The habit of telling our difficulties to others only makes us weak (COL 146). Who hasn’t asked for more wisdom, guidance, information, or help in critical situations?
Here’s hope about this. It’s that which the Lord can do for you. We need to have less confidence in man and more confidence in God. He loves or longs to see you reach up to Him in faith and expect great things from Him. (COL 146).

But, how do we learn to “pray more”? (ST 571) Many, today spend 1-3 hours a day in prayer! How in the world do they do it? Some say they couldn’t possibly find that much time or know how to spend it if they did. We must make time! If we do, He’ll reward us in abundance. It’s like paying tithes. Those who never paid tithe don’t understand that they can have more by giving l/10th to the Lord. The more we give, the more we have to give. He blesses us in other ways. It’s the same with our time. When we give Him our time, He makes the rest of the day more effective and efficient… try it!

Although there’s many different ways to pray, the important thing is to spend time as Mary did, sitting at the feet of Jesus learning, growing, yielding to Him. Then, too, some write their prayers… remaining, thereby, focused on the Lord. We’ll find a communication with heaven never experienced before. Many prefer to pray silently; others aloud and some speak with God as they do their daily activities and chores, talking to Him as to a guest in the house.

When we are praying, just as when you’re jogging or walking, it helps to have a route to follow. The Lord’s Prayer is perfect prayer. It’s simple but comprehensive and covers everything. We need to study it. Begin any prayer or every prayer with praise. In Ps 22, David tells us that God inhabits our very lives in praises of His people. As we come into His presence with praise, gratitude, worship, confession, our anxiety then vanishes. This is true, isn’t it. God changes us. His Holy Spirit transforms us. “Pray morning and evening, and pray before you speak. (2T 82; 4T 616). Finally, end every prayer with praise.

As we seek for God’s will in our prayer, He will answer us with a better way, better answer than we could ever imagine! The Lord never answers our prayers because we force Him to, but because of His loving and free grace. He gives us more than we could possibly think to ask.

No prayer is ever wasted, even prayers we thought were not heard. He answers in His own and perfect way and His time. Prayer exposes the kingdom of Satan, however establishes the kingdom of God. Prayer presses back the wicked forces of darkness, and battles evil and horror.

The more we pray the more our horizons and perspective expands and the more we can expect from God. But, to ignore prayer leaves us only with a worldly outlook and basis. We deny His powers and guidance, and protection. A fearful thought! As God’s last-day people we must use His infinite power.

Now after all of the above, what can our church do to grow strong in prayers? Firstly, the church is made up of those who have asked forgiveness and is called as “fellowship of prayer.” So, what needs to be done?

1. A powerful church has leaders who make prayer a priority. If we look closely we’ll discover our church’s greatest deficiency is not in programs, strategies, materials, ideas, more members, workers, potluck dinners, books, money, but in “prayer”!

2. Prayer, Bible study and personal ministry should be joined together as “one”. To pray and do Bible study without serving and sharing with others can create complacent, self-centered Christians and work only in the “power of the flesh.”

3. Many find one way to grow in prayer life is to form small groups; friends, brethren. This encourages consistency, regularity in prayer. We strengthen ourselves and others.

4. Have family worship and personal worship. Private prayer, by far, is the most spiritual. But, if we neglect personal and family worship then other ways or attempts of praying are like sprinkling the leaves of a plant with water while leaving the roots to dry and die.

Furthermore, what can prayer do for you?…for the one that prays? Well, it can supply our most urgent needs of life. The one praying can receive freedom from fear (Ps. 118:5,6); strength of soul (Ps. 138:3); guidance and satisfaction (Isa. 58:9-11); wisdom and understanding (Dan. 9:20-27); deliverance from harm (Joel 2:32); reward (Matt. 6:6); good gifts (Lk. 11:13); fullness of joy (John 16:23,24): peace (Phil. 4:6,7); freedom from anxiety (1 Pet. 5:7), and more!

Prayer, then is our response and request to the Lord. In our howling, troubled world, men need to make this response to God; believing men need to make request as “never before”! Also, “pray for children as never before.”(CG 494)… and children… “pray for your parents.” (CG 148). Now, how often should we pray? “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thess. 5:17). But, a word of caution at this point. “He who does nothing but pray will soon cease to pray.” (SC 101). This can develop into ‘fanaticism.” (2T 147).

This solves the mystery of what we should pray for (Ps. 28:1,2)… pray, therefore, “about everything”! If we are close to Jesus we shall ask what He wants us to ask, whether we are conscious of doing so or not. “Ask what you desire,” whatever your will is, like a relation of a child to his father. “Your Father God, knows the things you have need before you ask Him.” (Matt. 6:8). If God, therefore, knows all these needs why ask or why pray? The whole meaning of prayer is that we “know God.” Our minds must be saturated by the revelation of prayer until we learn in every detail to pray in the Holy Spirit. Are we, then, in the habit of constantly praying… or talking to Jesus about everything? Prayer is not an exercise… it is “life”! All our acts are to be acted prayers.

There are stages in life when there is no storm, no crisis, when we do our human best; it is when a crisis comes that will show on whom we trust; where we go in the time of trial, proves what the great underlying power is in our lives.

When Jabez grew up, “Jabez was more honourable than his brothers.” (v9) What made Jabez “more honourable”? Fromhis prayer we can see he took his relationship with God seriously. There was no mystery in the words of his prayer. Rather, he knew that God is the giver of all things. Remember it is important to see that the Giver, the Lord, is more important than the gift.

Jabez was “honourable,” because he honoured the Lord. He lived to please God. So, when we pray, ask, “what honours God”? Then, “seek His will and way.” The purpose of prayer, therefore, is not to get what we desire, but to become what God wants… and then let the Lord have His way.
AMEN.