The Importance of Prayer

Every believer knows he/she should be praying, but how exactly do we keep a situation covered in prayer after we “believe we have received” our answer when we pray the first time?  Can we just sit down after praying one time and rest in the knowledge that “it is done” or does the New Testament teach otherwise?

Lets look at the below New Testament Scriptures regarding Prayer, to encourage ourselves in “how” to pray and to encourage ourselves to “keep on” praying.

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Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
(Matthew 21:21-22)
= here is our outline from Christ Himself, telling us to BELIEVE we HAVE received our answer at the moment we pray.  No more begging or pleading with God to please do something for us

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
(Matthew 6:6-7)
= are we taking time alone in prayer?  There is much reward from God, for the one who takes this time

And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting
(Mark 9:29)
= do you have a difficult situation where your mind is having a hard time grasping the Truth that “it is done” in prayer?   Then add fasting to your prayer.  But remember, whether you are fasting or not, you must still use the guideline of Matthew 21:21-22 and Mark 11:24 in order to receive your prayer answered

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
(Mark 11:24)
= yet another reminder that no matter where, when, how we are praying … with fasting or not … we must ALWAYS believe we have our answer when we first set out in prayer, in order to see the answer to our prayers

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins
(Mark 11:25)
= remember to FORGIVE everyone, all the time, no matter what was done to you

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up
(Luke 18:1)
= so how do we “not give up”?  Do we keep asking God for the same thing over and over?  No.  Mark 11:24 and Matthew 21:21,22 told us to BELIEVE we have received our answer when we pray, therefore we can continue to hold the request up in THANKSGIVING, believing it is done and thank God for our answer while we are praying and waiting for the answer to manifest in the natural  … this way we still have the situation covered in prayer while still believing our prayer IS answered

They all joined together constantly in prayer
(Acts 1:14)
= continual prayer should be the life of the Believer, as we will continue to see in the below Scriptures

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express
(Romans 8:26)
= this verse goes along with the below:

So what shall I do? I will pray  with my spirit, but I will also pray  with my mind;
I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind
(1 Corinthians 14:15)
= perhaps you won’t always know how to pray for a situation … then pray in the Spirit, Who helps in our  limitations and weaknesses

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints
(Ephesians 6:18)
= pray in the Spirit.  Pray with fasting.  Pray with joy.  Sometimes we will be moved to groan and pray in tears.  Whatever we do, we must continue to pray to cover every situation in our lives

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God
(Philippians 4:6)
= and as we pray over all situations, we must not fret or worry that the prayer is not being heard or answered, but pray with FAITH, believing your prayer is heard AND answered, which will produce thanksgiving

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful
(Colossians 4:2)
= Still another reminder to keep on praying at all times, while WATCHING for our answers.  This means expectancy.  Watch for your answer.  Believe and know the answer is as good as done!  Again, such faith and expectancy brings forth much joy and thanksgiving

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus
(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
= no joy in your prayer life, no thanksgiving in your prayer life, or constantly begging God and fearing that the answer will never come … or come too late … does not please God (Hebrews 11:6).  God tells us in this Scripture, how to pray:  with joy and with thanksgiving, which shows that you actually believe God at His Mark 11:24 word

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone
(1 Timothy 2:1)
= are we praying for our bosses?  For our spouses?  For our Government?  For our Pastors?  With thanksgiving versus anger or hopelessness or doubt?  This is a good reminder for us all

when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord
(James 1:6-7)
= another reminder that FAITH is the key to receiving prayers answered from God.  No faith = no receiving ANYTHING from God!  Anything?  Well, that is what this verse says

Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray.
(James 5:13)
- are you in trouble?  Here’s a reminder to not run to friends and ask their opinion on the situation, but pray.  And believe you have received  your answer for the situation.  And then thank God that the answer is as good as done

And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven
(James 5:15)
= don’t pray “hoping” God will heal another person, or yourself.  And certainly don’t pray doubting God will heal another person, or yourself!  But believe God to heal.  Believe God to answer.  And believe God to even impart this knowledge to any other person you are praying for

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective
(James 5:16)
= believe this Word!  Your prayers ARE powerful!  You ARE righteous because of the blood of Jesus.  So PRAY, knowing your prayers are making a difference in whatever situation you are praying for!

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer
(1 Peter 3:12)
= another reminder that God IS listening.  He IS hearing our prayers.  So believe you have received

Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.
(1 John 3:21-23)
= study how the righteousness of God was given to us because of Christ’s death on the cross in our place, so your heart won’t condemn you of your failings.  Then go to God in full confidence that you receive your prayer requests from Him … every time!

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
(1 John 5:14-15)
= here is yet another faith building Scripture from the Lord!  Believe He is hearing your prayer.  Believe He is granting your request.  Believe He is answering, and moving, and working  in your life and in your situation for you to receive exactly what you’ve prayed for, and for you to receive exactly what He has Promised is yours in His Covenant!  And then when you go to Him regarding the situation the 2nd time in prayer, you can OVERFLOW with THANKSGIVING as you CHOOSE to believe He has answered you the first time!

Believe.
Choose to believe.
He is not a liar or trickster, by making these Promises and then not performing.

Remember He is Faithful and True and Honest to do what He has said He would do.

Now doesn’t that just start to build faith and thanksgiving in you?

God bless your prayer time today!

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Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel’s hand.
(Revelation 8:3-4)

 

If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples.  Then you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free
(John 8:32)

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(c) 2010-2011 LeeAnn Bell, Faith Speaks Inc
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