Prayer is one of the greatest privileges that we have! It is
a precious opportunity to express our love to and for God; to have the honor to
praise His name and to tell Him “thank you”.
Prayer strengthens your personal relationship with our Father, our Lord Jesus
Christ and the Holy Spirit.
The Bible tells us that as God’s children, our prayers are
like a sweet fragrance [incense] to God.
[Rev 5:8 NKJV]
8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and
the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and
golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
The golden incense-altar was the altar of prayer and the
altar of burnt-offering was the altar of atonement
and consecration. God gave detailed
instructions for the altar in the tabernacle [Exodus 30] and gave
very specific spices for the incense. We
are told that aromas hold specific meanings for God, both pleasing and those
that makes Him recoil.
[2Co 2:15-16 NKJV]
15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are
being saved and among those who are perishing.
16 To the one [we are] the aroma of death [leading] to death, and
to the other the aroma of life [leading] to life. And who [is] sufficient for
these things?
Christ himself is the fragrance and it is through His righteousness
that His fragrance covers our prayers straight to the throne room of God.
[Eph 5:2 ESV]
2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us,
a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Jesus also encourages us to pray in unity. This is a beautiful
harmony
of voices that reach God’s throne. Just think, He treasures all of our prayers
and keeps them forever. Prayer is so
powerful because Jesus tells us that He is among us while we pray!
[Mat 18:19-20 NLT]
19 "I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth
concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you.
20 For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am
there among them."
Jesus gave us instruction and the perfect template (pattern)
to help us communicate with our Creator. He certainly doesn’t want us to repeat
ritualistic words or to speak mindlessly, but He does want us to pray
specifically and boldly.
[Mat 6:5-15 NIV]
5 "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they
love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by
others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
6 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.
7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they
think they will be heard because of their many words.
8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before
you ask him.
Important factors
Just what are the key factors that are important as you
speak to your Heavenly Father?
9 "This, then, is how you should pray: " 'Our Father in
heaven, hallowed be your name, - How beautiful to give a declaration of
praise, acknowledging that God is Holy and to
be revered. He is Lord of heaven and earth. He is our Creator and our Heavenly
Father. His name is never to be taken lightly. How often have we put God inside
a box to fit Him inside our minimal understanding of who He is?
10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in
heaven. – Pray for His will to rule and reign in our world. His power
and presence will enter our lives here on earth as He wills it in heaven. There
is a very distinct connection between earth and the
heavenly realm.
11 Give us today our daily bread. – This declaration of
dependence upon God as our provider acknowledges that everything we need is
provided by His gracious hand.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. –
We are indebted to God because He forgave our sins. We must willingly forgive
those who have sinned against us. This is where we must ask for grace
to do so.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil
one.' – We have an enemy of our souls. As we go thru difficulties and
times of temptation, we need divine deliverance. We have power over the evil one because
Jesus paid an enormous price.
Some manuscripts include “For yours is the kingdom
and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” – All that God is and all
that God does lives forever. There has never been and never will be anything
greater than God in all the universe.
Jesus continues by telling us:
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your
heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will
not forgive your sins.
Thankfully, when we do not know what to pray, the Holy
Spirit intercedes for us by searching our hearts and praying for us.
[Rom 8:26-27 NLT]
26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we
don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with
groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is
saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will.
There is nothing that you can’t talk to God about. He is
interested in every tiny thing going on in your life. You can pray your way through
the day by allowing prayer to become like breathing. Don’t worry if you pray in a whisper, out
loud or silently.
Just….pray ~
Resources:
The Power of a Praying Woman Bible – by Stormie Omartian
The BibleProject
Blue Letter Bible