Developing a Passion for Prayer
Review from Lessons 1 and 2
Lesson 1: Understand the Reasons to Pray
- Prayer is prescribed by God.
- Prayer provides communication with God.
- Prayer is a privilege for believers.
- Prayer is a pathway to power.
- Prayer promises answers.
Lesson 2: Recognize the Purposes of Prayer
- Acknowledgment of God
- Confession of sin
- Thanksgiving to God
- Supplication for others and self
Lesson 3: Realize the Need for Prayer
It seems that once we understand all of the reasons to pray and recognize the purpose of prayer, we should be more than ready to spend some time talking with our Heavenly Father. However, what I’ve learned over time is that real prayer only occurs when we need it. The problem is that we always need prayer… we just have difficulty realizing our need.
As I mentioned in previous lessons, God expects us to have a continuous attitude of prayer. For most of us, prayer is only a sometimes thing. Only when a passion is developed for prayer will “praying without ceasing” be realized.
A key to developing a passionate prayer life is to realize that we must pray not only when we need it most, but also most when we need it – which is all of the time. A vital prerequisite for having a passion for prayer is to realize that our need for prayer goes far beyond the need to get through difficult trials or hardships. Prayer is a full time need as long as we are on this earth.
I suppose that I could generate a pretty long list of needs to pray about, but for the purpose of this lesson, I will simplify the list to four specific needs:
- Redemption
- Restoration
- Realignment
- Revival
1. We Need to Pray for Redemption
The first and foremost need for prayer is redemption. Redemption is the act of deliverance, rescue, and repurchasing. Specifically to the Christian, redemption is deliverance from sin, or salvation. Redemption comes only through Jesus Christ and only by faith in Christ and His saving grace.
Redemption comes by way of praying to receive the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. It is a personal, intimate, yet public profession of the faith we have in the work on the cross.
Paul writes to the church in Rome concerning the importance of this type of prayer.
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
The need for this prayer exceeds our comprehension. The need is evident only through the conviction of our hearts by the Holy Spirit. When we realize our sinful nature and the cost of our sin, then we realize the need to pray for redemption.
Unlike other prayer needs that are mentioned here, prayer to meet the need for personal redemption must only occur once and the need is met. Once a person prays for redemption and trusts Jesus Christ for their salvation, that person is saved immediately and eternally.
However, there is more need than our own personal redemption. There is a world around us that needs to be redeemed. It is important for us to pray that others we know and love would have opportunities to be redeemed. Our prayers have no redemptive power of their own, but God is faithful to provide opportunities for others to be saved if we are faithful to pray for them.
Paul wrote in his first letter to Timothy, specifically mentioning the need to pray for others, including the need to intercede on their behalf for many things, including their redemption.
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Once we have prayed for personal redemption, and then for the redemption of others who need Christ, we can acknowledge God and testify concerning His great salvation.
1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
Our most critical need is met through the prayer for redemption.
2. We Need to Pray for Restoration
Restoration involves calling upon God for His mercy and forgiveness when we fall into sin. Even after we are redeemed, we are subject to “messing up” and falling into sin. Although our redemption is secure, living with sin in our life will disrupt our fellowship with God and will hinder our work for the Lord. It’s important that we carefully examine each of our days, our acts, our motives, and our communication to determine if we are in need of restoration.
Consider David, a man after God’s heart and a leader of Israel. Even as he prospered in his relationship with God, David fell into sin with Bathsheba. As David tried to hide the sin, he became more and more distant from the Lord and even committed more grievances against God and his fellow man.
Finally, David prayed to seek restoration and receive God’s mercy and grace so that he could continue to serve God.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
Like David, we find ourselves in situations where the joy of our salvation seems a distant memory. Maybe it’s because of some secret sin that we have hid in our heart. Maybe it’s something more obvious, but in our stubbornness, we refuse to admit it. Whatever the case, a prayer of restoration will bring that special joy back.
The need for joy and peace is met through praying for restoration.
3. We Need to Pray for Realignment
Many times we find ourselves a little off track, maybe just outside God’s will or straddling the line between His will and ours. Maybe we’re stuck in a rut and we can’t seem to steer our way out of it. That’s when we need realignment.
Just like a car with a misaligned front end that consistently pulls one way or another, a poorly aligned life will consistently be leaving God’s will. When we find our life “out of alignment,” it’s important that we pray to seek God’s will and ask Him to bring us closer to Him.
Just as a car’s alignment can be damaged by driving through a pothole in the roadway, our life can become misaligned by the pitfalls we encounter as we pursue our own path in life. Often, we find ourselves not aligned with God’s will because of our lust for things of this world. We focus on the wrong things, we align our tastes with the world’s flavor, and we miss out on what God has for us. We try to be “good Christian” while we delve deeper into all this world has to offer. We need to perform an “alignment check” on our life on a regular basis to determine if realignment is needed.
James writes about our misalignment and the need we have to draw near to God and to humble ourselves in prayer before the Lord so that He can realign our life.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Praying for realignment involves asking God for wisdom and His knowledge, seeking God to direct our paths, and to then submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
When we pray for realignment, God is faithful to help us. But, it starts with asking Him for help. Each and every day we should evaluate our need for alignment. It starts with praying to be better aligned with God’s will.
Praying for alignment with God’s will brings a peace that the world cannot know.
4. We Need to Pray for Revival
Finally, we must pray for revival. Revival is defined for a Christian as bringing back into “consciousness” and “life” those who already have life. A Christian has eternal life and has the Holy Spirit living inside. But over time, Christians can become de-sensitized and in many ways become unconscious with regard to their lifestyle and spiritual condition. Many Christians barely survive day-to-day, seemingly on spiritual life support.
Praying for revival is critical for all of us. Revival offers opportunity for spiritual change, experiencing God’s power, and reaping blessings. Note the account that God provides in Second Chronicles.
12 And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.
13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
It can be seen that God mentions prayer directly three times. He hears the prayer, explains the need for prayer, and is attentive to prayer. Additionally, God shows the results of prayer for revival:
- Hearing
- Forgiveness
- Healing
Praying for revival should be an ongoing practice for Christians. Do we need revival or are we fine where we are? We must be careful not to become complacent and satisfied with our spiritual condition, which may be in a state of deterioration. We experience renewed closeness to God and greater sensitivity to His will by praying for revival.
Praying for revival brings spiritual renewal.
Do Teenagers and Youth Workers Need to Pray for These Things?
So, is it important for teenagers to pray for these things? It certainly is… And, it’s just as important for leaders and workers to pray for these as well.
If a teen is not saved, he/she needs to pray for redemption. It is the most important prayer that can be prayed. If a teen is saved, the teen can pray for friends who need redemption.
Youth workers and leaders need to be in continued prayer for the redemption of those who come into their ministry.
Teens, youth workers, and leaders need to pray for restoration when they encounter sin. Neglecting prayer for restoration results in guilt and hinders our service to God.
Teens are pulled all directions by friends, family, and popular culture. It is important that they pray for realignment so that they can be sure to remain in His will.
Likewise, youth workers and leaders need to pray for realignment to ensure that their lives are in order and that their ministries are in line with what God intends for their teens.
Finally, every teen, youth worker, or leader needs to pray for revival – on a personal level as well as for their group.
Summary
In summary, it’s important to realize that we need to pray. We need to pray to ensure that we remain close to Go and can be productive Christians, shedding God’s light on the world around us.
Join me next week as we continue to develop a passion for prayer. Our next topic will be “Recognize the Model for Prayer”.
