Developing a Passion for Prayer
Introduction
If you knew that you could get a solution to a serious problem simply by spending some time talking to someone, would you take advantage of that opportunity? What if you could keep coming back over and over with different problems and situations, knowing that you would always get an answer? And, what if you could talk with someone and get peace when troubles hit close to home? And what if the welcome never wore out? Wouldn’t you make the most of that opportunity?
Well, that’s what prayer offers. It’s an opportunity to spend time talking with God about every issue in your life, knowing that He cares and has an answer. Unfortunately, most of the time, we don’t take advantage of the opportunity that prayer offers. We tend to go everywhere else but to prayer, until the situation becomes desperate.
Through this Bible study series, Developing a Passion for Prayer, I hope to help you understand what prayer is all about, realize how much God wants to hear your prayers, and generate a love for talking to God. Having a love or passion for prayer will make prayer an integral part of your walk with God and will draw you closer to the God who loves you so much.
Lesson 1: Realize the Reasons for Prayer
“I know that prayer is important, but I just don’t understand why…” It’s something I’ve heard many times as I have ministered to teenagers. And, I must admit, it’s something that I didn’t fully understand early in my Christian growth. But, as I learned about prayer and its purpose, promise, and potential, I developed a desire to spend time with God, understanding the benefits prayer offered. However, it was easy for me to find excuses not to pray, even though I had the desire to pray. What I missed was a passion for prayer – the passion that drove me to spend time with a Savior who gave me the best gift ever because He loves me. So, in an effort to develop that passion, I started to learn more about prayer and make prayer a priority, then a habit, and finally a passion. For me, it started with understanding why I should pray.
As I thought about why I should pray, I came up with five reasons for prayer. I’m sure there are many more, but these are five reasons that I found helpful in gaining a better understanding of prayer…
1. Prayer is Prescribed by God
The first reason to pray is that prayer is prescribed or commanded by God. Throughout the Bible, we find passages compelling Believers to pray. In Matthew’s gospel, we see Jesus instructing His followers on prayer, beginning with a prescriptive model for prayer.
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. – Matthew 6:9 (KJV)
We will study that model later in this Bible study series, but the first line is important, as Jesus told the disciples “After this manner therefore pray ye…” Jesus was not indicating that prayer was an option, or even the model was an option. Jesus was demonstrating the requirement for prayer. In fact, Jesus prescribed the model for prayer after He had established a setting for prayer.
Paul, in his letter to the Believers in Philippi, further prescribed that they were to pray, letting God know their needs, rather than be anxious about life’s issues.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. – Philippians 4:6 (KJV)
And in the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah communicated God’s command to seek Him and call upon Him.
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: – Isaiah 55:6 (KJV)
Prayer, if we were to think of it as a command from God, is a vital part of our relationship with God. It is a prescription for all of life’s ailments, whether they be spiritual or physical.
Understanding God’s prescription for prayer is a compelling reason to pray.
2. Prayer Provides Personal Communication with God
Not only is prayer prescribed by God, it is also a personal communication channel to God. When a Christian goes to the Lord in prayer, there is no need to wonder if anyone is listening. God is tuned in and ready to respond. It’s as if He is waiting on our every word.
In Psalms, David often described the very special and personal times he spent talking with God. He was careful to note that God heard him and answered. Psalm 5 demonstrates this intimate communication:
Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. – Psalm 5:1-3 (KJV)
The prophet Isaiah described God’s promise regarding answers to our prayers:
Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. – Isaiah 58:9a (KJV)
When there’s something on your mind, it’s a wonderful thing to have someone to go to to talk about it. That’s what prayer is all about. It’s not just for times when things are tough and everything seems to go wrong. Prayer is also for times when you need to share the good things, the special personal things, with Someone who loves you and cares for you. That Someone is God and He is waiting just to hear from you.
Realizing intimate communication with God is a personal reason to pray.
3. Prayer is a Privilege for Believers
Not only is prayer prescribed by God and a personal talk with God, it is a privilege from God to believers. Do you realize that other than the prayer of Salvation from a lost sinner, all other prayer is reserved for those saved by God’s grace through Jesus Christ? Once a person trusts in Christ alone for Salvation, he or she has special access to God through Jesus Christ. There is no requirement to go through any religious process. As believers, we can go directly to God through Jesus.
In the letter to the Hebrew Christians, God revealed the wonderful privilege given to believers:
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. – Hebrews 4:14-16 (KJV)
Knowing that prayer is a unique privilege reserved only for born again believers is a special reason to pray.
4. Prayer is a Pathway to Power
Prayer is prescribed, it’s personal, it’s a privilege, and prayer is a pathway to power. It is difficult to fully imagine God’s power. Considering that God is omnipotent (all-powerful), there is nothing on this earth that can compare to His power. We can recall the power of military might with its missiles and bombs, or the power of devastating earthquakes such as recent quakes in Haiti and Japan, or the force of the powerful flood waters of hurricanes or tsunamis. But, none of that can compare with the power of God. And through prayer, that power is available to Christians.
Jesus spoke of the power of prayer in the gospel of John:
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. – John 14:13-14 (KJV)
If we think about His promise, it is quite remarkable. Essentially, Jesus is telling us “just ask” and He will take care of things. He will use His power to do what we ask in His name. This is a powerful concept about prayer that requires much faith and trust in Jesus. I, for one, want to grab hold of this promise and the power that comes with it!
In the Acts of the Apostles, Luke captures a scene when God’s power came upon the disciples after they had prayed.
And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. – Acts 4:31 (KJV)
This prayer resulted in physical shaking (“the place was shaken”) and the disciples were filled with the power of the Holy Ghost. As a result, men who only a short time before were discouraged and uncertain about their calling became bold with the gospel and had great impact on the world around them.
Experiencing the power of God is powerful reason to pray.
5. Prayer Promises Answers
Prayer is prescribed, it’s personal, it’s a privilege, it’s powerful, and lastly it promises answers. It’s always nice to know that someone hears you when you talk to them, especially when there’s an important question involved. With God, you’ll never have to be concerned about distractions. He will be focused on you and your prayers. And He will answer you. It may not be when you expect, or even the way that you expect, but God will answer.
In Psalm 118, the Psalmist offers testimony of God’s response to prayer:
I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. – Psalm 118:5 (KJV)
In Psalm 138, David reminds us of the faithfulness of God regarding prayer:
In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. – Psalm 138:3 (KJV)
When you pray, you can be sure that God hears, because He is interested in what you have to say; and, you can be sure that He will answer because He wants you to recognize His faithfulness and strengthen your faith.
Knowing that God answers prayer is a positive reason to pray.
Summary
In summary, it’s important to realize that God wants us to pray. He has prescribed prayer in His Word. He has established prayer for personal communication with Him. He has made prayer a personal privilege available only to believers. He provides power to believers through prayer. And He hears and answers the believer’s prayers. With all of those reasons, don’t you think it’s a great idea to pray?
Join me next week as we continue to develop a passion for prayer. Our next topic will be “Realizing the Purpose for Prayer”.
