Key Thoughts On Prayer
"It is a part of God’s plan to grant us, in answer to the prayer of faith, that which He would not bestow did we not thus ask." { GC 525.2}
Introduction
On this page I share some of the key concepts regarding prayer,. I also share key Bible verses that support their inclusion. The list is not exhaustive, but these concepts seem key as I have studied on the subject. Elsewhere on this website, you will find pages with quotations and sermons that bring additional meaning to these concepts.
Thoughts Regarding Prayer
God Wants To Have A Relationship With Us.
Revelation 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him...."
Matt. 11:28 "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest...."
God Wants To Communicate With Us.
Matt. 6:6 “…when you have shut your door….”
God Wants To Answer Our Prayers
Eph. 3:20 "... able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think..."
We Must Ask.
Matt. 7:7-8 “Ask and it shall be given….”
Luke 1: 37 “With God, nothing is impossible.”
We May Ask Specifically.
John 14:13 "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."
John 15:7 (NKJV) "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you."
Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV) "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Psalms 37:4 "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
We Must Ask In Jesus' Name.
John 16: 23,24 “… whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.”
Heb. 4: 16 “Let us therefore come boldly….”
We Must Ask Believing.
Mark 9: 23 “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
Mark 11: 24 “…believe that you have received them, and you will have them.”
Matt 9:29 “Then touched He their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.”
James 1:6 “But let him ask in faith….”
We Must Ask According To God's Will.
1 John 5:14-15 “…if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
Our Prayers Can Be Hindered.
Ps. 66:18 “If I regard iniquity….”
Prov. 28:9 “One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.”
Isaiah 59:1,2 “Your iniquities have separated you….”
Isaiah 1:15-17 “…when ye make many prayers, I will not hear; your hands are full of blood.”
We Must Ask Persistently.
Luke 11:1-5 “Because of his persistence….”
1 Thess 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”
We Must Ask With Thanksgiving.
Php. 4: 6,7 “…but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving….”
Eph. 5:20 “…giving thanks always for all things to God….”
1 Thess. 5:18 “…in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Php. 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.”
We Must Obey.
1 John 3:22 “…we receive … because we keep His commandments….”
We Must Live Out Our Prayers.
1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."
We Can Pray With Others.
Matt. 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered….”
We Can Pray For Others.
Isaiah 59:16 “…and wondered that there was no intercessor....”
Isaiah 62:6 “…ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence.”
Luke 11:5-8 “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves….”
We Can Seek Victory For Others Through Prayer.
Hebrews 4:16 "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace [power] that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
We Can Pray For Revival.
Zech. 10:1 “Ask the Lord for rain in the time of the latter rain.”
Isa. 44:3 “I will pour water on him who is thirsty….”
We Can Pray For The Healing Of Others.
Gen. 20:17 : “So Abraham prayed to God; and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants. Then they bore children,…”
James 5:13-16 “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. ….”
I Cor. 11:28-30 "For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep."
We Can Resist Satan Through Prayer
James 4:7 “Resist the devil….”
Col. 1:13 “He has delivered us….”
1John 3:8 “…that He might destroy the works of the devil….”
Rom. 16:20 “…will crush Satan under your feet….”
Sometimes Fasting Is Needed
Mark 9:29 “… This kind can come out by nothing except by prayer and fasting.”