Prayer is fundamental to Christianity; nearly all believers seek prayer or volunteer to pray for others in need, and most church services include some form of corporate prayer. However, despite the prevalence of prayer in Christian circles, many Christians still have numerous questions about it. Each year, I begin with a focus on prayer in my home church because it is essential for a healthy Christian life. As a Faith Leader, I hope you already maintain a solid and consistent prayer life, but it’s also vital for you to be able to explain some things about prayer to those you lead.
Your Prayer Is Not a Bother to God
Have you ever heard someone say, “Oh, I won’t bother God with that little problem. He has so many people asking Him for much more important things.” Their attitude toward prayer is not Scriptural because the Bible never tells us not to pray about something. Instead, several verses encourage us to pray continually. For example, 1 Thessalonians 5:17 states, Pray without ceasing. Psalm 116:2 says, Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. Psalm 5:3 describes what all Faith Leaders should do daily. It reads, My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
According to Proverbs 15:8, prayer is not a burden to God but a blessing. It states that the prayer of the upright is his delight. You may need to remind yourself and those you lead who the upright are in God’s estimation. Upright does not mean perfect by man’s standards, but righteous by God’s. Verse 29 of the same Proverb says, The Lord is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous. So, anyone in right standing with God can communicate with Him, hear from Him, receive from Him, and, of course, worship Him in Spirit and truth. God does hear the prayer of the wicked when they repent, but if anyone expects God to answer their prayers, they should be doing their best to live right. If you have done 2 Corinthians 5:21, you can know that your prayers are a delight to God: He (that is Jesus) who knew no sin was made to be sin for us, that we might be made (manufactured) is the righteousness of God in Him. When people fall into sin, their prayer life is always affected. The first step for them is to do 1 John 1:9: confess their sins, knowing that God is faithful and just to forgive their sins and cleanse them from all unrighteousness. Then, they can do Hebrews 4:16 and come boldly unto the throne of grace, [and] obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. God isn’t hiding from people, but many hide from Him because of sin consciousness. Obtaining mercy and finding grace opens the door to communication with the God of all creation! He wants to talk with you; you are not a bother.
The Name and the Blood of Jesus
We often end or begin our prayers by saying, “In the name of Jesus.” You probably know that the Greek word for name is onoma, which means authority and character. Jesus’ name gives us authority before the Father, on earth, and over every demon spirit. Philippians 2:10 confirms this by saying that in the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.
I also often end my prayers by saying “and by His blood” because it declares my qualifications for answered prayer. The blood of Jesus washed away my sins, so I am blood-bought and blood-washed. I pray in the name of Jesus to the Father, and by the precious blood of Jesus, the devil knows I have every legal right to tell him to cease and desist in his efforts against me or anyone for whom I pray.
Lifting Hands in Prayer
If you pastor or serve in a local church, remember that new attendees may not understand why we do certain things. For instance, many may not grasp why we lift our hands in prayer or during praise and worship (which is a form of prayer). First, let them know you are doing what the Bible says. 1 Timothy 2:8 instructs us that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. The Old Testament contains a similar instruction: Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. (Psalm 141:2)
Then, you can explain that raising your hands acknowledges that God is greater than you, your problems, your pain, and even other people. This act of lifting our hands signifies complete surrender. Raising our hands embodies the message of 1 Peter 5:7, which encourages us to cast all our cares upon Him, for He cares for you.
Prayer is powerful and should be a priority in every believer’s life. As a Faith Leader, I encourage you to remain committed to constant communication with the God of all creation and always be ready to give an answer (1 Peter 3:15) in accordance with Scripture about why, how, and when to pray!
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