Zone1 What Is Prayer?

[crossbody]

What does prayer mean to you?

Prayer is talking with God. It is relationship-based, a way to have intimate communication with God, our Heavenly Father. Abba, Father. The word "Abba" in Hebrew is more like the word "Daddy" in English.

Since we have received the Spirit of sonship, through believing in Jesus (Yeshua) as our Savior, Lord, and Messiah, we can cry "Abba Father" in Messiah's name and he hears us

Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Prayer is a priceless privilege, available to believers in Christ Jesus (Yeshua) 24/7 all year long.

 

[crossbody]

1. The first time the word "pray" appears in the Bible is Genesis 20:7 where God told Abimelech (king of Gerar) in a dream to restore Abraham's wife to him... for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. A prayer for intercession is someone praying for another.

Genesis 20:17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.

2. The first time the word "prayer" appears in the Bible is in 2 Samuel 7:27when King David prays to God, reminding Him of His promises to establish the House of David forever.

2 Samuel 7:27 For thou, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.

Both prayers are based on something God had said. It is always fruitful to pray this way because God keep His Word and HIs promises.

Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

 

[The Irish Ram]

God walked in His garden with His children, and taught them things. I held my Daddy's finger, and we walked in his garden and he taught me things. My Dad was such a wonderful representation of our Heavenly Father, I know we are supposed to fear the Lord, but I can't wait to put my arms around both of them and never let go...

 

[egp320i]

my take, asking for help from somebody more powerful than you when you are in a situation you need free from or guidance

 

[crossbody]

God walked in His garden with His children, and taught them things. I held my Daddy's finger, and we walked in his garden and he taught me things. My Dad was such a wonderful representation of our Heavenly Father, I know we are supposed to fear the Lord, but I can't wait to put my arms around both of them and never let go...

You have such good memories of your earthly father, and priceless. You are right, we are supposed to fear the God, but only to where we fear his wrath if we decide to turn back to sin (folly).

 

[crossbody]

my take, asking for help from somebody more powerful than you when you are in a situation you need free from or guidance

You made some really important points. You mentioned "asking" for help, and being "set free" from something. Two powerful statements. Even Jesus tells us to "ask" and we shall receive. When lost in our sin nature we need to ask God to "set us free" from that demonic state of slavery so we can stop being a slave to sin and walk in the newness of God in Christ Jesus.

That is the only way the shackles of profanity, fornication, adultery, murder, harmful thoughts, acts of familiar spirits, false god worship, lasciviousness, hate, etc... will be removed from our temple and the light of God's divine goodness will shine forth in us forevermore.

 

[crossbody]

Prayer for believers should be like breathing. It should be a way of life rather than an "activity." Prayer is much deeper than just something we do from 6:00 to 6:30 every morning. We should treat prayer like people treat their cell phones... we must feel "Lost" without prayer. Prayer must become a necessity!

Prayer is life. It is life with another person who wishes to be intimate with us; it is life with the One who is our Source. Prayer is a flow, a consciousness that our Messiah is continually with us and within us. Prayer is passion and persistence as God told us to pray without ceasing.

Prayer is to live... we must "Live" in the spirit of prayer. Meaning we must pray as we walk, when we lie down, and when we rise. Pray when it hits us to pray, pray when we are persuaded, pray believing, and in everything give thanks unto God in prayer. Prayer should be our daily joy. "Glory Hallelujah" It was my intention to just discuss what prayer is, but I feel like I got set free and enlightened just discussing what prayer is.

If only the people of God could be baptized into a passion for prayer... life would quicken, miracles would return, souls would be saved, and coffers would overflow. God wants to answer our prayers; particularly those prayed in faith in the name of Jesus (Yeshua).

Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
John 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

 

[crossbody]

When Jesus gave his disciples a model prayer (Matt. 6:9-13) He told them not to be like the hypocrites, to be seen by men, but to pray to the their Father in the secret place. He also told them not be like the pagans, trying to impress him with their many words. Rather, Jesus (Yeshua) wanted them to pray as follows:

Our Father in heaven "Our Father" rather than "my Father" reflects Jewish tradition. Jewish prayers tend to involve community prayer for the needs of the whole people instead of focusing on individual needs.

Hallowed be Thy name. This is the first line of the Kaddish (Mourner's prayer) in Judaism, as well as the prayer that separates the sections of the Orthodox prayer service.

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. This is a line from the "Aleynu" prayer said at the conclusion of a prayer service and the Mussaf service on Yom Kippur. A very Jewish concept: that every nation on earth will repent and worship the true God of heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread, in Hebrew, the word lekhem (bread) can also mean food in general. This is also found in the first paragraph of the Jewish "Grace After Meals." Lekhem also represents God's substance as a whole and His providing for all our needs.

And forgive us our trespasses, This line is represented several times in Yom Kippur prayers.

As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil. The Hebrew word for evil, is broad-meaning danger or misfortune; as well as sin. It is asking for God's help both physically and spiritually to avoid those things that will ultimately destroy our lives.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory- The Jewish phrase translates as "the greatness and the power, and the glory" and is a line recited in a Sabbath morning prayer.

Forever and ever, from generation to generation

Amen. Amen is a Hebrew word from the verb "to believe." Amen means, "I believe this." "It is certain, "truly."

 

[Cougarbear]

When Jesus gave his disciples a model prayer (Matt. 6:9-13) He told them not to be like the hypocrites, to be seen by men, but to pray to the their Father in the secret place. He also told them not be like the pagans, trying to impress him with their many words. Rather, Jesus (Yeshua) wanted them to pray as follows:

Our Father in heaven "Our Father" rather than "my Father" reflects Jewish tradition. Jewish prayers tend to involve community prayer for the needs of the whole people instead of focusing on individual needs.

Hallowed be Thy name. This is the first line of the Kaddish (Mourner's prayer) in Judaism, as well as the prayer that separates the sections of the Orthodox prayer service.

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. This is a line from the "Aleynu" prayer said at the conclusion of a prayer service and the Mussaf service on Yom Kippur. A very Jewish concept: that every nation on earth will repent and worship the true God of heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread, in Hebrew, the word lekhem (bread) can also mean food in general. This is also found in the first paragraph of the Jewish "Grace After Meals." Lekhem also represents God's substance as a whole and His providing for all our needs.

And forgive us our trespasses, This line is represented several times in Yom Kippur prayers.

As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil. The Hebrew word for evil, is broad-meaning danger or misfortune; as well as sin. It is asking for God's help both physically and spiritually to avoid those things that will ultimately destroy our lives.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory- The Jewish phrase translates as "the greatness and the power, and the glory" and is a line recited in a Sabbath morning prayer.

Forever and ever, from generation to generation

Amen. Amen is a Hebrew word from the verb "to believe." Amen means, "I believe this." "It is certain, "truly."

Feel like you are talking to yourself. Is it helping?
Yes, we start out by addressing who we are praying and that would be our Father in Heaven. We thank him for the blessings we have received in the past and present. We then can ask him for guidance, help, understanding and also prayers for others. Then, we close in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
But, to receive answers, there are key things to remember. James laid out specific items that must be in our prayers and how we come to God with our prayers. Chapter 1 has some key points:
1. Must ask with real faith in Christ
2. Nothing in our faith can waiver. Not even a single bit.
3. We ask for things but we should not expect any results. Says this in verse 7.
4. Then, the one that kills communication with God, we cannot have a double mind. One that is asking questions and expecting a specific answer that we want. Or, asking a question already knowing what we think the answer should be. Expect no results.

Most people fail in at least one of these each time they pray to know the truth...