PRAYER: Lifeline to God

Last week we learned about the power of the spoken word; how it can unleash powers to bless our lives and those that we love. This week let us learn more how to put that power into action. Let's tap into the lifeline God has given us; let's use use the power of our words to talk to the source of life.


What is prayer?

The act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving) – Web definition

As Christians, when we pray we are literally conversing with our God – God the Father, Jesus (Son of God), and the God the Holy Spirit.


Do we really need to pray?

Living a righteous life in Jesus is not just about doing this and doing that to gain plus “pogi” points before God. It’s first and foremost, building and nurturing a relationship with Him. Everything we do and say should be geared towards making us closer and more intimate with our Almighty God.

It’s basic that to build a relationship with someone, one has to spend time with that person, talking and sharing experiences. We should not fool ourselves into thinking that we can be close to God, and enjoy His protection, guidance and blessings without spending time with Him in prayer. Not praying is basically saying non-verbally to God that we don’t need Him now, and that we trust ourselves more.


Does God talk back to us?

Since prayer is by definition a communication, then God should also talk back to us. The primary way God communicates to us is through his written word, the Bible. That is why it is tantamount for our spiritual growth to read the bible everyday.

God, in his infinite wisdom and power, may choose other means like:
• God can speak to us directly to our heart and mind
• God can use other people (to give the council and instruction specially those people who are already close to him)
• God can use events in our life
• God can use things to give us a message


How “not” to pray?

Jesus himself told us how not to pray.

• Do not be a hypocrite

Matthew 6:5
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.”

• Do not pray like pagans

Matthew 6:7, 8
“And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”


How to pray properly?

Our Lord Jesus also taught us how to pray properly.

• Call to the Father, and give Him honor and praise

Matthew 6:9-10
“Our Father in heaven; May your holy name be honored;
May your kingdom come;
May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven;

• Ask not only for your need but also the needs of others; be generous in prayer.

Matthew 6:11
Give us today the food with need;

• Ask for pardon, not only for yourself but for others, and forgive those who offended you

Matthew 6:12
Forgive us the wrong that we have done; as we forgive the wrongs that others have done to us.

• Ask for deliverance from testing that is beyond your capability to endure, and for protection against, and victory over the enemy

Matthew 6:13
Do not bring us to hard testing; but keep us safe from the evil one.

• Pray through Jesus, the only way to the Father

John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”


How often should one pray?

How often do you want to be nourished and feed? How close and intimate do you want to become with your God?

Proverbs 3:5-7
Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. Remember the Lord in everything you do, and he will show you the right way.

How wise is a man who relies on God more, who talks to him everyday, and who remembers him in everything that he does because God will show him the way.

Satan is at work day and night, round the clock to deceive, and to mislead us from the right way of living. He has the world as his playground, and everything on it can be his tools. We may not see him but rest assured that he is there looking for ways to weaken us spiritually, and then to chain us with sin. Our only chance of survival is to always remember that we have an almighty, all-loving and supremely wise God, and stick to Him at all time.


Does God really answer prayer?

1 John 5:14~15
We have courage in God’s presence, because we are sure that he hears us if we ask him for anything that is according to his will. He hears us whenever we ask him; and since we know this is true, we know also that he give us what we ask from him.

Absolutely! There are five things to remember always when making a prayer request: (1) Our prayer request should be specific (2) Our prayer request should be in accordance to His will (3) Be generous in prayer, pray for others too (4) We should ask in the name of Jesus Christ (5) God will grant our request based on His impeccable timing, not based our desired timing.

Prayer is powerful because we are connecting with an Almighty God. A prayerful life should be our lifestyle because whether we like it or not, satan is at work everyday of our life, and the only way we can be saved from his evil traps is to stick with our God.


NOTE: Most of the materials in this article were taken from the booklet, One2One, written by Steve Murrell.

PS: If this post inspires and enlightens you, then give praise to God for all glory and honor belongs to Him alone...

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