Building a Life of Prayer

In Hannah's song of praise found in 1 Samuel chapter 2, she prays for a king at a time when there is no king in Israel. Her words point to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Her gratitude led her to praise the Lord and her praise pointed prophetically to the One who would come to judge all. 

Hannah's vow to commit her child to the Lord's service as a priest was seeking to honor the Lord. She was cooperating with God's plan. The fulfillment of the vow was in accordance with God's will.

The story of Jephthah in the Book of Judges is a tragic example of how not to pray. We should not negotiate with God. A better way for us to pray is to come to the Lord in submission with humility and with reliance upon His power.

In the Book of Judges, Gideon asks God for a sign to confirm His will. Is that an appropriate way for a Christian today to pray in order to determine God's will or to receive His guidance?

Sometimes we don't see the answers to prayers that we want in this life because God has something better for us either in this life or in the life to come. It is important that we try to align our prayers with the will of God.

In the Book of Numbers, the people of Israel ask Moses to pray for them after the Lord afflicts them for their disobedience. Once again Moses prays, and once again God gives Moses a solution to the problem. However, this time, the solution has much greater significance. 

Moses is a remarkable example of the power of intercessory prayer. His prayer resulted in the sparing of an entire nation!

God did not rebuke Moses for lamenting in prayer about the hard situation he was facing. Instead, God gave him a solution. We can come with honesty before the Lord in prayer.

In the Book of Numbers, the Lord gives Moses a benediction—a spoken blessing—to speak over the people of Israel. Those of us who know God as our Father through faith in Jesus Christ can also pray this benediction for ourselves, our families, and other people that we know.

Moses was changed by his time in prayer with God. We who have embraced the Gospel of Jesus Christ are also changed by our time spent with God in prayer. This comes about by the power of the Holy Spirit.

When Moses was in fellowship with God and in prayer, he experienced God's holy presence—the glory of God. During these times Moses was growing to know God better and he was being changed by encountering God's presence.

Moses learned to highly value the presence of God. He also learned the great need to continue to know God better. 

Moses appeals to God's Word when he intercedes in prayer on behalf of the nation of Israel. One man praying, spares an entire nation.

When Moses is confronted with a crisis, he doesn't try to solve the problem with his own reasoning. Instead, he cries out to the Lord in prayer and the Lord gives him the proper guidance. Often that guidance can result in something far more significant than we imagined. 

The Song of Moses reminds us that praise should always be a vital part of our prayer lives. In this song, there is an emphasis on who God is, what He has done for the people of Israel, His steadfast love for His people, and trust in God's future reign.

God used the prayers of Moses to stop the plagues. Moses was an intercessor. Intercessory prayer can be understood as someone who is in a right relationship with God praying before God on behalf of someone else who is not necessarily in a right relationship with God.

Jacob's prayer in Genesis 32 is a good model for how to pray confidently and specifically.  Jacob approaches God on the basis of who God is. He also appeals to God on the basis of what God has already said. He prays with humility. 

It is not only well know people of the Bible whose prayers were recorded.  The prayer of Abraham's servant is recorded in Genesis. Two of the things we learn from the prayer are the value of praying specifically and not approaching God on the basis of our own wisdom, worthiness, or righteousness, but approaching God on the basis of His great steadfast love.

Abraham was far from perfect. However, God used Abraham's prayers for King Abimelech to heal him and his household. God chose to use the prayer of someone who was walking with Him to work in the life of someone who was not walking with Him.

Because of Abraham's relationship with God, Lot was spared when God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham stood before God to pray for others. God also gives us, as believers in Jesus, the privilege of interceding in prayer on behalf o others.

Those who walk with God, communicate with God. God gives commands, guidance, and promises, and people who walk with God obey Him, worship Him, and talk with Him. God created human beings for fellowship with Himself and prayer is a vital part of that fellowship. 

As the book of Revelation draws to a close, we see the great purpose of God fulfilled. That purpose is that God will be with His redeemed people. Communion with God is the great privilege, joy, and destiny of every true believer in Jesus Christ. 

Revelation paints a vivid picture of the challenges that will accompany life on Earth for believers in the time before Jesus' return. Because of these difficulties, believers need to be prepared to pray. How then, should we pray, in light of these difficulties? 

One of the most prevalent forms of communication with God found in the book of Revelation is praise and worship. Praise and worship are a form of prayer. Prayer is not just for our benefit. Prayer is for God's benefit as well, as a form of worship.

One of the types of prayer that is called for in the book of Revelation is the prayer of repentance. Repentance is to change one's mind. It conveys the idea of "turning." God would not call us to repent if He were not willing to restore us. Repentance is the great hope of revival for the church.