Prayer

What is the purpose of prayer?

I believe the purpose of prayer is communication with God.

Why does one pray?

One prays to develop that relationship to its fullest potential.

What does one pray for?

God's will.

Praying God's will is simply about submitting to God.

Matthew 7:7-8
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

God is not our magical genie. He gives us what we most NEED, not what we most WANT. His Will is not our WILL. He is perfect, how can someone know what perfection is if they are imperfect. I have used this analogy before.

My son thought his vision was 'perfect' until we had his eyes checked. Once the doctor checked his vision and he got glasses, he could see far clearer than before. NOW his vision was 'perfect'.

In the same way, we can say, "God isn't perfect because he doesn't do things the way I want them done." However, since we are not perfect, we cannot know what God has in store for us. I could pray that God let me marry my crush from elementary school...but maybe he would have grown up to be abusive...or He simply had someone better picked out for me.

Luke 11:13
If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

He is our parent. We don't give our children matches to play with or let them eat poison. However, sometimes we might let them suffer the consequences of their actions because that is the best way for them to learn...through experience.

In what manner are prayers answered?

I believe prayers are answered by God. Sometimes He answers "Yes" and sometimes His answer is "No" and sometimes his answer is "Wait." He answers me with scripture, in my heart and in my head. He answers me with experiences. I find that when I start looking for 'signs' though, the answer is usually wrong (for me).

If you ask, will God answer and tell you whether or not a teaching is true?

Yes, but I might not understand the answer. He might have to explain it to me several times in different ways for me to 'get it'.

Does the Holy Spirit play a role in answering these questions?

Yes.

If so, what is it and how do you know the answer given is from God or not?

I cannot answer what the Holy Spirit is, other than to say, it is God. I think starting from a place of humility is always a good plan with regard to understanding God. I should recognize that I am imperfect as are the people around me and none of us have it 'right' because we are not God.

In other words, how do you discern the truth?

I don't know how I discern the truth, if I do so. I am simply stumbling along as best I can with the gifts God has blessed me with. My experiences have been my best teachers, so I am aware that things in the Bible are true because I have applied them and my experience leads me to believe they are true.

I guess the best answer I have is, "I discern the truth because God tells me it is so." But, if I make a mistake, I know it is MY mistake. That is why I must be careful to be patient and let God lead me in His time. If I rush His answer, then that is not God, that is ME. I simply KNOW when I get the answer from God...but it is hard waiting for that answer sometimes because I am impatient. So since I want the answer, I start looking for the answer where ever I can find it...that is not a good plan.

What does the Bible say about prayer?

Proverbs 15:8
The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.

Proverbs 15:29
The LORD is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

Proverbs 28:9
If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable.

Jeremiah 29:11-13
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Lamentations 3:44
You have covered yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can get through.

Matthew 5:43-45
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Matthew 6:5-15
"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. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 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.
"This, then, is how you should pray:

" 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.'

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Matthew 21:22
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

Mark 9:28-30
After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"

He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer.*"
* or by prayer and fasting

Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Mark 11:25
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

Mark 12:38-40
As he taught, Jesus said, "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely."

Luke 5:16
But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Luke 6:28
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

Luke 18:9-14
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'

"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Acts 1:14
They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Acts 6:6
They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

Acts 7:59
While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

Acts 8:15
When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,

Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

James 5:13
Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.

James 5:14
Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.

and a LOT more...

God bless