PRAY, PRAYER, PRAYING

This being the week of the National Day of Prayer, I decided to look up a scripture about prayer. As I started looking, I discovered the scriptures tell us:

• We should pray to the Lord.
• We should be humble and pray.
• We should pray for: The king, The peace of Jerusalem, Those that persecute/mistreat us, Those who believe, Each other, Our friends, Perfection, Ourselves, Children and The saints.
• We can pray: Up on the mountainside, By laying on hands, Over there, As John taught us, Always, When we don’t know what to pray for, In the Spirit, Continually, When we are in trouble, On our knees, Inside a fish, With our face on the ground, In a solitary place, Looking toward heaven, After fasting, Joined together with others, When breaking bread, In everything, With hands lifted, In faith, In our heart, Standing and All night.
• We pray in order that we may live.
• When we pray, God: Is near, Hears our prayers as they rise to heaven, Answers prayers, Accepts our prayers and Is pleased.

Wow and all of this just from the concordance. Although the count varies depending on which site you use, the King James Version uses the word prayer 114 times, the word pray 313 times, prayed 65 times and praying 20 times. 512 references to prayer. Makes me think God wants prayer to be a priority in our lives.

But how do I pick just one? Have to go with Jonah praying from inside a fish.

SCRIPTURE: JONAH 1:17 - 2:1-10

But the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.

From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God, He said: “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry. You hurled me into the deep, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all the waves and breakers swept over me. I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’ The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you brought my life up from the pit, O Lord my God. When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the Lord.”

And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

PRAY, PRAYER, PRAYING

Not sure what I would have done but I know I would not have waited three days and three nights to start praying. I think I would have gotten humble real quick, fell to my knees, acknowledged that I was in trouble and prayed so I could live.

When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple.

God does consider prayer important. Why? Because He loves us and, when we pray, He accepts our prayers and is pleased.

Do not be like Jonah. Do not wait. Pray now!

PRAYER - A NEED? A PRIVILEGE? A DUTY?

TODAYS SCRIPTURES:

Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time men began to call on the name of the Lord. Genesis 4:26

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

PRAYER - A NEED? A PRIVILEGE? A DUTY?

The other day I heard an interesting message on prayer and it got me to thinking: Is prayer a need? Is prayer a privilege? Is prayer a duty?

Do we need to pray? The Bible says God knows what is in our hearts and he knows what we require before we even tell him. So, why pray if it is not essential for God to understand our would likes and our must haves? The question, "Do we need to pray?" is answered by no and yes.

Does God need us to pray so he will know what we require? No. Do we need to pray? Yes! We need to know that God is quite clear on what we would like and what we must have! Just kidding! We need to pray so the Spirit himself will intercede when we just do not have the words or the energy to express our true needs. And God, who searches our hearts, knows the mind of the Spirit and they work together in the harmony of God's will. (Based on Romans 8:26-27) Prayer is a need!

Is prayer a privilege? This question can also be answered yes and no. If you consider a privilege something that only a few of the elite are entitled to, then the answer is no. But if you consider a privilege something that is a benefit, an opportunity, an honor or a pleasure, then the answer is yes! What other faith is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him? (Based on Deuteronomy 4:7) Prayer is a privilege!

Is prayer a duty? This question has only one answer: YES! Prayer is something we have to do. It is a responsibility. An obligation. Why?

Prayer is a duty because Jesus prayed and we, who with uncovered faces reflect the Lord's glory, are constantly being changed into his likeness. (Based on 2 Corinthians 3:18) It is our duty to live in such a way as we reflect the likeness of Jesus. Jesus prayed. We must pray. Prayer is a duty!

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY:

Do you have trouble praying? Trouble finding the right words? Use your own words or find scripture passages that you really like and make them personal. Use I, me and my. But remember, no matter how you say it, God loves to hear you pray. Today, with no help from me, say your own prayer. God is listening!!! He will hear you!!!

PRAYING

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: JAMES 5:13

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

PRAYING

I was looking ahead to our Sunday School class material for August 31. It is on the Prayerful Community. Prayer. Sometimes praying is easy and sometimes it is hard to find just the right words. Prayer takes many forms and, at a class on prayer, an instructor had various names for them.

Most people start with the Santa Prayer. Dear God, Give me this. Give me that. I want. I need. Amen.

Then they move onto the Slot Machine Prayer. Dear God, I pray before we eat. (yes) I go to church. (yes) I read the Bible everyday. (yes) That is three in a row so I get what I pray for. Amen

Next, we try the Help Prayer. Dear God, I know I do not pray as often as I should, but I do need some help so if you could see your way clear to help me I won't bother you again. Amen.

If that doesn't work, try the Let's Make a Deal Prayer. Dear God, If you will give me this one little request to make all A's even though I haven't studied; I promise I will study every night for the rest of my college years. Amen.

Many of us try out the ole Holier than Thou Prayer. Okay God, I am doing more at church than anyone else is and I read the Bible everyday. I am working on two devotionals and teaching my children the Books of the Bible (In book order and alphabetically). Knowing all this, I just know you will put my prayer request above those people that go to that upstart church down the road. Amen

When you finally figure it out, you pray the From the Heart Prayer. My Dear Heavenly Father, What a day. The birds sang. I heard children laughing. Thank you for beautiful sounds. I also knew you were with me when I went to the doctor. I do not know how I would get through my struggles without you there. Thank you. Amen

The point I am making is that it takes time to develop a relationship with God. Not on God's end -- on our end. But while that relationship is developing, do not worry about making a mistake when you pray. God just wants you to talk to him. He wants to hear the words of your heart.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

So -- which type of prayer do you use? Do you find it easy to pray? Do you find it easy to pray aloud? If others are listening?

(If you have any hints/helps for people who have trouble praying, leave a comment. I still do not feel comfortable praying aloud, so do not feel like you are the only one.)

Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.

LET US PRAY

Hello God, Seems as if I have all sorts of words in my head. Then someone says 'pray' and it seems as if all the words leave me. They hide. I know you will listen no matter how I pray. Keep me from the temptation of waiting until I find just the right words. Let me just begin -- Hello God, Have I told you … Amen