PRAYER
Webster Dictionary 1828 Definition:
PRA'YER, noun In a general sense, the act of asking for a favor, and particularly with earnestness.
1. In worship, a solemn address to the Supreme Being, consisting of adoration, or an expression of our sense of God's glorious perfections, confession of our sins, supplication for mercy and forgiveness, intercession for blessings on others, and thanksgiving, or an expression of gratitude to God for his mercies and benefits. A prayer however may consist of a single petition, and it may be extemporaneous, written or printed.
2. A formula of church service, or of worship, public or private.
3. Practice of supplication.
As he is famed for mildness, peace and prayer
4. That part of a memorial or petition to a public body, which specifies the request or thing desired to be done or granted, as distinct from the recital of facts or reasons for the grant. We say, the prayer of the petition is that the petitioner may be discharged from arrest.
Locations in the KJV of Bible with verses related to this subject:
Matthew 6:5-8 HOW TO PRAY
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
Jesus is now placing the same points on prayer as he did on giving to charity in the verses previously. Making the “spectacular show” of how great an “orator” you are in prayers. This is a waste of time. Speaking a “sermon” in the prayer at the dinner table while the smells of the meal fill the nostrils of the guests. This does not obtain special favors from God for displaying the ability at oration.
Matthew 6:9-13 The Lords Prayer - HOW TO PRAY
This is a passage familiar to every denomination regardless of doctrinal differences. It has been overly used. Did Jesus intend that this was to be a “prayer” specifically meant to be prayed verbatim?
Matthew 6:25-34 and Parallel Passages: Luke 12:22-29
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Do not be concerned for necessities and how to provide for ourselves. Turn it over to God and he will provide for what we need. Instead spend that time dwelling upon the things of the Kingdom and the other things will be taken care of.
Matthew 7:7-11 and Parallel Passages: Luke 11:5-13
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Asking for what is needed. Need to ask in order to receive.
Matthew 18:18-20 and Parallel Passage: Luke 3:23-38
Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Binding our prayers together in agreement before Heaven. Where 2 or 3 are gathered together so is HE.
Romans 8:26-27 Spirit makes intercession when saints know not what to pray
Romans 8:31-34 Christ on right hand of God making intercession
1 Corinthians 11:33 Tarry one for another when taking the Lord’s Supper
2 Corinthians 12:8-10 Repeatedly seeking God for help.
Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
SEE ALSO: (list similar subjects and link to them)
Spirit, Trials and Tribulation;