Draft Version incomplete..
Ever hear anyone say and perhaps even you have said this , Well all we can do now is pray.
Saying , all we can do is pray, sounds very much like an act of last resort. It sounds like something we do when we have become desperate because we have exhausted all other means to resolve a problem.
Is that what prayer is to us , something we do when we are desperate, and prayer becomes our last ditch effort to get help. Perhaps if we had prayer as a regular part of your daily living the moment of desperation would not have occurred.
Let us describe prayer, it is talking to GOD, communicating with GOD,fellowship with Him and making our needs known to our LORD.
There are many types of prayer , I am not going to attemp to explain them all so lets focus now on the prayer of petition.
Phil 4:6
Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.
What stands out to me in this verse is that we are instructed to make definite request. We are not to pray in generalities. Here is an example; A young married couple a looking to buy their first home their family is growing with two children they need more space and they want to make a wise investment for their family's future. This couple humbly comes to GOD for guidance. Their prayer should not be Lord we want a house. The prayer should be Lord we want a 3 Bdrm house with 2 baths , brick with a deck on a quater acre lot. This is what we mean by definite request.
Our prayers reach the very Throne room of GOD. We are encourage through the Holy Bible to come BOLDLY to GOD's Throne of Grace.
Heb 4:16
Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].
Did you notice the Lord responds just when we need it and sometimes not a second sooner.
One thing I have found in Today's church is a teaching that says when you pray leave it at the alter and have faith that He has heard your prayer. It leaves the impression if you do not leave it there on the alter you are not fully exercising your faith.
Let me give you a Biblical based attitude for praying to our gracious and merciful Father and our LORD Jesus Christ..
Matt 7:7
Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you.
Notice GOD is saying be persistent in prayer.
Luke 18:1
ALSO [Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not to turn coward (faint, lose heart, and give up).
I have heard this type of persistent praying called praying through... So how long is long enough when you pray??? Look for this result and not neccesarily to the answer we might expect.
Phil 4:7
And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Yes we have to read this verse together with Phil 4:6
God assures us that He is in control and therfore gives you comfort as He lays out His will in answer to our prayers.
Look at the following verses to understand how our prayers are transitioned into what GOD's will purpose and plan for us. Nothing is answered unless it is in accordance to HIS will.
Rom 8:26
So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance.
Rom 8:27
And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God's will
The Holy Spirit takes our prayers and changes them to be in harmony and in accordance with His will. We may pray one way but when it reaches the ears of GOD if neccesary they have been changed , modified to fit His plan and will for our lives.
