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Prayer Vitals

Facts and Figures, Goals and Guidance

Barbour Publishing, Inc.

What's in The Book? Some Biblical What's, How's, And Where's on Prayer

Since the real message behind the stories, promises, and commands in the Bible is relating to God in a personal way, it only makes sense that His written Word would have a lot to say about prayer.

That it most certainly does!

This chapter is a collection of biblical advice, commands, promises, and wisdom on the subject of prayer. And while we couldn't get everything the Bible has to say about prayer to fit in this chapter, what you're about to read will give you some pretty solid guidelines for your life of prayer.

Some Biblical Prayer Trivia

• The Bible's first mention of prayer:

"And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord" (Genesis 4:26).

• The Bible's first use of the word pray (in reference to speaking to God):

"My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant" (Genesis 18:3).

• The Bible's first use of the word prayer: "For thou, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee" (2 Samuel 7:27).

• The Bible's last use of the word prayer: "And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand" (Revelation 8:4).

• Number of verses that include the word prayer: 128

• Number of prayers in the Bible: approximately 650

• Number of answered prayers in the Bible: approximately 450

Physical Postures for Prayer in the Bible

• Bowing heads: "And the people believed: and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped" (Exodus 4:31).

• Standing: "And Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven" (1 Kings 8:22).

• Kneeling: "And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the Lord, he arose from before the altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven" (1 Kings 8:54).

• On their faces before God: "And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord, worshipping the Lord" (2 Chronicles 20:18; see also Matthew 26:39).

Prayer: Also Known (in the Bible) As ...

1. Bowing the knees: "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 3:14).

2. Looking up: "My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up" (Psalm 5:3).

3. Lifting up the soul: "Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul" (Psalm 25:1).

4. Lifting up the heart: "Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens" (Lamentations 3:41).

5. Pouring out the heart: "Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us" (Psalm 62:8).

6. Pouring out the soul: "And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord" (1 Samuel 1:15).

7. Calling upon the name of the Lord: "And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord" (Genesis 12:8; see also Psalm 116:4; Acts 22:16).

8. Crying unto God: "Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me" (Psalm 27:7; see also Psalm 34:6).

9. Drawing near to God: "But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works" (Psalm 73:28; see also Hebrews 10:22).

10. Crying to heaven: "And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven" (2 Chronicles 32:20).

11. Beseeching (pleading with) the Lord: "And Moses besought the Lord his God, and said, Lord, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?" (Exodus 32:11).

12. Seeking unto God: "If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty" (Job 8:5).

13. Seeking the face of the Lord: "When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek" (Psalm 27:8).

14. Making supplication: "If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty" (Job 8:5; see also Jeremiah 36:7).

25 Biblical Prayer How-To's: We Should Pray ...

1. In the Holy Spirit: "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints" (Ephesians 6:18; see also Jude 1:20).

2. In faith: "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive" (Matthew 21:22; see also James 1:6).

3. With full assurance: "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water" (Hebrews 10:22).

4. With a heart of forgiveness for others who have hurt us: "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" (Matthew 6:12).

5. With all the heart: "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13; see also Lamentations 3:41; Psalm 119:58).

6. With a prepared heart: "If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him ..." (Job 11:13).

7. With a true heart: "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water" (Hebrews 10:22).

8. With a poured out soul: "When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday" (Psalm 42:4).

9. In the spirit and in truth; "Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:22–24; see also 1 Corinthians 14:15).

10. With full confidence in God: "When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me" (Psalm 56:9; see also Psalm 86:7).

11. With full confidence we are heard: "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us" (1 John 5:14).

12. With an attitude of submission to God: "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done" (Luke 22:42).

13. Without use of deceitful lips: "Hear the right, O Lord, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips" (Psalm 17:1).

14. Thoughtfully: "Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few" (Ecclesiastes 5:2).

15. With holiness: "I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting" (1 Timothy 2:8).

16. With humility: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14; see also 33:12).

17. With truth: "The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth" (Psalm 145:18; see also John 4:24).

18. With a sincere desire to be heard: "Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned" (Nehemiah 1:6; see also Psalm 17:1; 55:1; 61:1).

19. With a desire to receive an answer: "Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me" (Psalm 27:7; see also Psalm 102:2; 108:6, 143:1).

20. With boldness: "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).

21. With seriousness: "Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?" (1 Thessalonians 3:10; see also James 5:17).

22. With great persistence: "And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me" (Genesis 32:26; see also Luke 11:9; 18:1–7).

23. At all times: "Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day" (1 Timothy 5:5).

24. Without ceasing: "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

25. Without worry: "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God" (Philippians 4:6).

Some Good Things to Bring With You When You Pray

1. Repentance: "When thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto thee in this house" (1 Kings 8:33; see also Jeremiah 36:7).

2. Confession: "And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven" (Nehemiah 1:4; see also Nehemiah 1:7).

3. Humility: "And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes" (Genesis 18:27).

4. Weeping: "They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn" (Jeremiah 31:9; see also Hosea 12:4).

5. Fasting: "And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven" (Nehemiah 1:4; see also Daniel 9:3; Acts 13:3).

6. Watchfulness: "But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer" (1 Peter 4:7; see also Luke 21:36).

7. Praise: "I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue" (Psalm 66:17).

8. Thanksgiving: "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God (Philippians 4:6; see also Colossians 4:2).

9. Persistence: "I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth" (Luke 11:8).

12 Conditions for Answered Prayer

1. Seeking God: "I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears" (Psalm 34:4).

2. Seek God with all the heart: "Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:12–13).

3. Waiting on God: "I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry" (Psalm 40:1).

4. Returning to God: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).

5. Asking in faith: "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him" (James 5:15).

6. Asking in Christ's name: "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son" (John 14:13).

7. Asking in agreement with God's will: "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us" (1 John 5:14).

8. Fearing God: "He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them" (Psalm 145:19).

9. Keeping God's Commandments: "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight" (1 John 3:22).

10. Abiding (remaining) in Christ: "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (John 15:7).

11. Being humble: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14; see also Psalm 9:12).

12. Living in righteousness: "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:16; see also Psalm 34:15).

22 Great Biblical Promises about Prayer

1. "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).

2. "The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth . He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them" (Psalm 145:18–19).

3. "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight" (Proverbs 15:8).

4. "And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear" (Isaiah 65:24).

5. "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not" (Jeremiah 33:3).

6. "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive" (Matthew 21:22).

7. "Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him" (Matthew 6:8).

8. "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Matthew 7:7; Luke 11:9).

9. "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?" (Matthew 7:11; see also Luke 11:13).

10. "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" (Matthew 18:19).

11. "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them" (Mark 11:24).

12. "But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee" (John 11:22).

13. "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son" (John 14:13).

14. "If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it" (John 14:14).

15. "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (John 15:7).

16. "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you" (John 15:16).

17. "And in that day ye shall ask me nothing . Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you" (John 16:23).

18. "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full" (John 16:24).

19. "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" (Romans 8:26).

20. "For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers" (1 Peter 3:12).

21. "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us" (1 John 5:14).

22. "And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him" (1 John 5:15).

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Excerpted from Prayer Vitals by Tracy M. Sumner. Copyright © 2011 Barbour Publishing, Inc.. Excerpted by permission of Barbour Publishing, Inc..
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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