Build on the True Foundation

Important Announcement

The MSN Groups service will close in February 2009. You can move your group to Multiply, MSN’s partner for online groups. Learn More

How ought we to pray?

Jesus emphasizes the sincerity of our hearts, for we are not heard simply for our empty words.

Mat. 6:7 -But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

We can pray silently, or we can pray out loud.

I Sam. - 1:13Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

Neh 9:4Then stood up upon the stairs, of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto the LORD their God.

Eze. 11:13- And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then fell I down upon my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?

We can pray in our own words or using the words of the Scriptures. We can pray with the mind all we can pray with the spirit in tongues.

1 Cor. 14:14-18- For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

14:15 - What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

14:16 - Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

14:17- For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

14:18 - I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

We can even pray by groaning, not using any human words knowing that the Lord hears us.

Romans 8:26 - 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.

8:27- And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

We can also pray in singing to the Lord.

Ps. 92:1 - IT IS A GOOD THING TO GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD, AND TO SING PRAISES UNTO THY NAME, O MOST HIGH:

92:2 - To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night

Eph. 5:19 - Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

5:20 - Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

Col. 3:16-- Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

A beautiful message, Isaiah. I often thought of writting a message on the importance of prayer..but just never got to it.

Now I could ask WHEN should we pray?

To follow the example of Jesus, it has to be almost all the time. He said pray always. He rose up many times well before daylight and went out to pray. He even prayed all night at times. [my what glory he must have had out there with God that long]

Paul said he prayed for all whom he knew. They had a set hour at the temple that they went up and prayed together. My, what glory they must have had.

Would to God some of us had that today. Pray without ceasing.

We may cast out tormenting devils out of people if we fast and pray enough. Jesus said this kind goes out only by fasting and prayer. Who cares enough to do it? Yet because they do not live the life, and pray and fast to have this power, then they blame God and say it is just not for us today!

What? How dare any accuse God of taking back all those precious and much-needed gifts? And not allow any of us to have them>

I mean there are just as many sick folks today as was in His day. They need healing too.

Sure fasting goes along with praying.

Now another good question. What posture is appropriate for prayer? Let’s look and see what the Bible says about this. Does it say we are only to pray while kneeling? Of course not. Kneeling is the way that most people pray, but what about those that cannot kneel for some reason or another. I know for a fact that some have a problem with kneeling. I am one of those. I have a problem kneeling because of a bad hip. I am in constant pain while kneeling.

Will God honor a prayer any other way ? Of course he will hear and honor our prayer. Let’s go to the word God and see what it says.

The Bible records praying while standing also.

1Kings 8:22 - 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:

9:3- And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God.

9:4- Then stood up upon the stairs, of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto the LORD their God.

9:5- Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless the LORD your God for ever and ever: and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.

The Bible also records praying while sitting.

1 Chr. 17:16 - And David the king came and sat before the LORD, and said, Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?

Luke 10:13 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes

The Bible also says that we can kneel while praying.

Ezra 9:5 And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God,

Daniel 6:10 - Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

Acts20:35 -I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

20:36 - And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all

The Bible also says that we do pray while lying in the bed.

Psalms 63:6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

The Bible also says that bowing down to the ground is another way that we can pray.

Ex. 34:8 - And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.

Psa. 95:6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

We can also pray while laying them.

2 Sam. 12:16- David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth

Math 26:39- And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

We also pray lifting up holy hands to the Lord.

Psalms 28:2 - Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle

1 Tim.- 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

So, you see that there are many ways to pray to the Lord

Very good, Isaiah. the main thing is to do plenty of it. Keep praying until you get in touch with God.

I expected you to use this one where the publican STOOD and smote upon his breast praying Lord be merciful to me a sinner. The hypocrite Pharisee stood praying and braging upon himself. God reject this but had mercy on the publican.

I have also reached a point where it hurts my knees to kneel. I do most of my praying walking the floor. I get into the Spirit and begin to walk the floor. But the main thing is PRAY. Seek God. We all need to pray more and seek the power and faith to cast out devils, heal the sick, and perform all these great gifts of the Spirit to magnify God and to help the people.

Important Announcement The MSN Groups service will close in February 2009. You can move your group to Multiply, MSN’s partner for online groups. Learn More
Build on the True Foundation	[email protected]