Why should we pray?
Kenneth Boa
in his Conformed to His Image
offers 10 reasons with scripture references as to why prayer is so
important to the individual and the church:
1.
Prayer enhances our fellowship and
intimacy with God.
(Ps.
116:1-2; Jer. 33:2-3)
2. The Scriptures command us to pray.
(Luke 18:1; Eph 6;18; 1; Thess.
5:16-18;
1 Tim.
2:1)
3. When we pray, we follow the example
of Christ and other great people in
Scripture like Moses and Elijah.
(Mark
1;35; Num. 11:2; 1 Kings 18:36-37)
4. Prayer appropriates God’s power for our
lives.
(John
15:5; Acts 4:31; Eph. 3:16; Col. 4:2-4)
5. We receive special help from God when
we pray.
(Heb. 4:16)
6. Prayer makes a genuine difference.
(Luke 11:9-10); James 5:16-18;) As William Temple
observes,
“When I pray,
coincidences happen; when I
don’t, they don’t.”)
7. Prayer develops our understanding and knowledge of God.
(Ps. 37-3-6; Ps 63:1-8; Eph 1:16-19)
8. Our prayers and God’s answers give us
joy and peace in our hearts.
(John 16:23-24; Phil 4:6-7)
9.
Prayer helps us understand and accomplish God’s purposes for our
lives.
(Col 1:9-11)
10. Prayer changes our attitudes and desires.
(2
Cor.12:7-9)
Simple ways to pray:
ACTS
A- Adoration
C- Confession
T- Thanksgiving
S – Supplication (requests)
Five Fingered Prayer
1. Thumb – pray for those closest
to you.
2. Pointer – Pray for those who teach,
instruct, heal.
3. Tallest – Pray for those who lead us
in
government, industry,
business,
administration.
4. Ring finger – our weakest
finger. Pray
for
those who are weak, in trouble or in
pain.
5. Little finger - pray for yourself.
Spend one hour in prayer –
in 5 minute increments.
“Could you not pray with me one hour?”
1. Praise
2. Waiting
3. Confession
4. Read God’s Word
5. Intercession (for others)
6. Petition (personal needs)
7. Pray using God’s word
8. Thanksgiving
9. Singing
10. Meditation (Ponder spiritual
themes
in reference to God.
11. Listening
12. Praise
In the Library or
in Mary’s office there are resources on prayer, including a notebook “Lord, Teach Us to Pray.”