Learning How To Pray Pt. 46 Final Thoughts On Prayer

I want to wrap up our study on learning how to pray. We have 46 lessons that contain ample material to help us grow in our prayer life. 

Today, I share some final scriptures, knowing that there are many more examples of prayers to be found in the Old and New Testaments. 

My hope is that we all (including me) have our hearts stirred to spend more time in earnest prayer. 

Praying throughout the day. 

Psalm 55:17  Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. 

The Psalmist made a statement of faith and a commitment to diligently pray to Jehovah. 

He declared his intent to pray in the morning when he awoke, so that a good direction was set for his day. He did not want vocational duties or other obligations to deter him from seeking God.

He determined to pray at noon, taking a break from business of each day, in order to focus upon the LORD. Problems crop up each day, and there are issues to be resolved. In all of his endeavors, the Psalmist wanted Jehovah to guide and direct his ways.

He wanted to end each day by spending time in prayer, thanking the LORD for His provision and protection throughout the day. Before he fell asleep, he wanted to reflect upon God's abundant goodness and mercy to him.

Continuous prayer is needed. 

1 Thessalonians 5:17  Pray without ceasing.

Paul reminds us to always be in the spirit of prayer. We can pray at any time and in any place because prayer is a spiritual activity that takes place in our heart, as we commune with our Father. 

We do not have to wait until we can find a private place to pray.  Many times, when I am doing work or chores, I find myself praying to the Lord as I am working. 

Each day will have its own unique set of challenges that we must face, and it is good for us to be able to pray to the Lord, even when we are at work, school, or some other place.

Pray for Jesus to send more workers into gospel ministry.  

Matthew 9:37-38  Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38) Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

Jesus told His disciples that they should pray for more workers to glean the fields of humanity and bring in the harvest of souls to the Father. 

Jesus saw a vast throng of people, each one representing a soul in need of a Savior. 

When we pray for the Lord to send more laborers out into the harvest, we must remember, that He may choose to use you and me! 

America's youngest generation is disconnected from Christianity, and most do not attend church services. These are the ones we should strive to reach with the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Those who came up through public education, mostly believe in evolution rather than creation. The idea that God created and sustains all things, and that there was a fall of man into sin and the need for God to provide a Savior, is unknown to many of them. 

We must see the people around us as Jesus did. Lost sinners, lost sheep wandering around in the moral abyss of our modern culture. The gospel of Jesus Christ is what God will use to reach them. 

Even though it may be hard, pray for our enemies. 

Luke 6:28  Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

Luke recorded Jesus's words from the sermon on the mount. Notice that our Lord Jesus Christ commands us to pray for those who curse us, or which wrongly use us or take unfair advantage of us. 

This is not an easy thing to do and we must first ask the Lord to give us a spirit of forgiveness like He has.

A senior saint shows us how to pray and serve God. 

Luke 2:36-38  And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 37)  And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38)  And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

The name "Anna" means grace. This dear widow, was married for seven years before her husband died. The earliest acceptable age for marriage in that culture was 12 years old. 

If Anna married at age 12, and was married for 7 years, before being widowed, and had been a widow for 84 years, she was now of great age, about 103 years old. 

Instead of being bitter that she lost her husband at such a young age, she dedicated her whole life to loving and serving God. 

Luke tells us this dear senior saint did not depart from the temple of God. She faithfully served Him with prayers and fasting both night and day. 

Anna came into the temple just as Mary and Joseph were taking the infant Jesus home. She praised her Lord for allowing her to see Israel's Messiah. 

What a wonderful example of praying and fasting Anna leaves for us to follow. Senior saints are not to sit on the sidelines. We are to be in the forefront of ministry, according as the Lord gives us opportunities. 

1 Peter 3:12  For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

The apostle Peter reminds us that our Lord watches over us and His ears are always open to our prayers. May this blessed thought strengthen us as we pray. 

God takes note of all our prayers. 

Revelation 5:8  And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

In this text, John is describing the splendor of heaven, and the worship that is ongoing at the throne of God. He tells us that the 24 beasts (cherubim or seraphim) fell down in worship, holding golden vials, full of fragrant incense at the throne of God. 

This is how our prayers are described.

Revelation 8:3-4  And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4)  And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

In a later chapter, John tells us that an angel was given much incense with which to offer all the prayers of the saints of God. They are depicted as a sweet smelling incense whose smoke rises to God Himself. 

My prayer is that this series of lessons on the subject of fervent, effective prayer, is a blessing to all who read them. 

May we redouble our efforts to spend time in prayer, seeking the Lord's will, confessing our sins, asking Him to save our lost loved ones, and for His will to be done on earth as in heaven!

Bob