"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
Prayer is our greatest Christian privilege and our greatest Christian failure. Now there are some valid questions concerning prayer. In my study I've tried to think through some of these and I want to give you some brief insights.
1. Why should we pray when God already knows our needs?
We do not pray to impress or inform God, but to invite Him. We pray to fellowship with God, so He can develop and grow us, and because we depend on Him.
2. For what is it proper to pray?
There is nothing in life that is outside the reach of prayer. If it concerns you, it concerns God. We sometimes try to divide life into secular and sacred. We'll pray about the sacred parts but handle the secular parts ourselves. Pray for everything.
3. Does God hear the prayers of the unsaved?
Cornelius was an unsaved man, but God was aware of his prayer as told in Acts 10. God can hear the prayer of an unsaved person, but we, who are His children, have been given so much more - His promises found in His Word.
4. Why should we pray in the name of Jesus?
God promises that He will give us what we ask for when we pray in the name of Jesus (John 14:13-14). When asking in Jesus' name, first consider:
o His Approval - Does Jesus approve this thing?
o His Authorization - Is it something He has authorized?
o His Acclaim - Is it for His glory?
5. Does God always give us what we ask?
No, and thank God! Sometimes we ask God for the wrong things (Numbers 11:11-15; Matthew 20:20-22). Other times our prayer perhaps is not answered because there's sin in our lives (Isaiah 59:2; Psalm 66:18).
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