Time to Pray

Prayer. How thankful I am for the Lord’s desire to minister personally to me as we dialogue, interact, and carry on conversation and relationship in prayer. Prayer that comes from a desire to be with God (Psalm 130:5-6) and comes before the Lord with a right heart (Isaiah 1:15-17) accomplishes much (James 16). It’s time to pray. Right now, where you’re at, whatever your state of mind or body, it’s time to pray. You don’t have to wait for a church service, for the beginning of a meal, or for a traffic jam (though, those are all great places and good reasons) to pray. Consider this non-exhaustive list of ways to pray. 1) No need to be showy, wordy or ostentatious · Matthew 6:5-6 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 2) Simple praying is best · Matthew 6:7-8 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 3) You can do it Sitting · 2 Samuel 7:18 Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: “Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 4) or Kneeling · Luke 22:41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 5) or Standing · 1 Kings 8:22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven 6) Have you ever prayed Lying prostrate on the ground? · Chronicles 20:18 Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD. 7) Prayer works with Arms outstretched · Isaiah 1:15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood; 8) or Hands raised · 1 Timothy 2:8 I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing. 9) Pray Several Times a Day · Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 10) in the Early Morning · Mark 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 11) All Night · Luke 6:12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 12) And at All Times · 1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray continuously 13) You can pray Inside · Daniel 6:10 · Matthew 6:6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 14) or Outside · Mark 1:35 · Luke 5:16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. · Acts 10:9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. · Acts 21:5 But when our time was up, we left and continued on our way. All the disciples and their wives and children accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray. 15) Praying should be In the Spirit · Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. 16) in Silence · Matthew 6:6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. · 1 Corinthians 14:28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God. 17) or Out loud · Isaiah 62:6-7 I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest, 7 and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth. 18) You can even pray while Driving (but don’t close your eyes) · Acts 1:14 [They] all continued in one accord in prayer and supplication (NKJV) Gang, it’s a virtual “Pray Buffet.” Time to dive in, fill up and be strengthened. With this buffet there are no lines and it doesn’t cost a thing. — Pastor Terry