This is the fourth article of a multi-part series on growing in discipleship. 
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In the last installment of this series we explored the importance of incorporating the Word of God into our lives. As Christians, we must be aware that the primary means through which we are conformed to the image of Christ is through being transformed in our thinking and believing. Transformation in those areas results in a re-arranging of our affections, emotions, and our actions. Therefore, it is crucial that we grow in our faith by growing in the knowledge, understanding and application of the Word of God.
This article focuses on the importance of prayer in conforming us to the image of Christ. One of the great misconceptions of prayer, in my opinion, is that it is a means of getting what we want. However, I think God is far too wise, and far too powerful, and far too involved in our lives for that to be the primary reason for prayer. I really think we should consider the primary purpose of prayer to be communication with God, communication with God that results in us understanding better what He wants, not merely what we want. In spending time with God, praying through His Word, we learn what He wants for us, then we can be assured our prayers will be answered because they are according to His will.
Prayer is two-way communication with God. You seek the heart of God, and He reveals it. You seek provision, and He supplies it.
Some Reasons to Pray
FIRST REASON: God has commanded us to pray.
There are numerous commands in Scripture concerning prayer. In the passage on the Lord’s Prayer Jesus told His disciples to “pray in this way” (Matt. 6:9-13).
Jesus told His disciples to be persistent pray-ers (Luke 11:5-13). Jesus told them to be continual pray-ers, “pray at all times” (Luke 18:2-8).
Jesus told them in the garden be defensive pray-ers “pray that you may not enter into temptation” (Luke 22:40).
In other New Testament writings Paul told the Thessalonians to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17).
Paul also told the Philippians “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer…make your requests known to God” (Phi. 4:6).
Paul told the Ephesian church “with all prayer and petitions pray at all times in the Spirit” (Eph. 6:18-19a).
He told the Colossi church to “devote yourselves to prayer” (Col. 4:2).
1 Tim. 2:1 “pray for all men”
God has commanded us to pray, so prayer, first and foremost is an act of obedience.
SECOND REASON: In obedience to God’s command, Jesus modeled a life of prayer.
Luke reports in Luke 5:16 that “Jesus would often slip away” to pray. John Mark wrote in Mark 1:35 that Jesus rose to pray “early in the morning while it was still dark”.
Matthew records that after feeding the multitudes, Jesus sent off His disciples and “went up to the mountain to pray” (Matt. 14:23).
Jesus modeled a life of prayer and His prayer life consisted of communication and communion with God in order to carry out God’s will on earth. If it was necessary for the divine Son of God to pray, how much more is it necessary for weak humans like me and you to pray.
THIRD REASON: The Sovereign God can AND does act in response to our prayers.
We must pray knowing that God has the ability and the authority to grant what we have prayed for.
In Luke 11 Jesus made it very clear that God does act in response to believing prayer. Jesus told His disciples that we receive by asking and that we find by seeking and that we enter in by knocking (11:9-10). There is an obvious correlation to coming to God in prayer and receiving from God. God responds to prayer. God delights in giving good things, even the Holy Spirit Himself, to His children, therefore He longs to answer our prayers.
FOURTH REASON: God has prescribed prayer as the means through which He accomplishes HIS will.
We learn from the New Testament letters that God has determined that the means by which people are saved is through the preaching of the message of the Gospel. God has also determined whatsoever things shall come to pass He will accomplish those things in response to prayer.
God uses prayer to bring about many of the things He has purposed from eternity past. He may make us aware of certain needs in order to burden us to pray. He may reveal our dependence in order to get us to pray. God may burden a group of people to pray because He is about to move. God has the ending planned from the beginning and He will accomplish His will through the prayers of His people.
FIFTH REASON: Prayer is the means of sweet fellowship with God Almighty.
Scripture teaches us that through the work of Christ on the cross that we have unprecedented access directly to God the Father. The Old Testament Jews did not have that, they were separated by a veil in the Holy of Holies but, we have that access. We can come to God, as a child to a father, and pray directly to God.
Prayer is the means by which we experience the peace that only God can give (Phi. 4:4-7) Through prayer we can experience true joy (John 16:24). Through prayer, God’s people can experience revival and God’s gentle blessings (2 Chron. 7:14). The way of relief in times of stress. (John 16:24)
God wants fellowship with us. Through prayer and the Word we come to love God more deeply and know Him more fully. To sum up this section on reasons to pray, I leave this quote by Bill Thrasher:
“Meditation is simply talking to God about His Word with a desire that your life, and those you pray for, come into agreement with it.”
HELP IN PRAYER
This section will give you some information to help you better understand prayer and some tools to help you learn to pray more powerfully.
I want to give credit where it is due. This section was taken primarily from teachings by T.W. Hunt.
RESPONDING PRAYERS
In responding prayers, you respond to the person of God, to His holiness, attributes, glory and riches. These prayers are important because through them God conforms you to Christ.
Confession: response to God’s holiness
Sin hinders your relationship with God. We must agree with God about our sin, seek cleansing from it and restoration to intimacy.
(2 Sam. 24:10; Ps. 51; 1 John 1:9; Matt. 6:12)
Praise: response to God’s attributes
God reveals Himself to us so that we would praise Him and become like Him. As you mature in Christ, you will come to know more of His attributes, what He is like. Praise is focusing on what God is like.
(Ps. 145:3-7)
Worship: responding to God’s glory
God’s revelation is His glory, it is the evidence of His attributes. All the heavens declare His glory. Your worship is your expression of your love, adoration, and honor for God in response to His glory.
(Ps. 42:1-2; Rom. 12:1-2)
Thanksgiving: responding to God’s riches and generosity
Jesus came that we would have life, and have it more abundantly. (John 10:10) God promised us He had plans to prosper us. (Jer. 29:11) God wants us to live in those promises. He wants us to have an attitude of gratitude all throughout our lives. We are to give thanks to God IN all situations. (Eph. 5:20)
(Ps. 136:1, 6, 23-24, 26)
ASKING PRAYERS
God uses our Asking Prayers to align us with His Kingdom purposes. God wants you to work alongside Him in advancing His Kingdom, through your prayers for yourself and others.
You must…
- Ask in the Spirit (1 Cor. 14:15; Eph. 6:18)
- Ask according to His will (1 John 5:14-15)
- Ask with the mind (1 Cor. 14:15)
- Ask in Jesus’ name (John 14:14)
- Ask while abiding in Christ (John 15:7)
- Ask in faith, believing, not doubting (Mark 11:22,24)
- Ask in humility (2 Chron. 7:14)
- Ask in sincerity (James 5:16)
- Ask with perseverance (Eph. 6:18)
Petition: asking that is led by your Heavenly Father for the purpose of accomplishing His purposes in YOUR life. Pray Scripture back to God and allow Him to mold you into the man of God, the image He already has for you in His mind.
(Neh. 1:11; Mark 9:24; 1 Chron. 4:10)
Ask Him to…
- Fill you with His Spirit
- Strengthen you against temptation
- Give you a heart for the lost
- Grant you boldness to witness
- Give you a hunger for His Word
- Make you thirst for Him
Intercession: asking, on behalf of others, that is led by your Master for the purpose of advancing His Kingdom and accomplishing His will on earth.
Jesus, our Master, is the model.
(Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25)
Pray for…
- Family members
- Church family
- Pastor, teachers, leaders
- Co-workers
- Missionaries
- Government leaders
- Your enemies
TOOLS TO HELP YOU PRAY:
- Prayer List
- Prayer Journal
- Computer
- Bible
- Hymnal
- Book of prayers
PRACTICAL TIPS
- Keep a notebook or journal of your prayer times
- Have a PLANNED time AND place to have a DAILY Devotional time.
- Partake of the Word of God on a DAILY basis.
- Pray for yourself and others DAILY
- Budget your time, pray for God to help you make wise use of the time He gives you.
- Seek out your spiritual gift. You will never do all God has for you to do until you seek out, develop and put into practice the gift(s) God has blessed you with.
- Find mentors in the faith, and spend time with them. Let them pour into your life.
- Find peers to pray with, be accountable to, and to participate in the work of the Gospel.
- Find a pupil to pass this on to.
Our next installment will look at the role of Fellowship in being conformed to the image of Christ.