Prayer: What? When? Why? How?

What is prayer? When do I pray? Why and how do I pray? These are all commonly asked questions. They are good questions and God wants us to have the answers to each of them.God wants us to know Him. We can know Him in His fullness according to what Ephesians 3:19 says:“[That you may really come] to know [practically,through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!” (Amplified)So, understanding first what prayer is opens the door to knowing God. Prayer, simply stated, is our communication with God. We can talk to Him and God does listen and hears and answers our prayers. God’s word says in James 4:2 we have not because we ask not. So, we need to talk to Him and let our requests be known.Talking to God should be as easy as talking to your best friend. We don’t have to talk to Him in the language of the King James Bible either! There is no need to use “thou”, “thy”, “thine” or other such language, unless you want to do so. Those words and others were simply the common vernacular of the time in which the King James Version was translated.

We can talk to Him in our everyday way of talking. He understands all languages and dialects. He loves for His people to spend time with Him.

Since the scripture in 1Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to pray continually, it stands to reason that we can pray whenever and wherever we want to do so. Examples of praying continually include talking to God while we are driving, working, preparing meals, or shopping.

We need God every minute of every day, so it’s okay to pray in any circumstance you may find yourself or whenever the need arises. Since we have the mind of Christ according to 1 Corinthians 2:16, I believe our very thoughts can be prayers as we express them to God, and that this is what He would have us do.

Prayers do not have to be lengthy to be effective. A simple, from the heart, “God, I need You” prayer is heard by God and He will respond to your cry for help.

The reason we pray is out of our need and desire to have God’s presence, wisdom and guidance with us. There are always decisions to be made and God doesn’t care how many times we need Him nor is He too busy to hear from us.

You can ask Him about your life’s purpose or about what to prepare for dinner. Nothing is too large or too small for God to handle. If it is a concern to you, it is a concern to your Heavenly Father. Talking or praying to Him is the first thing we as Christians should being doing.

Sometimes I can talk to God in my car and genuinely feel His presence with me. Other times, if I am particularly burdened about something or someone, I like to go to my prayer closet. In my case, that is beside my bed on my knees. I have poured out my heart to Him there and have been quiet before Him so I can listen to what He says to me.

In any case — in the car or beside my bed — He is present. He tells us that if we seek Him with our whole heart, He will be found by us. Knowing God, talking to God and serving God are all things that come from the heart.

God is awesome, but He is approachable. James 4:16 says “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

You will always be rewarded when in His presence whether your petition of Him is answered immediately or if you have to wait patiently for Him.

God loves you and He hears you when you pray.

Christine Walker

About the Author:

Christine Walker is the creator and webmaster of Christian Fiction Book Club, where she reviews popular Christian novels. This article may be reprinted in your e-zine, e-book and/or on your web site so long as it includes this resource box and a link back to her website at http://www.ChristianFictionBookClub.com.