What is prayer?

Prayer is talking to God. In speaking with God we also find Him, as prayer is an act of faith that tells God we believe in Him in our hearts and minds. He says to us “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13) and that when we “Come near to God He will come near to you” (James 4:8).

Prayer is an essential part of our daily connection to God. Jesus dwells in us by and through His Holy Spirit, and prayer draws on this holy miracle to create conversation between us and the living God.

Why pray?

Prayer is an important pillar of our faith and relationship with God, both as a church & individually. “Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let Him sing songs of praise.” (James 5:13)

Jesus says we should pray with boldness and perseverance, and that when we do we will receive His Spirit and blessing (Luke 11:8-13). Experiencing more of God in our lives through prayer renews us and our relationship with Him and draws us deeper into life in His Spirit; “pray in the Spirit on all occasion with all kinds of prayers and requests.” (Ephesians 6: 18)

God wants us to know His heart, and prayer opens a door to hear from Him and be guided in our daily lives by Him, for His glory. (Isaiah 1:18, John 8:47, Isaiah 57:18, 42:16, Jeremiah 42:3, Psalm 32:8)

The paramount commandment that God gives and that Jesus reinforces, states to “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:7, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27) Prayer achieves all these things. We can further bless every person in our lives in prayer by petitioning to God for them.

How should we pray?

Jesus tells us that we should pray both corporately, together as a church (Matthew 6:9-13, Luke11:2-4) and alone (Matthew 6:6). We should also pray in Jesus’ name because He is our petitioner before God and one with our Father God (John 15:16, 16:23-4).

We should pray all the time, in other words we should aim to be in constant conversation with God, “taking every thought captive” (2 Corinthians 19:5) for Him and;

“Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming down together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the centre of your life.” (Philippians 4:6-7 Message translation)

Please contact the church if you have a prayer request.

 

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