I’m going to share some more of what I have learned about prayer from God’s Word.

For whom should you pray? Everyone – friends, neighbors, enemies – all people. The only exception is those who are already dead. They have already been judged:

Hebrews 9:27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment

Either they had faith in Christ or they did not. But you should pray for those who are still living.

When should you pray? Scripture is pretty clear on this:

1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray continually

Where should we pray? Everywhere. No matter where you are or what you are doing:

 1 Timothy 2:8 I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer …

The point is clear. No matter where you are or what you are doing, talking and communicating with God can and should be part of your normal operating procedure. In the days of sailing ships, two evangelists were aboard a vessel crossing the Atlantic. When a fire broke out in the hold of the ship, one said, “Brother, let’s go to the far end of the ship and pray!” “No sir,” the other replied. “We’re going to stand right here and pass water buckets — and pray at the same time.”

How should you pray? With confidence: you are offering your prayers to the one in control of everything, and have this assurance:

Matt 21:22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.

Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence…

According to God’s will – However, that does not mean that God is simply at your beck and call or that you can manipulate Him. Your prayers are also to be offered up according to His Will. Jesus gave us the perfect example in Gethsemane, not wanting to suffer the agony that lay ahead to pay for the sins of all men, yet still saying “Not my will, but Thine.” Likewise our prayers should be offered in that way:

1 John 5:14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

In Jesus’ name – Last, but certainly not least, our prayers must be offered up “in Jesus’ name.” That does not necessarily mean that we must say those three words at the end of each prayer. It means that we offer our prayers to God with faith in Jesus as our Savior. It is because we know who He is and what He did that God listens and answers. It is because you believe that His life of obedience was for you, His death paid for your sin, and His resurrection assures you of forgiveness that God will hear and respond in the way that is best for you. Jesus himself promised:

John 16:23 I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

God does answer the prayers of His children. All of them. One of my pet peeves is when I hear people say “God answered my prayers” or “God didn’t answer my prayers.” I know what they mean. They say “God answered my prayer” when they get what they asked for and they say “God didn’t answer” when they don’t get what they ask for. What they should be saying is “God said yes” or “God said no.” That is a better understanding of how God answers. Prayer offered in Jesus name never goes unanswered. Sometimes you may even find that God gives a third answer: Wait awhile. But He does answer.

Prayer is a privilege. I don’t want you to think of it in clinical terms or over-define it or think you need special instructions before operating. Just talk to God. He is listening.