Teaching using The Battle Plan for Prayer by Stephen Kendrick & Alex Kendrick. Chapters 8, 9, & 10.
When: Scheduled Prayer
There will be times you will have a desire to pray. Perhaps because of a crisis or need. At these times prayers will be easy and necessary. But prayer should be a regular part of our lives. In the good times and the more difficult times. We should set aside a daily time to be alone with God and pray.
The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing.
Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17
This means we should always be ready to talk with or listen to God. This is true in the quiet times as well as the chaotic times. Not only during church but also in work or play. God is always there and always listens.
This does not mean we pray every second of every day. That is impossible. When we say kids are always playing, we do not mean they play every second of the day. Rather it means children are always trying to include play in everything they do. We should also try to include prayer in everything we do throughout the day.
In the Bible, God connects prayer with burning incense.
Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense;
and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Psalms 141:2
God instructed the Israelites to burn incense in the temple perpetually. Our prayers should be offered to God constantly as a discipline and as a passion.
And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations. Exodus 30:7-8
The burning of incense was constant but it was also a daily habit. It began in the morning and would end at night. We should make prayer a daily habit. A time when we put everything else aside and focus only on God and communicate with him through prayer.
Jesus was a busy man but he got up early in the morning to pray.
And in the morning, rising up a great while before day,
he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. Mark 1:35
King David prayed three times a day.
Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud:
and he shall hear my voice. Psalms 55:17.
If we schedule prayer as a daily habit we are less likely to forget or become busy with other things. If God is a priority in our lives then prayer should also be a priority.
When: Spontaneous Prayer
Scheduled pray allows us to connect with God on a regular basis and to reach a deeper level in our spiritual life. But we can also reach out to God throughout the day, when unplanned events happen. These are spontaneous prayers which can be given at any time of day or night. We may pray a blessing before a meal, during a hospital visit, before making a major decision, or when children are late coming home. When prayer becomes our immediate reaction to daily events the world around us will begin show us favor. There are several things which may lead us to pray.
Newness. When beginning something for the first time, stop and pray. Pray at the beginning of each day and each year. Ask for God’s guidance and thank Him for the opportunities which are ahead. A new job or a new relationship is good time to pray. Throughout the Bible people prayed at the beginning of things. King Solomon prayed before all of Israel when the new temple was built (1 Kings 8).
Needs. God is Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides. When ever we have a need whether it is spiritual, emotional, or physical we can pray to God to provide for us. God knows what we need even before we ask.
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. Matthew 6:7-8
Blessings. When God provides, blesses, protects, forgives and guides us it is time to thank Him. Do not become unaware of the blessing happening every day. Be thankful for the sunshine and the rain, for the beauty of nature and the fellowship of friends. The Bible directs us to be thankful for all things.
always giving thanks to God the Father for everything,
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20
Burdens. We all endure burdens in life and these should all be taken to the Lord in prayer. When we see other people struggling under burdens we can pray for them. We can pray for the struggles of church leaders, community leaders, and national leaders. The Bible instructs us to carry each other’s burdens.
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
Crisis. Every one will face a life-changing crisis in their life. Whether it is a car accident, a house fire, a sickness, or death of a loved one. We all go through difficult times which are harder than burdens. During these times we can cry out to the Lord. He may not respond the way we expect. He may provide a miracle or comfort to endure. But he will hear us.
and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
Psalms 50:15
Worries. When we feel consumes with anxiety or worry we can cast our cares on the Lord.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
If panic or fear overtake us we can turn to God in pray because he knows how we feel and what we need. not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Sin. God does not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can handle. If you are being tempted or you have crossed over into sin turn to God quickly for help and forgiveness. God wants to help us avoid sin in our lives, and he is ready to forgive us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and
will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
Any of these situations should cause us to turn to God in prayer. This will help the world around us and our daily endeavors to become more favorable towards us. God is always listening.
The Posture of Prayer
Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
Psalms 95:6
God does not give us bodily positions we must assume before praying to him. But our position does affect our thought and attitudes towards the prayers offered. There are many positions available for prayer.
Bowing. This is a physical attitude of honor and respect. In the Ten Commandments God instructs us to not bow down before idols.
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I,
the Lord your God, am a jealous God,
punishing the children for the sin of the parents to
the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, Exodus 20:5
Bowing our body completely or only our head is a sign of worship. When God came down from Mt. Sinai, Moses bowed down.
Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped. Exodus 34:8
Kneeling. At other times the Bible refers to someone dropping to their knees and praying. Kneeling shows a dependence on some else for forgiveness or mercy. When Solomon dedicated the new temple, he knelt before the congregation.
Now he had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, five cubits wide and three cubits high, and had placed it in the center of the outer court. He stood on the platform and then knelt down before the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven.
2 Chronicles 6:13
One day everyone will knell before Jesus even those who reject him.
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
Philippians 2:10
Lying Prostrate. In the Bible there are several references to people laying prostrate on the grown before God. Ezra delivered the public reading of the law which lasted all morning. At the end the people fell prostrate before the Lord.
Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Nehemiah 8:6
When Jesus prayed in the garden before his crucifixion he lay prostrate before God.
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39
Lifted Eyes. In the Bible, a common attitude of prayer is to lift your eyes towards heaven. Jesus lifted his eyes towards heaven when blessing the fish and loaves before multiplying them to feed the crowd.
Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. Luke 9:16
Silence. The Bible tells us to also be completely still and silent to know he is God.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalms 46:10
When one is struck by awe often our jaws drop and we are silent. When we wait on something to happen we may stand in silence.
Tremble and do not sin;
when you are on your beds,
search your hearts and be silent
Psalms 4:4
Crying out. This is indicative of an emotional spiritual plea before the Lord. Or a sound an animal might make when in distress. In Revelations words spoken in heaved are described as a load voice twenty times in twenty-two chapters.
In a loud voice they were saying:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and
strength and honor and glory and praise!”
Revelation 5:12
Posture during prayer is not commanded by God. But the difference in how we feel when kneeling in prayer or praying lying in bed is something we understand. Whatever your typical position in prayer try using a different posture. Perhaps it will help you focus. Or it may change your attitude to one of greater reverence. If you pray silently speak up and speak out loud. If it is your custom to bow your head and close your eyes, try lifting your hands and your eyes toward heaven. God will still be listening.
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