What the scripture says about praying and how should we pray...
{ Few verses about praying... }
※ POSTURE
When it comes to posture in praying, there is no wrong position GOD has implemented.
even the characters in the bible prayed in many positions like;
● Standing (Genesis 24:12-14)
● Sitting (Judges 20:26)
● Kneeling (Mark 1:40)
● Looking upward (John 17:1)
● Bowing down (Exodus 34:8)
● Placing the head between the knees (1 Kings 18:42)
● Pounding on the breast (Luke 18:13)
● Facing the temple (Daniel 6:10)
But among those characters in the bible who prayed in so many ways,
there are some verses teaching us how we should:
1 Timothy 2:8
"I will therefore that men pray every where, LIFTING UP HOLY HANDS, without wrath and doubting."
Lamentations 3:41
"Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens."
Philippians 2
:9 Wherefore GOD ALSO HATH HIGHLY EXALTED HIM, and AND GIVEN HIM A NAME which is above every name:
:10 That at the NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
But these verses doesn't limit us in praying, for the bible also said that we should pray without ceasing...
THUS: whatever we are doing, whether we are sitting, lying, standing etc. we can always pray.
※ Women should be covered while men are uncovered
1 Corinthians 11:4-14
:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
:5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
:6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
:7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
:8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
:9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
:10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
:11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
:12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.
:13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
※ Be Specific, in your prayers, believe and have faith
Mark 11: 24
Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Matthew 17:20
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Philippians 4:6
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto GOD.
Luke 11:9
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Romans 8:26
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
※ Pray in JESUS NAME
Jeremiah 33:3
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not
John 14
:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
:14 If ye shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it.
Philippians 2
:9 Wherefore GOD ALSO HATH HIGHLY EXALTED HIM, and AND GIVEN HIM A NAME which is above every name:
:10 That at the NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
※ Be Good and Righteous for effective prayer
Psalms 34:17
The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
1 Peter 3:12
For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
James 5
:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. THE EFFECTUAL FERVENT PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN AVAILETH MUCH.
John 15:7
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Ezra 8:22
For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.
※ With FASTING, weeping, mourning, supplication and thanksgiving.... without ceasing
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Pray without ceasing.
Luke 18:1
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Daniel 9:3
And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
Joel 2
:12 Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
:13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
Colossians 4:2
Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
1 Timothy 2:1-3
:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
Ephesians 6:18
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Ezra 8:21-23
:21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before GOD, to seek of Him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.
:22 For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.
:23 SO WE FASTED and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.
Matthew 17:21
Howbeit this goeth not out but BY PRAYER AND FASTING
Matthew 6:16
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
※ Be Not like a Hypocrites, pray Not in vain and Repetition
Matthew 6:5-8
:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
{the Lord's Prayer}
Matthew 6:9-13
:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
