Connecting With Jesus

CONDITIONS OF PRAYER IN THE BIBLE

Throughout Scripture there are numerous prayers that can encourage us. These prayers demonstrate how people have called upon God to know Him.

As you read the following examples, take note of the conditions we may expect God to hear and answer our prayers.

Jacob, when faced with impending danger from his brother, prayed to the Lord in faith. He acknowledged that he was “unworthy of all the favor and of all the faithfulness” God had shown to him. Yet, he relied wholly on the promises of God.

“God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, Lord, who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’ I am unworthy of all the favor and of all the faithfulness, which You have shown to Your servant; for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two companies.

Save me, please, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, that he will come and attack me and the mothers with the children. For You said, ‘I will assuredly make you prosper and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which is too great to be counted.’” (Genesis 32:10-12 NASB)

In this prayer, we find Jacob

*Claiming God’s promises

*Acknowledging his sinfulness

*Expressing faith in God’s will

Faith, in simple terms, is “being fully convinced that what He [God] had promised He was also able to perform” (Romans 4:21, NKJV). Even if we’re afraid our faith is weak, when we call upon God, we are exercising it and growing it. God is seeking to turn our doubts into a strong faith. He will help your faith grow.

Another powerful prayer in the Bible is the plea spoken by a tax collector. In Luke 18:9-14 we find these words,

“Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other…” (NKJV)

The Bible open on a wooden table with a branch over it.
These words also point out two important conditions of prayer:

*Realizing our need of help from God

*Confession of sin

Realizing our great need and trusting God’s fullness will open our hearts to receive Him.

Moreover, the Bible also teaches that if we are hiding away anger, selfishness, greed, etc., in our hearts, we limit God from being able to work with us (Psalm 66:18).

If we choose to trust ourselves and cherish things like pride, we push God away. We’re told sin is the very thing that separates us from our loving, merciful God who is ready to forgive and save (Isaiah 59:1,2). When all known sins are confessed and made right, we can pray to God and trust He will answer.

The most inspiring prayers in Scripture proceed from the mouth of our loving Saviour. Each one of these prayers provides glimpses into the truth about prayer. His prayers were always of a pure motive, glorifying God (John 12:28; James 4:3).

Let’s look at the powerful prayer Christ prayed in the garden of Gethsemane.

“And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began praying that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by.

And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will” (Mark 14:35,36, NASB).

Here we see the God of the universe showing an example for humanity amid suffering (1 Peter 2:21).

Although Christ was in agony, He sought God’s will that He may obey it (1 John 3:22; 5:14). He knew that the best option was to cling to God, and His will, no matter what.

That was His safety, and God invites us to do the same.

A man standing and looking out at the sky at sunset.
No matter what struggles or pain you may be going through, you can cling to Christ through prayer.

God isn’t the one who brings the troubles and pain into your life. Sometimes these things are results of our own choices, and other times they’re simply the result of sin, which originated with the devil (1 John 3:8). But God promises that when you come to Him, seeking help, He is there for you.

You may claim His promises and trust that when you “pass through the waters” of doubt and trial, He will be with you. You won’t be overtaken (Isaiah 43:2, NKJV). God’s presence will guide you. For there can be many “afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivers them out of them all” (Psalm 34:19, NKJV).

One of the hardest parts of prayer is when we feel as if God hasn’t answered an earnest plea. It’s not always easy to understand why He chooses to say, “No.” Or why He chooses to say, “Wait.”

It’s important to remember that God’s timing is not always our timing. He knows the beginning from the end. He knows how all things will work together for our good (Romans 8:28).

Part of faith is knowing our perspective is severely limited, and trusting God to know what’s best for us—even when things just feel wrong. God’s plan may not be what you expect, but His plan is always best!