David continued, “Now, son, may the Lord your God be with you, and may he keep his promise to make you successful in building a temple for him. And may the Lord your God give you insight and wisdom so that you may govern Israel according to his Law. If you obey all the laws which the Lord gave to Moses for Israel, you will be successful. Be determined and confident, and don’t let anything make you afraid. – 1 Chronicles 22:11-13 GNT
This prayer of blessing speaks gentle and thoughtful affection. David knew Solomon needed wisdom and understanding. There was an honouring of obedience – if Solomon accepted the charge, he would be successful. What father does not want his son to be successful?
This father/son blessing reminds me of the husband/wife blessing that Peter talks about.
In the same way you husbands must live with your wives with the proper understanding that they are more delicate than you. Treat them with respect, because they also will receive, together with you, God’s gift of life. Do this so that nothing will interfere with your prayers. – 1 Peter 3:7 GNT
Then to this, Peter adds words for anyone who wants to love life and see good days and how prayer relates to this as well.
As the scripture says,
“If you want to enjoy life and wish to see good times, you must keep from speaking evil and stop telling lies. You must turn away from evil and do good; you must strive for peace with all your heart. For the Lord watches over the righteous and listens to their prayers; but he opposes those who do evil.” – 1 Peter 3:10-12 GNT
There is one more reason for constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer, and it is a mighty one: because of what prayer accomplishes. Prayer promotes our spiritual growth as almost nothing else, indeed as nothing else but Bible study; and true prayer and true Bible study go hand in hand. – R. A. Torrey
He built an altar to the Lord there and offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. He prayed, and the Lord answered him by sending fire from heaven to burn the sacrifices on the altar.
The Lord told the angel to put his sword away, and the angel obeyed. – 1 Chronicles 21:26-27 GNT
What an answer to prayer. Even with all David’s defects, deep in his heart was an inextinguishable love for God. My difficulties are not in prayers being answered, they most likely have to do with the nature of my prayer itself. What kind of prayer am I offering? Maybe mine is a cry of cowardice or timidity. I believe the reality of my prayer is proven when I publicly confess my sin. When my prayer reaches the point of agony, then I can be in a position to say whether God hears my prayer. Before I can comment on prayer, I must be praying myself. To pray is not a form of words, but a pouring out of my heart.
Look at Jonah’s prayer.
So he prayed, “Lord, didn’t I say before I left home that this is just what you would do? That’s why I did my best to run away to Spain! I knew that you are a loving and merciful God, always patient, always kind, and always ready to change your mind and not punish. Now then, Lord, let me die. I am better off dead than alive.” – Jonah 4:2-3 GNT
This is an honest prayer. It may be coming from a disturbed mind, but even then, the honesty of it and the desire to pray calls on God not to reject it completely. A hypocritical prayer would have rejected God, it would show signs of bitterness, there would be complaining and it would have elements of extremes.
The reason for constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer is that prayer is the means that Christ has appointed whereby our hearts shall not become overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness and cares of this life, and so the day of Christ’s return come upon us suddenly as a snare. – R.A. Torrey
When I have decided to go in another direction from the will of God, I often find myself trying to run from the Bible, praying, and other Christians too. It is no wonder then that those who reject Jesus cannot pray. If they do though, and when I do, that prayer reaches the ear and heart of God. God wants me to love and serve Him with all of my heart, to confess Jesus to the world, to make the Bible my guide to life and to live by faith and prayer. I get it that Jonah was given a second chance.
Once again the Lord spoke to Jonah. He said, “Go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to the people the message I have given you.” – Jonay 3:1-2 GNT
I can pray for Jesus to leave, just like the people who were around the demonic that was set free. He answered that request. Jesus did refuse the healed man’s request though. He asked if he could go with Jesus and Jesus said, “no.”
Then all the people from that territory asked Jesus to go away, because they were terribly afraid. So Jesus got into the boat and left. The man from whom the demons had gone out begged Jesus, “Let me go with you.”
But Jesus sent him away, saying, “Go back home and tell what God has done for you.”
The man went through the town, telling what Jesus had done for him. – Luke 8:37-39 GNT
I never saw this before, but what if the healed man wanted to come with Jesus because he was afraid the demons would come back.
Of course, this was because this man could be a light among the people of these Gentiles cities in a way that Jesus and the disciples could not. But it was also to cure the man of any superstitions. He might have thought that he had to stay close to Jesus so the demons would not come back. “Perhaps, too, his prayer was not answered, lest his fear should have been thereby sanctioned. If he did fear, and I feel morally certain that he did, that the devils would return, then, of course, he longed to be with Christ. But Christ takes that fear from him, and as good as says to him, ‘You do not need to be near me; I have so healed that you will never be sick again.’” – Spurgeon
Doubtless many have received the Holy Spirit the moment of their surrender to God before there was time to pray, but how many there are who know that their first definite baptism with the Holy Spirit came while they were on their knees or faces before God, alone or in company with others, and who again and again since that have been filled with the Holy Spirit in the place of prayer!
I know this as definitely as I know that my thirst has been quenched while I was drinking water. Early one morning in the Chicago Avenue Church prayer room, where several hundred people had been assembled a number of hours in prayer, the Holy Spirit fell so manifestly, and the whole place was so filled with His presence, that no one could speak or pray, but sobs of joy filled the place. Men went out of that room to different parts of the country, taking trains that very morning, and reports soon came back of the out-pouring of God’s Holy Spirit in answer to prayer. Others went out into the city with the blessing of God upon them. This is only one instance among many that might be cited from personal experience.
If we would only spend more time in prayer, there would be more fullness of the Spirit’s power in our work. Many and many a man who once worked unmistakably in the power of the Holy Spirit is now filling the air with empty shoutings, and beating it with his meaningless gesticulations, because he has let prayer be crowded out. We must spend much time on our knees before God, if we are to continue in the power of the Holy Spirit. – R.A. Torrey
A prayer made in faith comes through the pen of James. It comes right when the conversation is about the type of praying that happens when someone is sick and needs healing. I am pretty sure it applies to all circumstances.
Are any among you in trouble? They should pray. Are any among you happy? They should sing praises. Are any among you sick? They should send for the church elders, who will pray for them and rub olive oil on them in the name of the Lord. This prayer made in faith will heal the sick; the Lord will restore them to health, and the sins they have committed will be forgiven. So then, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you will be healed. The prayer of a good person has a powerful effect. Elijah was the same kind of person as we are. He prayed earnestly that there would be no rain, and no rain fell on the land for three and a half years. Once again he prayed, and the sky poured out its rain and the earth produced its crops. – James 5:13-18 GNT
The encouragement comes as an exercise of trusting in God. In prayer, I lean on God, His wisdom and understanding, and the knowledge that every good gift comes from Him.
I note that if I am in trouble, I should pray. If I am sick, I go to the elders who will pray a prayer of faith. In the confessing of sin and in the praying there is healing.
I like the idea that the sick person is not responsible to pray for themselves. They are probably already alone, love the idea they do not have to walk in their faith alone.
Jonah was alone – three days and nights in the belly of a fish. There he knew God still was listening.
In my distress, O Lord, I called to you, and you answered me. From deep in the world of the dead I cried for help, and you heard me. – Jonah 2:2 GNT
It is hard to imagine that Jonah’s prayer was fake – who calls on God with a fake prayer when you are sitting in the belly of a fish? Those kinds of prayer are what I call desperate. He has become the praying prophet, as opposed to the prodigal one.
Three ministers were talking about the most effective ways to pray. As they were talking, a telephone repairman was working on the phone system in the background. One minister said that the key to answered prayer is to hold your hands together and point them upward as a form of symbolic worship. The second said, “No, the most effective position for prayer is to be on your knees as an act of humility. The third minister said, “No, the correct position for prayer is to pray while stretched out flat on your face. The phone man interrupted and said, “I found that the most powerful position to pray was when I was dangling upside down by my feet from a power pole 50 feet above the ground!”
My takeaways are a bit obvious – do not wait for a crisis to start praying.
As the hymn suggests, “O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!”
Jonah did what I need to do – he desperately looked for a right relationship with God. How often do I pray because I want something – this prayer reminded me of my priorities.
Lastly, I was reminded again to be thankful, even in the midst of difficult times. Jonah had no idea whether he was going to live or die and still was able to see something and to give thanks for it.
But I will sing praises to you; I will offer you a sacrifice and do what I have promised. Salvation comes from the Lord! – Jonah 2:9 GNT
A story that illustrates this is the story of two men who were being chased by a raging bull.
As the men raced towards the nearest fence, it became apparent that neither of them would make it in time. In a state of terror, the one man shouted to the other: “Put up a prayer, John. We’re in for it!”. John answered, “I can’t. I’ve never made a public prayer in my life”. “But you must!” implored his companion. “All right, I’ll say the only prayer I know–the one my father used to repeat at the table: “Lord, for what we are about to receive, make us truly thankful”
Imagine if I am near death and decide not to pray – what would that clearly indicate? The prayer Jonah did pray did not fit into the normal mould. It is almost all about being thankful. Maybe those kinds of prayers are the best kind to pray.
The reason for constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer is that prayer is the method that God Himself has appointed for our obtaining the Holy Spirit. – R. A. Torrey
“And now, O Lord, fulfill for all time the promise you made about me and my descendants, and do what you said you would. Your fame will be great, and people will forever say, ‘The Lord Almighty is God over Israel.’ And you will preserve my dynasty for all time. I have the courage to pray this prayer to you, my God, because you have revealed all this to me, your servant, and have told me that you will make my descendants kings. You, Lord, are God, and you have made this wonderful promise to me. I ask you to bless my descendants so that they will continue to enjoy your favor. You, Lord, have blessed them, and your blessing will rest on them forever.” – 1 Chronicles 17:23-27 GNT
David is boldly praying, asking God to what He promised. It was not a passive prayer, nor arrogant.
He has courage to pray because he was promised by God. The promise does not mean I possess it, however, believing prayer appropriates it.
David prays from his heart – not from a legal prespective. I know this because throughout his prayer he uses the designation, Lord, nine times.
I believe that David had the assurance of God’s generosity – it is what enable him to pray. He knew that of all the things he could do, bringing his prayer requests to God was the least he could do.
The prayer moved me because it has an attitude of gratitude – wonderfully God-centred.
And when you ask, you do not receive it, because your motives are bad; you ask for things to use for your own pleasures. – James 4:3 GNT
It is hard to believe I pray with selfish motives. I do know I think I have earned the right to ask because of what I do – fast, pray, evangelize etc. So when I drop my defenses there is more self-centredness than I thought. How much easier for the evil one to twist what prayer looks like.
I need to remember that what I am asking from God, have I also determined how I can bless others with it once I have received it? Would that help in determining my motive – maybe asking why I pray is more important than what I pray for.
It is possible to pray for the right thing, albeit, with the wrong motive. I am not suggesting that prayer for personal needs has to stop. No, Jesus asked me to, even for my own desires. It is the motive where the root problem lies. The conditions of prayer is an honest relationship with God. He is teaching me to pray effectively.
There is great power in prayer – I am spiritually poor because I do not pray or do not ask when I pray.
“If you may have everything by asking, and nothing without asking, I beg you to see how absolutely vital prayer is, and I beseech you to abound in it… Do you know, brothers, what great things are to be had for the asking? Have you ever thought of it? Does it not stimulate you to pray fervently? All heaven lies before the grasp of the asking man; all the promises of God are rich and inexhaustible, and their fulfillment is to be had by prayer.” – Spurgeon
My purpose in praying is not to persuade a relucant God to do my bidding but rather to align my will with His – to be in partnership with Him – to do what He has asked me to do.
“When a man so prays he asks God to be his servant, and gratify his desires; nay, worse than that, he wants God to join him in the service of his lusts. He will gratify his lusts, and God shall come and help him to do it. Such prayer is blasphemous, but a large quantity of it is offered, and it must be one of the most God-provoking things that heaven ever beholds.” – Spurgeon
Jesus dropped a bomb in my life when He asked me to pray for, forgive and bless the one who was abusing me.
Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. – Luke 6:38 GNT
It is true – when I prayed for the person I took back the power they robbed from me. It was not a call to be pushed around or taken advantage of, but rather an opportunity to change the world through love and peace – only a follower of Jesus is strong enough to do that.
I know I think about Old Testament things at times like these – similar to this old Irish prayer I found —
“May those that love us, love us. And those that don’t love us, may God turn their hearts. And if He doesn’t turn their hearts, may He turn their ankles so we’ll know them by their limping.”
Here is a country song called Pray for you. Here are the lyrics:
I haven’t been to church since I don’t remember when. Things were goin’ great ’til they fell apart again. So I listened to the preacher as he told me what to do. He said you can’t go hatin’ others who have done wrong to you. Sometimes we get angry, but we must not condemn. Let the good Lord do His job and you just pray for them.
I pray your brakes go out runnin’ down a hill, I pray a flowerpot falls from a window sill and knocks you in the head like I’d like to. I pray your birthday comes and nobody calls, I pray you’re flyin’ high when your engine stalls. I pray all your dreams never come true, Just know wherever you are honey, I pray for you.
I’m really glad I found my way to church, ‘Cause I’m already feelin’ better and I thank God for the words. Yeah I’m goin’ take the high road, And do what the preacher told me to do, You keep messin’ up and I’ll keep prayin’ for you.
I pray your tire blows out at 110, I pray you pass out drunk with your best friend and wake up with his and her tattoos. I pray your brakes go out runnin’ down a hill, I pray a flowerpot falls from a window sill and knocks you in the head like I’d like to. I pray your birthday comes and nobody calls, I pray you’re flyin’ high when your engine stalls. I pray all your dreams never come true. Just know wherever you are, near or far, in your house or in your car, wherever you are honey, I pray for you. I pray for you
Yes, my taking from Old Testament prayers are that they were honest, as many as mine are. But those days need to be seen through the eyes of Jesus – He called me to pray blessings and love. God will take care of His business, my business is to pray like Jesus – He prayed for His enemies too. Stephen did too as he was being stoned to death.
Praying like this changes me. If those I pray for do not change, that has nothing to do with me, I am changed. The Holy Spirit is engaged when I pray. My praying for someone who would not naturally be inclined to pray is a prayer of faith and submitting to God. I know it does not sound like the natural thing to do, then again, I am not natural, I am a child of God. I must pray!
That is glorious, and as simple as it is glorious! Thank God, many are trying it. Don’t you know any one who is always serene? Perhaps he is a very stormy man by his natural make-up, but troubles and conflicts and reverses and bereavements may sweep around him, and the peace of God which passeth all understanding guards his heart and his thoughts in Christ Jesus. – R.A. Torrey
The Practice of Prayer 