S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

The most basic definition of prayer is "talking to God." Prayer is not meditation or passive reflection; it is direct address to God. It is the communication of the human soul with the Lord who cre...

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April 04 2016 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Thomas K M Supporter A retired Defence Scientist from Indian Defence R&D Orgn.

Prayer is not a one way traffic. It is a communication between God and you. Repetitive prayer is not a prayer but it is a prayer discipline. 

One interpretation what I see is that Prayer doesn't just happen when kneel down or put our hands together and focus and expect something from God. 

Thinking positive and wishing good for others is a prayer. When you hug a friend, that is a prayer. When you cook something to nourish family and friends, that is a prayer. When you are helping someone in need giving your time and energy, you are praying. 

When you forgive someone from the bottom of your heart, that is prayer. When you send off your near and dear ones and say ' drive safely ' or ' be safe', that is a prayer.

Prayer is vibration,a feeling and a thought. Prayer is the voice of love, friendship, genuine relationship. Prayer is an expression of silent being.


Though prayer is a communication between God and man it is all the more a relationship with God. In Luke 11:1-4, disciples requested Jesus to teach them how to pray for that, He told them to pray calling `Our father who art in heaven ‘. This is a different calling from what we see in Old Testament like God of Hosts, Mighty God,Sovereign Lord. This is different from the prayer of Old Testament. This prayer is considered as a model prayer. The sequence of this prayer is something unique, in the sense that the first three sentences are related to God(His name, His Kingdom and His will) and subsequent sentences are related to our need(Food, Forgiving sin and delivering from evil). Prayer is not asking something, seeking something and knocking something from outside the door. Look at Luke 11:7 where in it is mentioned that His children are in bed which means His children are already under His protection. Those outsiders who persistently ask, seek and knock get answers but those who are in the bed along with his father will get the Holy Spirit(Luke11:13). Therefore, the real prayer is much more than asking, seeking and knocking. 
The real prayer is strengthening the relationship with God. It is beyond religion. We already have the relationship with God because of the finished work of Jesus on the cross. Our blessings are safe and each and every word of blessings is the finished work on the cross. By this relationship, we feel the presence of God every time and God will give us everything in our life. We are already inside the house of God. We are complete in Him who is head of all principalities and power. 
According to Ph 4:6, be anxious for nothing and prayer is nothing but thanksgiving

July 06 2016 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

According to Thy Word Psalm 119, prayer is
1 Cleansing Ps 119:9 “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.” 
2 Quickening (or Revival) Ps 119:25,107 "I am suffering terribly. O Lord, revive me with your word."
3 Strengthening Ps 119:28 “My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.” 
4 Saving Ps 119:41 "Lord, show me your love. Save me as you have promised."
5 Mercy Ps 119:58 "With all my heart I want your blessings. Be merciful as you promised."
6 Blessing Ps 119:65 
7 Comforting Ps 119:76 "Let your mercy comfort me as you promised."
8 Understanding Ps 119:169 "Hear my cry to you, Lord. Let your word help me understand."
9 Delivering Ps 119:170 "Listen to my appeal for mercy. Deliver me, as you promised."

There is such a thing as prayer for purity: HOW, CAN I, LORD, KEEP MY WAY PURE?

“Psalm 119:9” How shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to Thy Word.

Susan H. Peterson (1950-2004) Words: Su­san H. Pe­ter­son, 1998. The author:

How can I, Lord, keep my way pure?
To Your Word I must be true.
So I seek You with my whole heart;
Do not let me stray from You.

Your Word’s hidden in my heart, Lord,
That I might not go astray.
Praise to You, O Lord, my Father;
Teach me Your decrees each day.

This is the longest prayer in the Bible, Psalm 119. When we feel that we are drowning in a sea, that’s the ideal time to pray! And we are drowning in a sea of sexual images and sinful attractions. 

Once, when a group of 3 of us men from Bible colleges were snorkeling in San Juan, Puerto Rico after the effort to distribute the Gospel of John to “Every Creature” door to door, we enjoyed the afternoon in the Caribbean Sea. But one young man disappeared for a time. We went looking for him underwater, and I found him motionless. I brought him up and to shore where I did artificial respiration on him, the old Heimlich Maneuver, but it worked! (There’s a better way today as there’s now a warning out against the use of the Heimlich maneuver for drowning rescue as unproven and dangerous, due to its risk of vomiting leading to aspiration.) 

God used me to save him. He didn’t call out to me as he couldn’t and I know he wanted to be saved. We need God more than ever to face the strong temptations that we do. He is the only One who is stronger and thus able to help us. Don’t try to handle life and its temptations on your own! God is all wise. So read His Word and obey it. 

Take time to be holy as the hymnwriter counsels. Speak oft with thy Lord. 

I learned the hard way that it’s easier to make promises than to keep them. God didn’t want my promises; He wanted me to believe His promises! (This led to my becoming saved). I learned this again after I was saved (Romans 7:14-25) when I tried in my own strength to obey God’s law. Instead, I should rely on God’s indwelling Holy Spirit to fulfill His righteousness as I live daily (Romans 8:1-11). It is not my promises to God but His promises to me that will give me victory over sin. 

I must live according to God’s Word, a popular theme in Psalm 119 and in the New Testament, cultivating a heart for God, “seeking the things that are above” (Colossians 3:1). As I prepared for ministry in Bible school and didn’t yet know how to preach a sermon, I memorized Colossians and recited this in chapel. I needed a heart that sought God, because if my heart was seeking God, my feet would not stray from God (Psalm 119:10; Proverbs 4:23). This is true cleansing, my friends!

Other aspects of Psalm 119 I learned are:
Answered: Psa. 119:26
Confession in Psa. 119:176
Importunity in Psa. 119:58,145-147
Pleas offered in Psa. 119:38, 42, 43, 49, 73, 94, 116, 124, 145, 146, 149, 153, 173-176

September 09 2019 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report