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The Priority of Prayer:

• be faithful in prayer (Rom. 12:12)
• devote yourselves to prayer (Col. 4:2)
• pray continually (1 Thess. 5:17)
• pray in the Spirit on all occasions (Eph. 6:18)

Not only do we have the example of the early church being devoted to prayer (Acts 2:42), but we also find a number of commands that we develop a lifestyle of prayer.

Resources abound to help us learn to pray and to pray more effectively. God’s priority can become a reality in our individual lives and churches.
 

The Program for Prayer:

• sometimes we go apart in solitude to pray (Matt. 6:6; Mk. 1:35; Lk. 5:16) and sometimes we come together in community to pray (Matt. 18:19-20; Acts 1:14; 12:12; 20:36; 21:5)
• sometimes we follow a pattern in our prayers (Matt. 6:7-13) and sometimes we pray spontaneously as the Spirit leads (Eph. 6:18)
• we pray for everyone (Eph. 6:18; 1 Tim. 2:1-4) and we pray for everything (Phil. 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:7)

Jesus modeled prayer for His disciples in such a way that it developed a passion within them to learn how to pray. Even now, at the right hand of God, He intercedes for us (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25). In His example and in other teachings of Scripture on prayer, we do not see a regimented program. The issue is coming aside to spend time with the Father, discerning the heart of God, and then walking by faith in accordance with His will. That isn't always easy to program, though programs could help us get started or help us maintain a consistency in praying.
 

The Process for Prayer:

• be alert/watchful in prayer (Col. 4:2; 1 Pet. 4:7)
• be authentic in prayer (Matt. 6:5-8)
• be eternally minded in prayer (Lk. 22:40-46; Jn. 17:20-23)
• be fervent in prayer (James 5:16-18)
• be full of faith in prayer (Matt. 21:22; Mk. 11:24; Heb. 11:6)
• be helped by the Spirit in prayer (Rom. 8:26-27; Eph. 6:18)
• be persistent in prayer (Lk. 18:1-8)
• be right before God in prayer (Ps. 66:18; Prov. 15:8, 29; 28:9; Heb. 10:19-22; James 5:16; 1 Pet. 3:12)
• be thankful in prayer (Col. 4:2)
• be varied in prayer (Eph. 6:18)

Praying is more about what is going on inside a person, the attitude of the heart, than the actual words or actions. Praying isn’t for the effect it has on others but rather for the effect it has on God. If our prayers are going to be like incense, sweet and acceptable to Him, then the way we pray needs to line up with Him and His ways. “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7).

Jesus strongly warns us not to be like those who put the wrong focus on prayer. He reminds us that the Father sees what others do not. (Matt. 6:5-8)
 

The Product of Prayer:

• God works out of the wealth of His resources and power. (Eph. 3:20-21; James 5:13-20)
• God protects us with His peace. (Phil. 4:6-7)
• God helps us. (Ps. 18:6; 20:7-8; Heb. 4:14-16; James 1:5; 1 Jn. 5:14-15)
• God is near to us. (Ps. 145:18)
• God is honored. (Acts 10:4)
   
  

Prayer has an effect. We may not get what we want, but we will get what is best. (Lk. 11:9-13) The end result of prayer may not be health and wealth, though He does promise to take care of our needs. (Matt. 6:33) The end result may be more of an internal change than external for God knows we can withstand anything with His peace and presence in our lives. God’s goal isn’t to pamper us but to present us to Himself holy and blameless “without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish” (Eph. 5:26-27) and to produce in us “a harvest of righteousness and peace” that sometimes can only come through allowing negative circumstances into our lives (Heb. 12:7-11). His eyes aren’t on our earthly comfort but rather our conformity to His Son (Rom. 8:29). He may not remove our pain and suffering. He may not dissolve the consequences of our sin. But, He will work “for the good of those who love him” (Rom. 8:28-30). He will make us "more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Rom. 8:31-39).
 

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