WHO IS TO PRAY: WHEN, WHERE AND HOW?

 INTRODUCTION     

        In journalism, six fundamental questions of news reportage are: who, what, where, when, why and how? These are what we refer to as “5 Ws and H.”  With these, you can report any news event no matter how simple or complex. They help you to elicit all the answers that would enable you to write your stories.

        The topic assigned to me is, “Who is to pray: when, where and how?” generally speaking, our discussion will be centering around the subject of prayer. This is solemn.

        Prayer is powerful! It is both a privilege and a right. Prayer is a privilege because God has made available communication resource – He has given us his direct telephone line so that we can call Him 24/7. While He speaks to us through His Word, we speak to Him through prayers. We have His assurance that we can call Him any time we want and He will answer us (Psalms 50:15). This is a privilege we are not supposed to enjoy considering our human frailties, yet, God is gracious enough to keep the doors to His Throne opened so that we walk in and speak to Him one on one. While we come we are not supposed to come with fear but with confidence (Hebrews 4:16).

        Prayer is a right. It is a right given to you as a child of God to talk to your Father anytime, any day and anywhere but not just any how. We have the right to walk into God’s presence and before His Throne at any given time and under any given circumstance.

        Prayer is a powerful spiritual resource, which we must do well to take advantage of.

OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION

WHO IS TO PRAY?

         All flesh (Psalms 65:2). All people irrespective of race, language, political, social, educational and economic status, etcetera are invited by God to pray. In teaching appropriatory prayer, our Lord Jesus Christ used the word, “Whoever” (Mark 11:23b). Whoever is whoever! No one is exempted. So long as anyone feels the desire to pray, the door of Heaven is open.

        No issue is too small not to be brought before God and none is too heavy that He cannot attend to (Psalms 2:8). Bring any matter of concern to you to God because He cares (I Peter 5:7). God is burdened by whatever burdens us. He is concerned by whatever concerns us and is troubled by whatever troubles us.

        While emphasizing that anyone can pray, however, we must appreciate the fact that not everyone’s prayer is treasured by Heaven. While the prayers of a sinner is an abomination to God (Proverbs 28:9) that of the righteous “availeth much” (James 5:16).

        Considering that not all prayers are effective those who lead our private and public prayers should people who have “holy hands” (I Timothy 2:8).

WHEN ARE WE TO PRAY?

        In all circumstances: good times and challenging times. Those who are afflicted and sick are invited to go to God in prayer (James 5:13-14). We are to pray without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17): morning, afternoon and night. No time is early and no time is late; every time of prayer is appropriate. Pray whenever your spirit prompts you to pray.

        We pray when we receive invitation by others to “remember me/us in your prayers” (I Samuel 12:23; cf. I Timothy 2:1).

WHERE ARE WE TO PRAY?

We are to pray everywhere (I Timothy 2:8). We pray where people are and where people are not found. If Jonah could pray in belly of a fish and God answered him (Jonah 2:1-10), we can be assured that wherever we pray God will equally answer us.

HOW ARE WE TO PRAY?

        This determines whether our prayers would sail through or not. Wrong attitudes would ensure a defeat of purpose but right attitudes would assure prayer success.

        First, we need to understand what prayer is – prayer is supplication. We must also appreciate the personality of God whom we are directing our prayers to. We must understand that God is not man (Numbers 23:19). Therefore, as we come to Him in prayer we must come with utmost reverence (Hebrews 12:28-29).

        No one should come before God barking like dog and speaking incoherently. Our prayers should be defined by deep spirituality and understanding (I Corinthians 14:15), not by meaningless words (Matthew 6:7) and disrespect to Him who alone is the Father of our spirits (Hebrews 12:9).

        Prayer is not a jamboree, neither is it an emotional exercise, rather it is a deep spiritual activity. Prayers should be made with utmost sense of responsibility. It is not what we do to impress people with our oratory but to lead the hearts and spirits of men and women to the Holy Throne of God where we are assured of help in times of our needs (Hebrews 4:16).

            Some people think that prayer is muttering (Isaiah 8:19), gyration (II Kings 5:11-12), noise-making (I Kings 18:26-29) firebrand and earth-shaking experiences (I Kings 19:11-13). When these had died down and God was not in any of them, then came “a still small voice.”

Is it not ironical that God was not in any of these earth-shaking experiences? One thing is sure: noise does not attract God, it rather repels Him (cf. Habakkuk 2:20). Have we forgotten so soon that Holy Spirit is a “Gentleman” (Galatians 5:22b). 

        Some people think that when we do not employ tear-jerking and heart-pulling methods of prayer spiced with high voices, our prayers are not heard. They classify prayers as “Powerful” and “Special” only when they shout, shake heads, cry and the like. What makes prayers powerful is praying with understanding and in accordance with God’s Word and in faithfulness (I Corinthians 14:15; I John 5:14; James 5:16f).

How should we not pray? We should not pray “Holy Ghost Fire” prayers (Luke 9:51-56). We should not pray to impress but to express our feelings and needs. We must respect God in our prayers.

We should also not pray cold and mindless prayers. Let our hearts be warm as we pray.

How should we pray? We should pray recognizing God’s presence (Job 9:11, 16). We should pray in praise (John 11:40-41). Let attitude of gratitude prevail in our prayers (Colossians 4:2). Walk into God’s presence with thanksgiving (Psalms 100:4). Soaking ourselves in praises wets the ground for an effective prayer. God not only inhabits the praises of His people (Psalms 22:3) but praises looks good on God (Psalms 147:1). When ordinary prayers fail, switch to prayer-praise (II Chronicles 20:1-26).

Pray in the Will of God (I John 5:14). When we force God’s hand to do what is not according to His Will, we will live not to like the outcome (Psalms 106:13-15).         

Pray in the Word of God (Isaiah 45:11). Bring God’s Word to bear in your prayers. When we refer to God’s Word we commit God to His work (Jeremiah 1:12).

CONCLUSION

            “Oh, how praying rests the weary… prayer will turn the night to day; so, when life seems dark and dreary, don’t forget to pray….” (Songs of the Church, 100; Great Songs of the Church, 38).

        Brethren, prayer is a serious spiritual business. Let us pray without fainting (Luke 18:1) because God answers the prayers of His saints (Psalms 50:15). God through prayers can shake our situations (Acts 4:31) and set machineries in motion for our liberation from whatever is holding us down (Acts 16:25-26).

        May our prayer lives be richer, more effective and more result-oriented in Jesus’ name!