1. Prayer Is Commanded by God
God commands His people to pray. Men ought always to pray and not lose heart. Believers are to pray without ceasing. Prayer is not optional for the Christian life; it is a direct command from Scripture. To neglect prayer is to disobey God. The Lord Jesus Himself commanded His disciples to ask, seek, and knock, with the promise that it would be given, found, and opened.
2. Prayer Is to Be Directed to God Alone
Prayer is an act of worship, and worship belongs to God alone. Believers are to call upon the name of the Lord. Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Our Father in heaven.” Prayer is not to be offered to angels, saints, or any created being. When the apostle John fell down to worship an angel, the angel refused, saying, “Worship God.” Prayer is for the one true God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
3. Prayer Must Be Offered Through Jesus Christ
There is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. Believers are to pray in the name of Jesus. To pray in Christ's name means to pray on the basis of His merit and according to His will. No one comes to the Father except through the Son. The Holy Spirit also helps believers in prayer, interceding for them with groanings too deep for words.
4. Prayer Must Be Offered in Faith
Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Whoever comes to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him. If any believer lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives generously, but let him ask in faith, without doubting. The one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; that person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
5. Prayer Must Be Offered According to God's Will
This is the confidence that believers have in Him: that if they ask anything according to His will, He hears them. If they know that He hears them, they know that they have the petitions they have asked of Him. Prayer is not a tool to bend God to the believer's will, but a means to align the believer's will with God's. Jesus taught, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” and in Gethsemane He prayed, “Not My will, but Yours be done.”
6. Prayer Must Be Offered with Persistence and Importunity
Jesus taught that men ought always to pray and not lose heart. He gave the parable of the persistent widow who kept coming to the unjust judge until he granted her justice. He also taught the parable of the friend who came at midnight, and because of the man's persistence, the friend arose and gave him what he needed. Believers are to continue steadfastly in prayer, watching in the same with thanksgiving.
7. Prayer Must Be Accompanied by Righteous Living
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is His delight. If a believer regards iniquity in his heart, the Lord will not hear him. Husbands are instructed to live with their wives according to knowledge, so that their prayers may not be hindered. Unconfessed sin blocks prayer. Confession and repentance open the ear of God.
8. Prayer Includes Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication
The model prayer that Jesus taught begins with adoration: “Hallowed be Your name.” It includes petition for daily bread, forgiveness, and deliverance from evil. Paul instructs believers to pray with thanksgiving, making their requests known to God. Prayer is not only asking but also praising God for who He is and thanking Him for what He has done. Confession of sins is also a vital part of prayer, for God is faithful and just to forgive.
9. Prayer for Others (Intercession) Is Required
Believers are commanded to pray for all men, for kings and all who are in authority. Paul constantly prayed for the churches. Job prayed for his friends. James instructs believers to pray for one another. Intercession is not optional but a mark of love and obedience. The Lord Jesus Himself ever lives to make intercession for His people, setting the perfect example.
10. God Answers Prayer According to His Perfect Wisdom
Sometimes the answer is yes. Sometimes the answer is no, as when Paul prayed three times for the thorn in his flesh to be removed, and the Lord said, “My grace is sufficient for you.” Sometimes the answer is wait. God is not a vending machine. He is a Father who gives good gifts to His children. He knows what is best, and His timing is perfect. Believers are to trust that He hears and answers for their good.
Conclusion
Prayer is the breath of the new nature. It is the believer's lifeline to the throne of grace. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Pray without ceasing. In everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.