Prayer is a Key Christian Belief

Prayer is a Key Christian Belief

Prayer is a universal human experience. There is not a culture in the world that does not have some means of prayer, some way of communicating with the Divine. That is why I have chosen to examine prayer.

Prayer is one of the “key beliefs” of Christians. Prayer illuminates our relationship with God and allows us to express our love for Him, our faith and hope in Him. We have the opportunity to share our concerns, fears, needs and desires with the Almighty. The quality of our prayer life is directly related to the quality of our spiritual life and our knowledge of God. If we understand the purpose of prayer and it’s components, we are able to strive towards enhancing our prayer life where it becomes rich and fulfilling. When we develop our prayer life, we develop a stronger and deeper relationship with God; our prayers become our point of power.

Definition of Prayer

Pray is a means of communicating with God. Aside from studying the Word of God, prayer is a method used to help us develop a relationship with God and also to know His will for our lives. Prayer is the privilege of speaking and listening to God. Easton’s Bible Dictionary defines prayer as conversation with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant, ejaculatory; or formal. It is a "beseeching the Lord" (Ex. 32:11); "pouring out the soul before the Lord" (1 Sam. 1:15); "praying and crying to heaven" (2 Chr. 32:20); "seeking unto God and making supplication" (Job 8:5); "drawing near to God" (Ps. 73:28); and "bowing the knees" (Eph. 3:14).

Components of Prayer

There are four components of prayer:...

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... more concerned with our jobs, our families or friends and our activities—our own plans, than our spirituality and prayer. However, we need to keep God central in our life. Otherwise, we will miss His plan.

Bibliography:

Barth, K. (1985). Prayer. Philadelphia, PA: The Westminster Press.

Carey, G. (1996). The Bible for Everyday Life. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

Easton Bible Dictionary. (Online). www.interhack.net/projects/library/easton/

Fee, G. D. & Stuart, D. (1993). How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth. 2ed. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House.

Foster, R. J. (1992). Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.

Lustiger, J. M. (1987). First Steps in Prayer. New York: Doubleday.

The Holy Bible. New Revised Standard Version. (1989). New York: American Bible Society