PRAYER
Prayer is communication with God. Being the Creator of the world, and reigning over it, He is not an impersonal being, but a God willing to listen to men. His laws do not limit him; they are the expression of his own generally uniform operation in providence and preservation.
He can, however, act in a free manner, according to the advice of his will, modifying the way he acts, and influencing the feelings, will and intelligence of men.
The prayers and the answers given by God to them are included in his plan, from the beginning of creation, which he sustains with his constant presence.
Prayer arises from the human heart: in anguish, it cries out to God, who demands prayer from everyone, but who only admits requests made in an integral manner.
The prayer of the wicked is an abomination before Jehovah (Prov. 15:29; 28:9). Only those who do not practice sin can approach God through prayer. The attitude of rebellion against divine authority must be deposed; forgiveness must be implored.
Prayer, the communion of the son of God with his Father, includes adoration, thanksgiving, confession, petition (Neh. 1: 4-11; Dan. 9: 3-19; Phil. 4: 6 ). This is how God’s people have prayed through the ages. Prayer is, thus, the outpouring of the heart before the Creator. He responds with blessings (1 Kings 9:3; Ez. 36:37; Mt. 7:7).
Jehovah hears every sincere prayer; he has compassion for all his creatures (Ps. 65:3; 147:9). James, citing a historical example, states: “The effective prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). And Christ declares to his disciples: “Whatever you ask the Father in my name, I will do it” (John 14:13).
Convinced that only God knows what the ultimate consequences, good or bad, of an answer to prayer may be, the believer already accepts from the outset the affirmative or negative response of the Lord.
The apostle John, addressing Christians, formulates the doctrine of prayer thus: “This is the confidence we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” (1 John 5:14). ).
The answer will be what we ourselves would want if we could have the knowledge we lack. In certain cases, the non-granting of our requests is often the greatest of blessings. He who prays with a right attitude entrusts himself entirely to the wisdom of his Lord.
The prayer must be said in the name of Christ, without which no sinner can have access before the Lord. The believer must keep in mind that he is approaching a thrice-holy God, and that he must base himself not on any merit on his part, which has no value, but on the merits of Christ: He is the one who has purified us of our sins. sins with His blood and has made us kings and priests.
The prayer is directed to the triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each of the three Persons of the Trinity is invoked in the apostolic blessing: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Cor. 13:14).
The prayer is also directed to the resurrected Christ, as the first Christians did (1 Cor. 1:2). Stephen, suffering martyrdom, prays to Christ; Paul pleads with Him and thanks Him. Those rescued proclaim his glory and sovereignty (Acts 7:59, 60; 2 Cor. 12:8, 9; 1 Thes. 3:11; 1 Tim. 1:12; Rev. 1:5, 6).
Prayer is offered to God by the Spirit (Eph. 6:17). Only He knows what we need to ask, to remain within the line of divine will. The prayer that He forms in us will certainly be granted, provided that nothing in our thoughts and conduct comes to hinder our prayers (1 Tim. 2:8; 1 Pet. 3:7).
Attitude during prayer.
The Israelites generally prayed standing (1 Sam. 1:26; Dan. 9:20; Mt. 6:5, etc.). However, the kneeling posture could signal greater devotion (2 Chron. 6:13; Ezra 9:5; Dan. 6:10; Luke 22:41, etc.). In both cases, the hands were stretched out toward God (1 Kings 8:22; Neh. 8:6; Lam. 2:19; 3:41), or toward his sanctuary (Ps. 28:2; 2 Chron. . 6:29).
This posture was extremely tiring when prolonged; Moses sat on a stone, while Aaron and Hur held his arms (Ex. 17:11-12). As a sign of humiliation he sometimes prayed by prostrating himself with his face turned toward the ground (Neh. 8:6; 1 Kings 18:42; 2 Chron. 20:18; Josh. 7:6). Daniel gave himself to prayer and supplication by fasting and dressing in sackcloth and ashes (Dan. 9:3; cf. Ps. 35:13). The repentant man beat his chest, accusing himself before God (Lk. 18:13).
When the Temple ceased to exist, prayer came to take the place of sacrifices in Judaism. The Talmud meticulously regulates the various types of prayers, their order and the attitude they demanded. The ancient rabbis considered it essential to wear phylacteries during prayer.
Christians are called to a life of dependence on God in prayer, as they face in this world against the Enemy and his schemes in a tremendous spiritual struggle. The apostle Paul exhorts thus: “Praying at all times with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and being vigilant therewith with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints…” (Eph. 6:18).