More on Prayer

(If you are searching for the Prayer Study for this Sunday look directly under this post).

Here is some more Scripture on prayer:

Pray for those who persecute you. - Matt. 5:44

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. - Matthew 6:6

And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do. - Matt. 6:7-8.

Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. - Matt. 9:38.

How much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him. - Luke 11:13.

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. John 14:13.

When we look at the whole of Scripture we see that Jesus desires to create a people that pray. He led by example: rising early to pray (Mark 1:35) seeking times alone to pray (Matt 14:23) spending whole nights in prayer (Luke 6:12) and preparing for his suffering and death by prayer (Luke 22:41-42).

Praying is a way of relating to God in that we receive joy and help and God receives honor and glory.

Quick Addition

Why do we pray "In Jesus' name"? Two answers by two great pastor-theolgians:

Thomas Watson says that "We are to pray "in the name of Christ." To pray in the name of Christ is not only to mention Christ's name in prayer but to pray in the hope and confidence of his merits." (The Ten Commandments, pg 240)

John Piper says "The confidence we have in prayer is owing to Jesus. He did not just teach us to pray -- he died for us and rose again to remove insuperable obstacles to prayer. Without the death of Jesus, our sins would not be forgiven and the wrath of God would still be against us. In that condition we could expect no answers to prayer from God. Therefore, Jesus is the ground of all our prayers. This is why he taught us to pray in his name. Ending our prayers "in Jesus' name, Amen" is not a mere tradition; it is an affirmation of faith in Jesus as the only hope of access to God."