Questions About Prayer

About a week ago, my youth pastor preached on prayer. It was a huge blessing to me, so I thought I would share.

Prayer is a personal thing.

"Prayer is the Christians greatest privilage, and the Christians biggest failure." 

Prayer can do ANYTHING God can do. Which is everything. 

Why should we pray? I mean, God knows our needs and wants anyway. 

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. (Matthew 6:7-8 KJV)

We don't pray to impress God. We don't pray to inform God. We pray to invite God into our lives. Prayer is for fellowship with God. Also, it helps us learn how to depend on Christ. 

If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (John 15:6-7 )

Prayer shows that we completley abide, or depend, in Christ. 

What should I pray about? 

Everything. There is nothing to big, or too small for God. God made the earth and everything in it, so what could be bigger than Him? 

Why do we pray in Jesus' name? 

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. (John 14:13-14)

We want to make sure God approves of our wants. 

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. (John 15:16) 

We want to give God the authority to say yes or no. 

A prayer that begins in heaven has a better chance of getting back to heaven. 

Does God always give us what we ask for? 

No. This is because sometimes we ask for things that are not right. 

And Moses said unto the Lord, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers? Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat. I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness. (Numbers 11:11-15) 

Does prayer change God's mind? 

No, of couse not. God doesn't change. 

What if my prayer is not answered? 

God says to be persistant. God needs to know how serious we are about our prayers. Daniel prayed for 21 days. 

Just some thoughts that spoke to me... :)

~Charis