“But I say, love
your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” Mathew 5:44
Along with moving
stuff around to ready the place for the renos, I was going through a bunch of
papers to see if they were worth keeping any longer. I came across a word study
I’d done in 2016 about prayer. Using a concordance, a word study is an exercise
of looking up the pertinent passages containing a specific word.
My idea this morning
is to simply copy it as today’s post. That way I can get rid of a couple more
pieces of paper and I feel it does no harm to refresh my own understanding. I
won’t write out every Scripture verse but will provide the reference and what I
understood the passage to mean. There may be more references beyond the Gospels but I guess I felt they were enough for a clear understanding or, far more likely, I got bored with the exercise. (Smile.)
A word study always starts with the dictionary definition:
Prayer -a devout request or petition to a deity
-the act of praying; esp. to God
-a set form of words used for a devout
purpose, petition, etc.
-spiritual and wordless communion with God
-a religious service
-something prayed for as in any earnest
request
Mathew 5:44 Prayer
is an expression of grace.
6:5-6 Prayer is a secret/private conversation
with God.
6:7 Prayers should not consist of vain
repetitions.
6:9 This is the introduction to the Lord’s
Prayer, the model we are to use. It also
contains every attribute found in the word study and them some. (I might
investigate this tomorrow even though I know there many scholars who have
written books about this subject.)
9:38 Prayer can be for specific things.
17:21 Prayer can cast out evil.
21:13 God’s house is a house of prayer. (Not walls, not ceilings but words.)
21:22 Confirms Mark 12:24
23:14 Warning to Pharisees re: long prayers as a
cover for ungodly behaviour
24:20 It can be a petition for an easing of
trials and tribulations.
26:36 Even Jesus prayed to His Father.
26:41 Prayer can be used to ask for help in times
of temptation.
26:53 Unlike a sword, man cannot interfere with
prayers to our Father.
Mark 9:29 confirms Mat 17:21
11:17 confirms Mat 21:13
11:25 repentance, forgiveness and forgiving are
important aspects of prayer
12:24 We have to believe in what we are praying for
13:18 confirms Mat 24:20
13:33 Prayer should happen all the time.
14:32 confirms Mat 26:36
14:36 Prayer is a way of surrendering to God’s
will.
14:38 Confirms Mat 26:41
Luke 6:28 Prayer is for our enemies. (Mat 5:44
confirmation.)
10:2 For labourers to work towards the harvest
of souls (Ask for help?)
14:18-19 Prayer is an expression of humility before authority.
16:27 To beg.
18:19 Prayers can be cries for mercy and an
offering of repentance.
19:46 confirms Mark 11:17, Mat 21:23
21:36 Request to be made worthy and for relief from the
dark times.
22:32 Prayers are also to support others during times
of trial or need.
22:40 Confirms Mat. 26:41 (The second time re:
protection against temptation!)
22:46 Again, reiterates that prayers are for help
against temptation.
John 14:16 Prayer can release good things! (Jesus
prayed to release the Holy Spirit which
also defines His role as
mediator between God and man.)
16:26 All prayers are to be asked in Christ’s
name.
17:9 Jesus prays for those who have come to
know Him because they are His.
17:15 Prayers are for protection against evil.
(Intercession.)
17:20 Prayers are for developing unity with God, to
cement the belief that we dwell in Christ and Christ in us.
20:23 Prayer is a uniting force for all
believers.
As I typed the last reference I came to realize again that prayer is having an ongoing conversation with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit about all
the subjects under the sun. Although I think I may have missed something very important when this study was first done: prayer is also used as an offering of words to honour, celebrate and glorify God. Gratitude is the most powerful prayer of all.
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