The goal of this section is to be an encouragement as you spiritually
prepare for your P.E.A.C.E. Project. Consider this as a
bible study to enhance your personal commitment to prayer. As
believers it is critical that we understand what the bible has
to say about prayer. Take some time to read through this
bible study, look up the scriptures, and ask God to help you
gain a better grasp on what prayer is, on what the benefits of
prayer are, and how we should pray.
Introduction: We need to understand the nature of prayer in
order to pray effectively. Also, there are several types of prayer
mentioned in Scripture. We should learn to pray using all of
these types of prayer.
What prayer is not
Prayer is:
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The means by which “we pour our lives, our thoughts,
our longings into God and receive the life, power, character,
mind and authority of God in return.” Bob Baake, The
Power of Extraordinary Prayer
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Prayer does not change God's will. It
can change His mind or decision in order to better release
His will. In Psalm 106:23, God said he intended to
destroy Israel. That was His decision. However, Moses
prayed to God and asked Him to show mercy. It was God's
will to hold back His wrath and show mercy, but if Moses
had not prayed, He would have had to destroy them instead. Jeremiah
18:7-10 also says that God can decide or intend one thing
and then change His mind and do something else when people
pray and allow Him to extend mercy instead of judgment.
Types of prayer: Ephesians 6:18 tells us we should pray at all
times and with all kinds of prayers:
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We pray prayers of praise and thanksgiving. In
this type of praying we recognize God's greatness and declare
His unmatched worth and value. We treasure Him (Psalm 48:9-10;
63:3; 71:14; 150; Hebrews 13:15). In this type of prayer we
may sing, dance, kneel, shout, play musical instruments, raise
our hands, clap and look foolish. David danced before the Ark
of God in an act of praise and thanksgiving (2 Samuel 6:14).
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Forgiveness releases the provisions of God (Proverbs 28:13)
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Forgiveness is an act of the will. It is our responsibility
to forgive those who harm us (Matthew 6:14-15). Forgiveness
is always our responsibility
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When we forgive, we pardon an offense against us, we give
up the wish to punish or get even with someone who has offended
us. We decide to live with the personal consequences of what
someone else did against us. We need to be willing to forgive
ourselves, others and God.
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When we do not forgive ourselves for our own sins, we are
saying that the blood of Christ is effective for others, but
not for us. We say that God must do something more for us in
order for us to accept His forgiveness. That is foolish.
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When we do not forgive others, we bind ourselves to them
and to the results of what they did to us. This can lead to
physical illness and all kinds of problems in our lives. In
fact, after the Lord's Prayer (Mark 11:25-26), Christ points
out that if we don't forgive others, then we won't be forgiven.
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God has never harmed us or done anything evil against us.
But we may need to deal with our anger against God because
of things that have happened in our lives that we feel He could
have prevented.
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We pray prayers of intercession. In this
type of prayer we come to God on behalf of someone else. We
stand between God and a person or situation and/or stand between
Satan and a person or situation. We engage in battle, confronting
Satan and representing God to win a battle (Genesis 18:20-33;
Ezekiel 32:7-14; Daniel 9:1-5, 20-23; Zechariah 12:10; 2 Chronicles
6:21; 7:14; Romans 15:30-32; Galatians 6:2; 1 Timothy 2:1-4).
Action Point
Have a daily time of prayer in which you include various types
of prayer: praise, thanksgiving, confession of sin, intercession
for others, petition for yourself and your needs, and blessing.
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