If you would rather read this message, the words are provided below…
This is Part 22 of my Superhero series. In the introduction of this series, I provided the argument that heroes are real and then I distinguished between heroes and superheroes. I also provided a list of what defines a superhero. In Part 1, we learned that superheroes recognize the absolute standard of Good and realize that evil is a mere privation of what is good. In Part 2, we learned that superheroes recognize the absolute moral standard and realize that what is wrong can only be known by the standard of what is right. In Part 3, I defined and expounded upon love because all superheroes are full of love and are compelled to act out from love. In Part 4, I explained that superheroes desire to save people from all forms of danger and/or death and this desire comes from love. In Part 5, we learned that superheroes are solution seekers. In Part 6, we saw that solution seekers are willing to sacrifice if necessary. In Part 7, we saw that sacrificial love steps forward and offers service. In Part 8, we saw that superheroes go above and beyond the call of duty. In Part 9, we saw that superheroes never give up! In Part 10, we saw that superheroes don’t need recognition – they are motivated only by love! In Part 11, we saw that relationships matter and teamwork works! In Part 12, we saw that the struggle is real; however, Jesus is the real solution to our real problems. In Part 13, we saw that despite problems, superheroes are more than conquerors! In Part 14, we saw that true superheroes do not have identity crises – they know who they are even if others don’t! In Part 15, we saw that superheroes are always ready to fight evil with the belt of Truth. In Part 16, we saw that superheroes are always ready to resist evil by putting on the breastplate of righteousness. In Part 17, we saw that superheroes are always ready to walk with purpose. In Part 18, we saw that superheroes are always ready to deflect the enemy’s attacks by holding up the shield of faith. In Part 19, we saw that by wearing the helmet of salvation, superheroes always protect themselves from evil penetrating their minds with parasitic seeds of thought that contaminate, corrupt, and control. In Part 20, we saw that by using the Sword of the Spirit, superheroes can not only block the enemy’s attacks, but also drive the enemy away. In Part 21, we saw that it matters to whom we pray.
In this message (Part 22), we will see that prayer has a purpose; furthermore, persistent and purposeful prayer with proper priority is a powerful weapon for the Savior’s superheroes.
We are instructed to pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion (Ephesians 6:18-20).
But what is prayer? Are there examples of prayer we should follow? Is there a right or wrong way to pray? How often should we pray? Why do we need to pray? What if GOD doesn’t answer our prayers?Many people have many questions regarding prayer; many people have many different opinions regarding prayer. But what does GOD’s Word tell us about prayer? How does prayer fit in with the whole armor of GOD? Why is prayer mentioned with the Sword of the Spirit? How can prayer be a powerful weapon?
What Is Prayer?
In short, prayer is simply talking to GOD. It is the direct communication of the human soul with the Lord who created the soul. Because prayer acknowledges our lack of power and also petitions acknowledgment from the Ultimate Power, the act of praying is an act of humility. The very act of producing a prayer is to admit that we need GOD. This means that prayer combats pride. For this reason alone, prayer is a weapon associated with the Sword of the Spirit that helps us cut pride out of our lives. The powerful weapon of prayer can be activated by softly spoken words that come from your audible voice, but it can also be activated from a silent scream from within your soul. Communication is the key to unlocking the power of prayer. As the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia puts it, “Christian prayer in its full New Testament meaning is prayer addressed to God as Father, in the name of Christ as Mediator, and through the enabling grace of the indwelling Spirit” (“Prayer” by J. C. Lambert).
An Example Of Prayer:
In Luke 11:1 (see also Matthew 6:9-13), one of the disciples requested that Jesus teach them how to pray. Jesus then gave them an example of a prayer:
“Jesus said, ‘This is how you should pray: “Father, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. Give us each day the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation.” ‘ “
(Luke 11:2-4) -NLT
Notice that the prayer had three parts; notice also the order in which the parts were given:
- GOD’s Kingdom is priority number one (Your will be done, not mine: Matthew 6:33; 26:39).
- Secondly, may we receive all that we need (gratitude and contentment: Philippians 4:11-13).
- Lastly, keep us from all that we do not need (faith/trust in GOD: Psalm 9:10; 28:7; 31:14; 37:5; 84:12; Proverbs 3:5-8).
Just as GOD provided for the Israelites with daily manna (Exodus 16:4,19), GOD is to be our ‘daily bread’ (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4). We need GOD every new day just as much as we did the day before. We must communicate with GOD on a daily basis. In Luke 11:5-13, after Jesus provides an example of prayer, Jesus then teaches His disciples two important things to remember in regards to prayer:
- We need to be persistent in our prayers.
- GOD is faithful and will provide.
Is There A Right Or Wrong Way To Pray?
Those of us who attend church have most likely noticed that people tend to both worship and pray differently from each other. Some people are standing up, but others are sitting down, kneeling, or even prostrating themselves flat on the ground. Some people have their hands open, some have their hands closed, but some have their hands lifted up as if trying to touch GOD in Heaven. Is there a right or wrong way to pray? Are we holy when we close our eyes during prayer and unholy if our eyes are open? Is it better to pray in a church building or out in nature? Do we have to bow our heads? Do we have to put our hands together? Should we pray in the morning when we get up or at night before we go to bed? Are there certain words we need to say in our prayers? What if we forget to say those specific words or phrases? How do we begin our prayers? What is the proper way to close a prayer? If we don’t pray properly, will our prayers not be answered? Are prayers only answered for those who give the most money to the church? Does GOD not answer my prayers because I’ve been struggling with sins? These questions, and many others, are frequently asked questions regarding prayer.
Jesus shined some light on what’s important in prayer:
“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!”
(Matthew 6:5-8) -NLT
Prayer is genuine, open, honest, and real. So, talk. It’s that simple. However, some people might wonder why we need to pray if GOD already knows what we need. Well, prayer is not a means of asking for what we want. Prayer is a connection between us and GOD; in prayer, we are connected with our Christ-compass and it keeps us in alignment with GOD’s will. A healthy relationship requires constant communication. Therefore, talk. However, pray with purpose. Prayer is a way for us to discover what we need rather than request what we want.
“The Holy Spirit takes hold of us in our human frailty to empower us in our weakness. For example, at times we don’t even know how to pray, or know the best things to ask for. But the Holy Spirit rises up within us to super-intercede on our behalf, pleading to God with emotional sighs too deep for words. God, the searcher of the heart, knows fully our longings, yet he also understands the desires of the Spirit, because the Holy Spirit passionately pleads before God for us, his holy ones, in perfect harmony with God’s plan and our destiny.”
(Romans 8:26-27) -TPT
We don’t always need to know what to pray for or exactly how to pray, but we do need to pray at all times and on every occasion. Philippians 4:6 instructs us to pray about everything. Everything? Yes. 1Thessalonians 5:17 instructs us to pray without ceasing. Without ceasing? At all times? Yes. Even without speaking words, our soul can still cry out to the Lord. GOD must be in everything we do, not just some of what we do. Jesus did not provide to us an exact prayer to repeat; rather, He gave us a simple example to follow. There does not exist a magic formula to prayer. In fact, it’s possible to say all the right things yet not believe in any of them. GOD’s Word tells us that GOD looks at our hearts (1Samuel 16:7).
Praying expectantly is the natural response to living out a faith-filled life. GOD is there, GOD is aware, and GOD does care. Jesus clearly teaches us to expect answers to prayers that are specific and persistent. However, Scripture never presumes prayer will remove all suffering. It’s important to know what to expect while praying expectantly. We are to expect that GOD’s will is the way and that GOD’s will is what is best and right. Should we expect answers for prayers? Absolutely. But we should not be so naive to believe that the answer will arrive as we demand or believe it should. Our answer may arrive as a “no” while we are still alive or it may even arrive after we leave Earth to be in the presence of GOD. Consider Joseph from the Bible. If we had been with Joseph, we might have prayed for him to be delivered from his brothers and not to be sold into slavery. But if that prayer was granted, Joseph never would have saved Egypt and the lives of his family later on. If we had been with Mary and Martha, we might have prayed for Lazarus not to die. But if that prayer had been granted, the glory of GOD would not have been revealed when Jesus rose him from the dead. How many people prayed for Jesus to save Himself and be spared from crucifixion? Had that prayer been granted, Jesus would not have accomplished His mission to save all of humanity. We are to expect answers to our prayers, but we must above all else expect that GOD’s will be done. Prayer is not our last resort before deciding to abort because we came up short; prayer is our first concentrated effort and direct line of support. Prayer is not our last option before collapsing into a coffin; it is our first response of action, second to none, priority number one. The power behind prayer is the purpose that propels it forward.
Praying persistently provides opportunity for us to discover the value for whatever it is we are praying. If something is important, we make it a priority and continue to ask GOD for a way. Persistent prayer makes us more Christlike by tempering our human selfishness and by strengthening our divine dependence. The Bible reveals that many believers prayed for months or even years before finally receiving an answer. Persistent prayer must be met with patience and the ability to forbear. The Bible reveals that people who were commended with great faith often didn’t receive immediate answers to prayers. Faithful prayer is not distinguished by the immediacy of answers but by the persistency of the petitions. Expecting immediate answers is a sign of immaturity. Christ’s ministry, from conception to the cross, took years to fulfill. The Jewish people had prayed for centuries for their Messiah. And when Jesus finally arrived, some people prayed for Him to provide immediate political, military, or economic deliverance, but GOD had a better plan. We trust our Savior because He works perfectly, not because He works quickly. GOD is not limited by our time and He answers prayers in His perfect time. We do not need to see the result of our prayers in our lifetime to know that GOD will do what is best and right in the eternal picture. GOD knits together a blanket of love of His purposes from the yarn of our prayers and circumstances, but in His knowledge, His power, and His time.
Prayers that are answered too soon can create complacency and can desensitize us to our need for patience through our persistence. Understanding GOD’s primary goal that our prayers is for our spiritual transformation helps explain the delay for some requests. We may desire a change in our current circumstances when GOD desires first a change within our hearts, minds, character, and overall attitudes. We want quick solutions, but GOD wants growth in our patience and trust. We may want a problem out of our lives when GOD wants us to learn how to overcome those problems so that we might be able to help others overcome at a later time. We may want an end to the pressure of life’s demands, but GOD might desire for that pressure to transform us into spiritual diamonds. Delayed answers do not necessarily mean that our prayers are wrong, but neither is it wrong to consider altering or refining our prayers. For prayers, it is most important that our petitions are in alignment with GOD’s will. If our prayers are in alignment with GOD’s Word and GOD’s ways, then we may be persistent in our prayers. However, patience must accompany persistence or else our persistence can transform into our own pain that plagues us with an irrational fear of unfulfilled purpose.
Praying in GOD’s will within the boundary of righteousness is necessary for praying what is right. If a football player runs too far in either direction of left or right, he will be out of bounds. Only while staying within the set boundaries and progressing forward can a football player achieve a first down or score a touchdown. We can view the boundary on the right as the line of righteousness and the boundary on the left as the line of wisdom or prudence. GOD grants whatever we ask in prayer if it is in agreement with His will. We head in the wrong direction if we pray for what is wrong in hopes of arriving at the right destination. Asking for what is wrong to hopefully end up in the right cannot be GOD’s will. Discerning righteousness keeps our decisions and petitions in prayer from going out of bounds. GOD’s Word is more authoritative than personal feelings or priorities. Rearranging the order to accommodate personal agenda is to pray outside of GOD’s will and we will find ourselves outside the boundary of righteousness. Our feelings become our authority whenever they determine the priorities of our prayers. Praying in Jesus’ name requires that we give His Word authority over our desires. A football player’s obedience to the rules of the game ensures his continuance in the game without penalties. Likewise, a Christian’s obedience to GOD’s Word (rules) ensures righteousness and his/her continuance in life without penalties (negative consequences brought about by sinful disobedience). One simply cannot know what is righteous unless that person knows GOD’s Word. Because “it is written” for a reason, we must know what is written, understand what is written, and apply what is written to our daily decisions.
Praying in GOD’s wisdom within the boundary of prudence keeps us from being nearsighted and noncompliant. As a Christian, we should not make decisions based on worldly priorities. We must be mindful of our motives. The boundary of righteousness determines whether our decision is moral; the boundary of prudence helps us determine if the decision is wise. Are our prayers loving? Loving prayers place others’ needs and interests before our own (Philippians 2:3-8). We must consider others as we weigh the appropriateness of our prayers (1Thessalonians 4:9-12). We should not pray for GOD to bless choices that disregard the welfare of other loved ones. We should not pray to be lifted up if our elevation causes others to sink. Instead, we should pray to be lifted up so that we may be in a position to help pull others out of despair. It is wise to do our best and then pray for GOD to take care of the rest. Are our prayers legitimate? Legitimate prayers weigh GOD’s interests above our own (1Corinthians 10:31). While there is nothing intrinsically evil about a life lived without concerns, Christians should question whether such a carefree life is in alignment with Biblical requirements to love others. If GOD blesses us with a favorable answer to a prayer, would we use that opportunity to advance the Kingdom of GOD or to keep the blessing for selfish gain? Our prayers are in His will only when the glory of His name is our highest aim. Are our prayers responsible? We cannot pray according to GOD’s will and prioritize according to our own. Are we using our abilities in a responsible manner? We should pray for GOD to use our gifts for Jesus’ sake, rather than praying others will serve our interests. We must always listen to our own prayers with an ear as to whether they are designed to make us givers or takers. We should pray for GOD to guide us away from the desire to seek our good at the expense of others or GOD’s glory. If we are seeking for self, we are acting irresponsibly. The bottom line for responsible prayers: do they further the cause of Christ and do they further His cause without violating the principles of His Kingdom?
Praying forward is the praying ourselves into growth. We are not moving forward unless we are walking in step with GOD. The truest and deepest joys follow prayers that are loving, legitimate, and responsible. We are to consider biblical priorities over worldly pragmatics. When we depend on the quantity or quality of our prayer (or fasting or study or sacrifice) to determine its spiritual effectiveness, we imprison GOD within the limits of our abilities. GOD hears our prayers because of His mercy, not because of our mastery of them or of Him. What matters is the motive, not the mantra. We discern whether our patterns of prayer are accomplishing GOD’s purposes by asking ourselves why we are praying for what we are praying and why we are praying so habitually. As our thoughts, attitudes, and actions are increasingly controlled by the Word and by our union with Christ, our inclinations conform more and more to GOD’s will. Our prayers align with GOD’s desires, because that which grieves Him grieves us and that which pleases Him pleases us. When life becomes immersed in prayer, increasingly we understand that we take no step without GOD’s aid, and we take every step forward with His blessing.
GOD answers prayer requests based on whether they are asked according to His will and in the name of Jesus (to bring glory to Jesus). The ultimate example of prayer can be found in Matthew 26:39,42,44 when Jesus concludes His prayer by saying, “nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” In all of our prayers, we must be seeking first the Kingdom of GOD (Matthew 6:33). Like Hannah pouring out her soul (1Samuel 1:15), the proper way to pray is to pour out our hearts to GOD, being open, honest and real with GOD, as He already knows us better than we know ourselves.
Ask And It Will Be Given To You:
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”
(Matthew 7:7-8; see also Luke 11:5-13) -ESV
James, the brother of Jesus, explains the special stipulation to this promise of receiving after asking:
“You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.”
(James 4:2-3) -NLT
Our desires need to be in alignment with GOD’s will. But knowing GOD requires faith, focus, and follow-through. Jesus promises a reward for the passionate pursuit of seeking GOD’s will. Before making requests, we should ask ourselves three important questions:
- For what are you asking?
- Why are you asking for this request?
- Does this request first focus on the Kingdom of GOD?
Seek First The Kingdom of GOD:
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
(Matthew 6:33) -NLT
“Since we have this confidence, we can also have great boldness before him, for if we present any request agreeable to his will, he will hear us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we also know that we have obtained the requests we ask of him.”
(1John 5:14-15) -TPT
Praying in Jesus’ name requires placing the priorities of Christ before our own. It’s imperative that Christ comes first. Too often our prayers are like Christmas wish lists for Santa Claus rather than meaningful conversations with our Creator. GOD is not a genie in a magic lamp who exists to grant our wishes at our will. The purpose of prayer is not to get what we want. GOD is not a celestial vending machine who dispenses miracles or blessings simply because we input our ‘faith coins’ into a prayer request. We must ensure that our prayers are not spiritual coins being shoved into the celestial slot machine — methodically, ritualistically, and mechanically — with the hope of divine payout.
Proper prayer must put more trust in GOD’s will than human desire. When GOD’s people pray in the name of Jesus, they indicate that they are seeking to bring Christ the glory. To do anything in the Lord’s name means to do it for His purposes. Praying in Jesus’ name keeps our prayers mature and in proper alignment with GOD’s will. If the motive behind every prayer is for the name of GOD to be glorified, we need not doubt that He will answer according to His perfect will. Trust in GOD is not based on our circumstances but on His character. If we truly grasp the goodness of GOD, our prayers don’t seek GOD for our purposes, but to offer ourselves for His purposes.
Here is a challenging question regarding your prayers: If GOD answered all your prayers, would others’ lives be changed or only your own? Prayer is also a way to love others. We should pray for others. But we should also pray that GOD’s will be done. In the connection of prayer, the goal is to come into alignment with GOD’s will. Prayer, like love, has proper priorities:
- GOD
- Others
- Self
What If GOD Doesn’t Answer My Prayers?
Praying without doubting is to simply have faith in our loving Father and know that GOD’s will is what is best and right. We are not to believe that GOD will respond to every prayer request with a ‘yes’ answer. GOD always answers prayers with either a yes, no, not yet, not quite, or better yet. GOD often does better than what we ask for ourselves and exceeds expectations. Too often confident prayers transform into doubt simply because the answer doesn’t match our unrealistic expectations or the answer is not immediate. It is not wise to believe that our expected result is the best result; it is immature to believe that answers need to be immediate. To pray without doubt is to believe that our answer is on the way or GOD has something better in mind. Answers to prayers don’t need to accommodate specific individual demands in order to fulfill desires and bless everyone. If all personal prayers were affirmed and granted, what would keep the world from exploding into a zillion shards of personal priorities and prevent contradictions and catastrophe? Praying without doubt is recognizing that a ‘no’ answer might just be the best answer. The inconvenience of delayed prayers and even denied prayers may actually save our lives.
Before we adopt a prayer philosophy that requires GOD to provide all our wants, we must adjust our thinking to consider the limitations of our understanding. To pray without doubt is to recognize that we are finite and fallible beings, but we pray to the Eternal One who does what is best and right. We do not doubt GOD, but we may doubt ourselves. Luke 23:34 calls attention to the fact that we may not know what’s best for us even when we think we do. Proper belief is not unwavering confidence that something we want will happen but that something will happen that we will eventually recognize to be something we needed. GOD knows the future we cannot discern and consequences we cannot anticipate. His thoughts and ways are far above our own (Isaiah 55:8-9). The Bible’s message of a sovereign GOD who rules over all things in all places among all people and for eternity answers simply to calm our hearts and stimulate our prayers: “GOD is able.” It is important to thank GOD for all the ‘no’ answers. All the ‘no’ answers eventually lead to the ‘yes’ moment. Remember: when you pray, it is important to pray for the right reasons. Though there is no mandated mantra that needs to be memorized, there does exist a proper priority for prayer. Motive matters.
How Can Prayer Be A Powerful Weapon?
- GOD is the ultimate Power (Genesis 1; Exodus 7:10-14:31; 1Kings 17:14-24; 2Kings 4:2-7; Job 42:2; Jeremiah 32:27; Daniel 2:21; 3:19-27; Matthew 8:1-4; 9:27-31; 17:24-27; Mark 4:35-41; 16:1-8; Luke 1:37; 9:10-17; John 6:16-21).
- Prayer is a petition to the Powerful One.
- The High Priest has direct access to Power (Exodus 28; Hebrews 9:7).
- Jesus is both the Priest and Power (Hebrews 2:17; 4:14; 5:6; 9:12; 10:19-20).
- The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is the same Spirit that dwells within us (Romans 8:10-11).
- The Holy Spirit ensures that our prayers are received and understood (Romans 8:26-27).
- Because of Jesus and through the Holy Spirit, we now have direct access to Power and are able to bring our petitions straight to the Source of Power.
- GOD is love and all-good (1John 4:8,16: Psalm 106:1; 135:3; Nahum 1:7; Mark 10:18; John 3:16-17; Galatians 5:22; 2Thessalonians 1:11; Titus 3:4). Because GOD is love and all-good, GOD will hear our prayers.
- GOD is Holy (Leviticus 11:44-45; 1John 1:5; Revelation 4:8; 15:4). GOD is just (Acts 17:31; Revelation 20:12). If GOD is Holy and just, then GOD will act in His power to do what is best and what is right.
- In the end, good prevails and GOD wins (Revelation 20-22) because we know that for those who love GOD all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
- If our prayers are in alignment with GOD’s will, our prayers have the power of the inevitable victory that belongs to GOD and His people.
- Therefore, persistent and purposeful prayers with proper priority are powerful.
Persistent And Purposeful Prayer With Proper Priority Is Powerful:
Praying boldly is a right granted to us as children of GOD through the blood of Christ who died for us. We can do away with rigmarole of religious rituals, pious performances, superficial celebrations, and pseudo-sacrifices. As a child approaches a loving father, we may approach our loving Father with confidence. We do not need to depend on stodgy formulas or arcane speech. GOD is more concerned with hearing our prayers than grading their forms. If you have children of your own, you understand that you want your children to call you when they are in distress, without being timid or hesitant to do so. You want to hear from them because you are delighted to provide the best for them. With these fatherly desires in our own hearts, we discover the boldness the Father GOD expects from us (Matthew 7:7-11; Luke 11:5-13). Those who truly discover the power of His abiding presence of love do not reserve prayer for periods of isolated retreat when a miracle is needed. How strong can a relationship be if a child only calls the parents once in a blue moon to ask for money? Neither should we only pray once in a blue moon when we need a miracle or a blessing. If our prayers are only formal or occasional, we will miss out on the comfort and blessing of knowing we can pray anytime to our GOD who is attentive to our needs (Psalm 34:15). We may pray about mustard seeds in addition to the mountains; we may pray about colds in addition to cancer; we may pray praises of blessings in addition to petitions to problems. Super prayers are for all superheroes, even if the situation doesn’t demand a super need. As a child of GOD, we can pray confidently and boldly anytime, anywhere, with anyone, and about anything! Because prayer is a connection with the Source of Power, prayer is a powerful weapon that casts the enemy back and propels us forward in faith. Because prayer is a connection with the Source of Power, it brings Light into our lives.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
(John 1:5) -ESV
“For you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness.”
(2Samuel 22:29; see also Psalm 18:28) -ESV
[ For an example of a powerful prayer, CLICK HERE ]