Dictionary: Prayer

A distinction needs to be made between the various occurrences of the words “pray” and “prayer” in most translations of the Bible and the modern connotation of the same words. In the OT, the main Hebrew words translated as “to pray” and “prayer” (palal and tepillah) refer to the act of bringing a petition or request before God. They do not normally, if ever, refer to the other elements that we today think of as being included in the act of praying, such as praise or thanksgiving. The same is the case in the NT, where the main Greek words translated “to pray” and “prayer” (proseuchomai and proseuchē) also specifically denote making a petition or request to God. But other words and constructions in both Testaments are also translated “to pray” and “prayer,” and this article will deal with the larger concept, including praise, thanksgiving, petition, and confession, as opposed to the narrower meaning of the particular Hebrew and Greek terms (see also Praise; Thanksgiving; Worship).

Old Testament

In the OT there is no language or understanding comparable to modern ways of talking about prayer as conversational or dialogical. Prayer does not involve mutuality. Prayer is something that humans offer to God, and the situation is never reversed; God does not pray to humans. Understanding this preserves the proper distinction between the sovereign God and the praying subject. Therefore, prayers in the OT are reverential. Some OT prayers have extended introductions, such as that found in Neh. 1:5, that seem to pile up names for God. These should be seen as instances not of stiltedness or ostentation, but rather as setting up a kind of “buffer zone” in recognition of the distance between the Creator and the creature. In the NT, compare the same phenomenon in Eph. 1:17.

Many of the prayers in the OT are explicitly set in a covenantal context. God owes nothing to his creatures, but God has sworn to be faithful to those with whom he has entered into covenant. Thus, many OT prayers specifically appeal to the covenant as a motivation for both those praying and God’s answering (1 Kings 8:23–25; Neh. 1:5–11; 9:32; Pss. 25:10–11; 44:17–26; 74:20; 89:39–49). In postexilic books such as Ezra, Nehemiah, and Daniel, an important feature in the recorded prayers is the use of prior Scripture, praying God’s words (many times covenantal) back to him (in the NT, see Acts 4:24–30). Also, the closeness engendered by the covenant relationship between God and his people was unique in the ancient Near Eastern context. So Moses can marvel, “What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him?” (Deut. 4:7).

Prayer must be made from a heart that is right toward God. There is no guarantee that God will hear every prayer (Ps. 66:18; Prov. 1:28; Isa. 1:15; 59:2). For the most part, the “rightness” that God requires in prayer is “a broken and contrite heart” (Ps. 51:17; cf. Isa. 66:2).

Although several passages talk about prayer in the context of sacrifice (e.g., Gen. 13:4), there is surprisingly little emphasis on prayer in the legal texts about sacrifice in the Pentateuch, no prescriptions for the kinds of prayer or the words that are to be said in connection with the sacrifices. Interestingly, however, in later, perhaps postexilic contexts, where there is no temple and therefore no sacrifice, we find texts such as Ps. 141:2, where the petitioner asks God to accept prayer as if it were an offering of incense and the evening sacrifice (cf. Prov. 15:8; in the NT, see Rev. 5:8).

A presupposition of prayer in the OT is that God hears prayer and may indeed answer and effect the change being requested. Prayer is not primarily about changing the psychological state or the heart of the one praying, but rather about God changing the circumstances of the one praying.

There is a striking honesty, some would even say brashness, evident in many OT prayers. Jeremiah laments that God has deceived both the people (Jer. 4:10) and Jeremiah himself (20:7) and complains about God’s justice (12:1–4). Job stands, as it were, in God’s face and demands that the Almighty answer his questions (Job 31:35–37). The psalmist accuses God of having broken his covenant promises (Ps. 89:39). While it is true that God does, to some extent, rebuke Jeremiah and Job (Jer. 12:5; Job 38–42), he does not ignore them or cast them aside. This would seem, ultimately, to encourage such honesty and boldness on the part of those who pray.

Literarily, accounts of prayers in narratives serve to provide characterizations of the ones praying. The recorded prayers of people such as Abraham, Moses, Hannah, Ezra, and Nehemiah demonstrate their true piety and humility before God. By contrast, the prayer of Jonah recorded in Jon. 2, in its narrative context, betrays a certain hypocrisy on the part of the reluctant prophet.

New Testament

The depiction of prayer in the NT is largely consistent with that of the OT, but there are important developments.

Jesus tells his disciples to address God as “Father” (Matt. 6:9; cf. Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6). Although recent scholarship has demonstrated that “Abba” is not the equivalent of our “daddy,” it expresses a certain intimacy that goes beyond what was prevalent at the time, but retains an element of reverence as well. God is not just “Father,” but “our Father in heaven” (Matt. 6:9). Even Jesus addresses God as “Holy Father” (John 17:11), “Righteous Father” (John 17:25), and “Father, Lord of heaven and earth” (Matt. 11:25). And Paul, as mentioned earlier, uses a buffer zone, rarely in his epistles using the word “Father” by itself, but instead referring to “God our Father” (e.g., Rom. 1:7) and frequently using the phrase “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 15:6; 2 Cor. 1:3; 11:31; Eph. 1:3; cf. Eph. 1:17; Col. 1:3). God is our Father, but still he is a Father before whom one reverently kneels (Eph. 3:14).

Prayer to God is now to be made in the name of Jesus (Matt. 18:19–20; John 14:13; 15:16; 16:23–26). While there is some debate as to the exact nuance of this idea, it seems clear that, at the very least, prayers in Jesus’ name need to be ones that Jesus would affirm and are in accordance with his holy character and expressed will. It is, in essence, saying to God that the prayer being offered is one that Jesus would approve.

Prayer can also be made to Jesus (John 14:14), and such devotion to him in the early church is evidence of his being regarded as deity. The instances of this in the NT are rare, however, and generally either exclamatory or rhetorical (Acts 7:59; 1 Cor. 16:22; Rev. 22:20). The norm would still seem to be that prayer is to be made to the Father, through Jesus’ name.

Unlike anything prior in the OT, Jesus tells his followers to pray for their enemies (Matt. 5:44). Jesus and his followers serve as examples (Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60).

The Holy Spirit plays a vital role in prayers. It is by him that we are able to call out, “Abba, Father” (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6). The Spirit himself intercedes for us (Rom. 8:26). Our praying is to be done in the Spirit (Eph. 6:18; Jude 20; possibly 1 Cor. 14:15).

Jesus encourages fervent and even continual or repeated prayer (Luke 18:1–8), but not showy or repetitive prayer (Matt. 6:5–8).

Jesus becomes the model of prayer. He prays before important decisions (Luke 6:12–13) and in connection with significant crisis points (Matt. 14:23; 26:36–44; Luke 3:21; 9:29; John 12:27). He offers prayers that are not answered (Luke 22:41–44) and prayers that are (Heb. 5:7). Even as he tells his disciples to always pray and not give up (Luke 18:1 [which is also the meaning of the sometimes overly literalized “pray without ceasing” in 1 Thess. 5:17 NRSV]), so he himself wrestles in prayer (Luke 22:41–44; Heb. 5:7). He has prayed for his disciples (John 17; Luke 22:32), and even now, in heaven, he still intercedes for us (Heb. 7:25). Indeed, our intercession before God’s throne is valid because his is (Heb. 4:14–16).

Synonyms: invocation, intercession, devotion, appeal, plea, entreaty, petition, solicitation, supplication, request, suit
Antonyms: demand something, insist
Showing 351 to 375 of 4877 results
351. Why He Came
Mark 1:29-34
Sermon
King Duncan
... that when you went to bed each evening there was still a line. Wouldn't you think you could legitimately skip over your prayer time? Why that even sounds like a good excuse for sleeping in on the Sabbath. Surely if you were helping all those people ... offerings into this building each week, to witness to the truth of God in our lives. I am so glad that Jesus believed in prayer, because I need prayer. I'm so glad that Jesus cared about people, because I'm a person and you are a person, and even though we are ...
352. "Head" Lines
Ephesians 1:1-14
Sermon
King Duncan
... wealth was nearly wiped out. His influence on those boys' lives, however, would have lived on eternally. He had made a foolish choice, and there was no way to make up for it. (4) Paul prays for wisdom for the church at Ephesus. Paul's third prayer for the church is a prayer for power. He writes, "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for ...
353. A Healing Presence
1 Thessalonians 5:12-28
Sermon
Maxie Dunnam
... so much in the paper. The kingdoms of this world are to become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ and we’re called to prayer to that end. With that in mind, will you hear our scripture lesson, which comes from the 5th chapter of I Thessalonians. “We ask you ... to a marked degree, spiritually. And a kind of summing up of my ordeal came one day early in the morning in this prayer, which I wrote in my spiritual journal. “Lord, it seems as though you’ve decided to keep vivid signs from me. I suppose ...
Sermon
King Duncan
... , and they were afraid to come near him, but Moses wasn’t even aware of it. There is a humility that comes from an encounter with God. We talked about that a couple of weeks ago. Some years ago Mother Teresa was being introduced to speak at a prayer breakfast in Washington, D.C. The person who introduced her said, “I now have the pleasure and privilege of introducing to you the greatest woman in the world, Mother Teresa.” There was a round of applause as people stood to their feet. As the 4' 11" woman ...
Sermon
King Duncan
... Three hundred families stand in line to receive a bag of groceries which is critical to getting them through the week. Just before the doors are opened and all the people come in, all those who help prepare the food and get it together join hands and say a prayer. The prayer is often offered by Mary Glover. She is their best pray-er, says Wallis. She is a sixty‑year‑old black woman who knows what it means to be poor and knows how to pray. She prays like someone who knows to whom she is talking. She has ...
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
... him who believes." (Mark 9:23). · "For as many received him, to them gave he power, even to become the sons and daughters of God." Or hear again how you can experience the Peace that Passes Understanding: · "Be anxious in nothing . . . · Be prayerful in everything . . . · Be thankful in anything . . . · Then . . . the Peace . . . " (Philippians 4) Or pick up the Bible and open it lucky-dip method and let your finger all on lesser known verses like these "They admitted they were aliens and strangers on ...
357. Lean on Me
Luke 18:1-8
Sermon
John Wayne Clarke
... is told in the shadow of the closing verses of chapter 17. Within our story this morning, we see the importance of persevering in prayer. The argument is this: If an unrighteous judge will give a fair judgment in the case of a helpless widow in whom he ... is that if what you seek is within God's character, you will persevere over all the evil judges in the world. But, if our prayer is not based on our life-long commitment to Jesus Christ, then we can expect things not to go well in court. Once again, let me ...
Sermon
Billy D. Strayhorn
... risen Christ in their relationships with one another, in their cooperation, in the way they cared for each other, in their worship, in their study and in their giving. "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." "And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved." This passage challenges us and asks us: To what or whom are you devoted? Do others see the likeness of Christ in your actions? Are others invited to accept ...
359. God's Whatever
Philippians 4:2-9
Sermon
Billy D. Strayhorn
... prescription for how to pray. It's a prescription for how to think. It's a prescription for what to reflect and meditate on in prayer. It's a prescription telling us how to Stay Focused on "God's Whatevers." B. The first thing we have to Focus is our ... , once a sinner, now a saint, forgiven and saved by grace. And because You love me, I love myself, unconditionally." You pray this prayer three times. Each time pausing to image it, or imagine what that would feel like in your mind and heart and very spirit ...
Sermon
Maxie Dunnam
... but a “push-me/pull-you” struggle between this person and God. That is why Christ said the entrance to faith is through the cross; we cut off our own heads our will in order to follow God and His will. The most Christian prayer we can ever pray is the prayer Jesus prayed in Gethsemane “Lord, thy will, not mine, be done.” So it should be no surprise that when Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He first blessed God, “Hallowed be Thy name,” and then began with “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done ...
Sermon
Maxie Dunnam
... fellowship. Today, let’s continue to look at that church that came to birth at Pentecost. I It was a praying church. You can’t miss that even at a casual reading: “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” The psalm for my daily devotion during this past week has been Psalm 130. One section of the psalm spoke to me as I thought of the sermon, Verse 5: I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for ...
Sermon
J. Howard Olds
... ; the mountains quaked at your presence and from ages past no one has heard nor ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you who works for those who wait for him. I. O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL, AND RANSOM CAPTIVE ISRAEL. Come make yourself known, is the prayer of Isaiah (verses 1-4). When our boys were little, they used to meet me at the door every night at supper time, where I would take them in my arms and toss them high into the air to their screams of delight and their mother's deep concern. We ...
Sermon
J. Howard Olds
... where new peace is found and we can be vulnerable and free.” We are invited to pray. One person in time of great need offered this prayer. “God grant me to be silent before you that I may hear you, at rest in you that you may work in me, open to you ... before you that you may fill me. Let me be still and know that you are my God.” The transfiguration is a call to prayer. We need to be a praying people. II. THE TRANSFIGUATION IS AN EXPERIENCE OF WONDER. In Verse 29 we read, “And as He was praying the ...
Sermon
J. Howard Olds
... tell us you cannot make a commitment. Jesus did say that possessions won't guarantee health. Isn't that the greatest struggle of the affluent with illness? What do you mean we cannot buy our way back to health? Somebody needs to fix it. Get some medicine. Say some prayers. Hurry up and get things back to normal. Possessions won't guarantee happiness. How is it George Strait puts it when a man's wife leaves him? I've got a furnished house, a diamond ring And a lonely heart full of love And I can't even give ...
365. Giving Our Gratitude
Philippians 4:10-20
Sermon
J. Howard Olds
When my medical scans last May revealed one more opportunity to live a life that really matters, I asked the Lord to tell me what I needed to do with the time I had left on earth. The question became a matter of deep prayer. And as clearly as I've ever heard the Lord speak, the Lord said to me, “Preach, pray and serve people." I ran my revelation past Sandy and she replied, “You might lighten up on the preaching when you are out of the pulpit, but otherwise go for it." Today ...
Sermon
Maxie Dunnam
... There is no greater religious peril than the peril of identifying religion with outward observance. There is no commoner religious mistake than in identifying goodness with certain so-called religious acts. Church-going, Bible- reading, careful financial giving, even time tabled prayer do not make a man a good man. The fundamental question is, how is a man’s heart towards God and towards his fellow men? And heart there are enmity, bitterness, grudges, pride, not all of the outward religious observances in ...
Sermon
Billy D. Strayhorn
... church that would grow and become the church which we belong to, and for all of His followers, which includes us. Jesus' prayer included two things. He prayed that we be GUARDED AND GUIDED. I. Guarded A. One of the things that I've learned ... comforting hand through the mail slot. We may not see God, but God is there holding hand because Jesus lifted us up in prayer so long ago. And because of that prayer, whenever we need God's presence, we are GUARDED by the hand of God and we can feel that Blast From The ...
Sermon
King Duncan
... there is a delightful story of a great drought that struck Baghdad during the reign of Abdullah the Third. Moslem leaders in the land issued a decree that all the faithful should offer prayers for rain. Still, the drought continued. The Jews were then permitted to add their prayers to those of the Moslems. Their prayers didn’t seem to do the job either. Finally when the drought resulted in widespread famine, the Christians in the land were asked to pray. Almost immediately, the heavens opened and rain ...
Sermon
Leonard Sweet
... in the “waiting room” for Christ’s return is like being on a smart phone while sitting in the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicle). You are in a worst place, but you are in any best place you want to be and can be joyful, thankful, and prayerful. To “pray without ceasing” is to the Christian the equivalent of being “online with God” all the time. And if you have your Bible with you, connected to God’s Home Page all the time. You say you cannot imagine being without your cell phone? Your spirit ...
Sermon
Charley Reeb
... not always an easy thing to do. In fact, the toughest time to be patient is when we are waiting on God to answer our prayers. How many of have been there? How many of you are there right now? It could be for a new job, a relationship issue ... that waiting period that Joseph was in before the dream became a reality. You are in that period between trusting God and getting your prayers answered. You are in that period between believing and receiving. And some of you are about to give up hope. Some of you already ...
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... when we pray ask for the healing of another. But do we bring that person to Jesus? Do we ask Jesus to heal that person, even though they may not be a member of the church, may not be a Christian, may not be familiar with Jesus? Often in our prayers, we pray for those closest to us, those in our families, in our churches. But do we bring them to Jesus? Today, I ask you to pray for someone else –someone in your workplace who is depressed, someone who is in your community who is injured, someone who needs to ...
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... us forward in passion to seek the Lord, even when we feel unworthy or when we suffer from the “phobias” of life. If I were to ask you to define “intercessory prayer,” what would you tell me? What IS your definition of intercessory prayer? [You might go interactive at this point and see what your people say.] Well, you can either define “intercessory prayer” with words, or you can tell this story of the four friends who cared enough about their friend that they dug through a roof. Intercessory ...
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... bind us but a basket to carry us. Like Moses’ mother so long ago, our faith in God is a basket that we weave with our prayers and our tears, our hopes and our fears. And it’s our invitation to risk living a life that trusts in God for the journey. ... We can do this and more….when our identity is woven together in the body and blood of Jesus. Like a holy braid, with our prayers, our scriptures, our community, our love of Jesus, the more we weave our lives together in the Story of Jesus, the more our body ...
374. Almond Joy!
Numbers 17:1-13
Sermon
Lori Wagner
... (Exodus 28) The Ordination of Aaron (Leviticus 8) Aaron’s Priestly Blessing (Numbers 6:22-27) The Lord Speaks to Some in Dreams and Visions, to Moses Face to Face (Numbers 12:6-8) Micaiah’s Vision (1 Kings 22) David’s Prayer (1 Chronicles 17:16-27) Psalm 69: David’s Prayer for Help in the Midst of Persecution Psalm 109: David’s Prayer to God as He Stands Before Accusers Psalm 110: The Priest of Melchizedek at the Right Hand of God Daniel’s Vision of the Son of God (Daniel 7:13-14) Daniel’s ...
Sermon
King Duncan
... God’s guidance as he went up the stairs. And each evening as he walked down the stairs, he thanked God for His help that day. (3) Like the disciples, we pray fervently for God to heal and transform this world. And God says, “Yes, I will answer your prayers. I will transform the world. Through you.” Jesus spent his short life on this earth praying to the Father and preparing us for service. You are a witness, whether you know it or not. You are either a compelling witness for Jesus Christ, or you are a ...
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