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 1676 to 1700 of 4880 results
1676. Free to Be
Acts 4:23-31
Sermon
Michael J. Anton
... U. S. of A. has been a good home for most of its citizens. It has done many things right and has provided a healthy environment for the majority of its people. So we do have good reason to say, "Thanks, Lord, for planting us here." But our prayer should continue, "And, Lord, not only thanks for giving us our citizenship here, but, Lord, teach us as Christians to demonstrate to your world what it means to be free." I have many enemies. There are men who want me for their slave under their tyranny. There are ...
Sermon
Bill Bouknight
... hour. It is your bank account which has the power to capture your soul. Perhaps that is why the Bible talks so much about money. There are only 500 verses on prayer, less than 500 verses on faith, but more than 2000 verses on money and what it buys. I challenge you to join me in adding this heart-felt plea to our daily prayers: "Lord, protect me from the addictive power of money." The great preacher Halford E. Luccock once described two persons whose deaths made the papers. The first was a woman who died ...
Sermon
Bill Bouknight
... eased in my direction, keeping that same 20 feet between me and him. It must have been a Baptist dog; I never saw a dog in my life have such a problem with a Methodist preacher. Finally I reached my car, slammed the car door quickly, and offered a quick prayer of thanks for heavenly protection. I wasn't worth much good at work the rest of that day. Fear had stolen my energy. I went home. I did make one more phone call. I called my friend, the local Baptist preacher, and told him about this new family that ...
Sermon
Bill Bouknight
... , that's all that is expected of him. If a husband does not step up as the spiritual leader of the home, the wife cannot fill in for him adequately, no matter how hard she tries. If he will not set the example in churchmanship, Bible reading, and prayer, something will be troubling in his wife's soul. And if they have children, the boys are not likely to follow even the most godly mother if the father's spiritual leadership is missing. The Lord did strange rib surgery on Adam in order to create Eve. Matthew ...
Sermon
Bill Bouknight
... them so. Though I’m small I can be heard; I’ll tell everyone the good word. For each person I will pray; they’ll find Jesus this very day. I won’t stop till it’s so, cause Jesus wants everyone to know!” Now, I invited you to prayerfully consider and respond to the invitation on your bulletin insert. In a few minutes, I will invite you to fold those forms and pass them to the center aisle. The ushers will collect them as we sing the concluding hymn. Or, you may bring them to this alter personally ...
Sermon
Brett Blair
... Sermon on the Mount. The Sermon has been called the Christian Magna Charta, the Christian Manifesto, the Design for Life, and the Rules for Christian Living. It contains the Beatitudes, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Golden Rule. It deals with murder, adultery, divorce, oaths, revenge, and worry. It gives instructions on prayer, giving to the poor, fasting, judging others, and saving money. Just listen to this list of phrases from the Sermon on the Mount that have echoed through the ages: Blessed are the poor ...
Sermon
Bill Bouknight
... son.” Then here comes that word again! "NEVERTHELESS, if you want us to persevere with that boy, we will try. If you will help us demonstrate tough love, we will. If you can break into his hard, cold, addicted heart, we will keep up our vigil of love and prayer.” Back we go to the Sea of Galilee. So great was the catch of fish that Simon had to call to his partners, James and John, to bring their boats. Both boats were so overloaded with fish that they could barely make it to land. Nobody had to tell ...
Sermon
Bill Bouknight
... God has already done, you will be convinced that He can do it again. And you'll feel like dancing! I know a lady in Myrtle Beach named Jeanne. One day she lost her wedding ring and was utterly distressed. Her husband said, "You'd better say a prayer." Jeanne replied, "I already have." She turned the house upside down, and retraced her steps over the past week; but without success. She thought about running an ad in the local paper but her friends told her that she was wasting her time. A few days later an ...
Sermon
Brett Blair
... . I like the legend about the famous monastery which had fallen on very hard times. Its many buildings were once filled with young monks, and chapel resounded with the singing of the choir. But now it was deserted. People no longer came there to be nourished by prayer. Only a handful of old monks remained. On the edge of the monastery woods, an old rabbi had built a tiny hut. He came there from time to time to fast and pray. No one ever spoke with him, but whenever he appeared, the word would be passed ...
1685. Anguish
Matthew 27:45-56
Sermon
Burton F. Blair
... Psalm 22. In essence, these words were used to express something of a deathbed sense of abandonment of being alone before death. When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, sweat dropped like blood as he struggled with God’s will and prayed to his Father. In his prayer, Jesus prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want, but what you want" (Matthew 26:39). Jesus’ last words on this matter were: "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done ...
1686. Suffering
John 19:28-37
Sermon
Burton F. Blair
... death; remain here and keep awake" (Mark 14:34). Alone and separated from those with him in Gethsemane, Jesus pleaded with God: "Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet not what I want, but what you want" (v. 36). Jesus ends this prayer with words of surrender. Jesus desired more than anything to do the Father’s will. Jesus did not want his needs or fears to get in the way of God working out his plan. If drinking the cup was the only way, then he was willing to take the ...
Sermon
Donald Macleod
... fixes and fast everything, Lent as a season seems unduly long. One clergyperson has said, "My people just can’t remain sorry for their sins for forty days." Some parishioners complain about clergy who seem to cram every available hour of Lent with homilies, prayer vigils, and silent reflections to such a degree that everyday living seems to be an intrusion. It would appear, then, that the mechanics of Lent have been put into the ascendancy, and hence the church needs now to get back to basics and teach ...
Sermon
Gordon Pratt Baker
... you! Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers!" For thy brethren and companions’ sake I will say, "Peace be within you!" For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good. (Psalm 122:6-9) It is a quiet prayer, yet one vibrant with feeling and closing with a solemn vow. For it expresses the poet’s hope that, by the grace of God and their own open-heartedness, the people of Jerusalem will know only the best in life. By this the singer means more than material rewards ...
Sermon
Robert Allen
... awake or alert and his condition was deteriorating. I walked into that room with the family and as we stood around the bed, Bob’s wife was holding my hand and she asked me if I would say a word of prayer. We all joined hands and bowed our heads. For some reason, instead of saying a prayer, I simply began repeating the best known passage in the Bible. I said: The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters ... Somehow, those words ...
Sermon
Robert Allen
... love is always available to us. Most of us can identify with the little boy who had been giving his mother a bad time all day. Finally, she had had enough and sent him to bed early. As he was saying his prayers, he prayed, "Dear God, please love me even when I am bad." This is not only our prayer, but it is our hope. People may say they are through with us, our friends may reject us, society may give up on us, but the God we see revealed in the Cross of Calvary will do none of these things ...
Sermon
Erskine White
... to each one of us is the day we receive Him into our hearts and allow Him to change our lives forever. Then we shall know that the baby we have long been waiting for has come to us at last. Amen. Pastoral Prayer Most Holy and Loving God, who is the faithful answer to every earnest prayer and the abiding hope of every steadfast heart, we ask You to move our spirits this Christmas season, that we may approach Jesus not as parents of a fifth- or sixth-born child, but as worshipers of the first-born Savior He ...
Sermon
Frederick C. Edwards
... of a man who looked around at the world and was deeply distressed by what he saw. On every hand there was trouble and turmoil and exploitation. He saw people suffering in poverty and ignorance. There was pain and grief and anguish in their lives. So he cried out in prayer to God, "Lord, look at this world of yours. Look at what is going on. The world is in such a mess. There is so much misery and pain. Why don’t you send somebody to help?" And to his surprise God answered and said, "I did. I sent you ...
Sermon
Frederick C. Edwards
... t he? And yet we have to say of Jonah that he was undoubtedly a good man by commonly held standards. He certainly must have thought of himself as a righteous man. He believed in God, and no doubt he knew the scriptures, obeyed the law, and was regular at prayer. Jonah was typical of many Jews. In fact the author’s intent seems to be that many Jews, reading this story, would see themselves in Jonah. The story is that the word of God came to Jonah to go to Nineveh, and to preach to the people of "that great ...
1694. Judas
Luke 22:1-6
Sermon
Carl E. Zahrte
... God never stops caring. Even after you have sinned very badly, his love still reaches out for you. Please don’t you ever forget that. I should have remembered the precious promises of God offered again and again throughout Scriptures. If only I had hung on to the prayer of David, who was a sinner like me, and you. But he did more than feel sorry for his sins. He repented. He trusted in God’s love and willingness to forgive. That’s why David said, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken ...
Sermon
Bill Bouknight
... what He means in your life. This requires preparation. Fourth, after you share, ask two questions: Is it clear? Would you like to pray with me a prayer of commitment to Christ? God will take care of everything else. Tony Campolo, the Philadelphia sociologist, found himself seated beside the Pennsylvania governor at a state prayer breakfast. In the course of conversation the governor said that he was sympathetic toward Christianity but not personally committed. Campolo asked, "Why not?" The governor replied ...
1696. Stewards and Our Gifts
1 Corinthians 12:12-31, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Sermon
Jerry L. Schmalemberger
... of the floor, her shoulders back and her head up, draw a deep breath, strike a clear, vibrant note, and hold it as long as her breath lasted. When the overtones had all died away, she would look up and say: "Master, let me ring true tonight!" Jenny Lind’s prayer ought to be ours as "stewards of our gifts and abilities." "Let me ring true tonight." Saint Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome: "So we are to use our different gifts in accordance with the grace that God has given us" (12:6). We must add to our ...
Sermon
R. Blaine Detrick
... and much, much more. On and on we could continue. Whatever the theme, Isaiah has a passage that relates to it: Repentance (55:7; 44:22); Discipleship (30:21; 35:8); Missions (11:9; 49:6; 54:3; 60:3); Sin (59:2; 64:6); Judgment (1:20); Prayer (56:7); Renewal (40:31); Prophecy (42:9; 46:10); Millenium (11:6, 7). The whole Gospel ... for all time ... for all people ... for all places ... is in the book of Isaiah! Aflame With the Christ of Christmas Isaiah had the amazing ability (under divine inspiration) of ...
Sermon
R. Blaine Detrick
... be dishonest? To tell lies (just "little white lies" - lies that will make life easier, lies that will bring more wealth, more popularity)? To pretend to be something you really aren’t? How many times every week are you tempted to be irreverent? To forget your prayer life? To ignore the reading of the Scriptures? To neglect your devotional experiences with God? There are so many other matters that press in upon our time. Even when we are in the house of the Lord, we are sometimes tempted to be loud, rude ...
Sermon
R. Blaine Detrick
... his life for the sheep." Only by John (John 10). The raising of Lazarus from the dead. Only by John (John 11). The passage where Jesus said, "I am the vine; ye are the branches." Only by John (John 15). The great intercessory prayer of our Lord Jesus, one of the greatest prayers ever offered, is included only by John (John 17). And perhaps the most famous, best known, and oft-quoted verse of the entire Bible: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him ...
Sermon
Jerry L. Schmalemberger
... . While some of us are uneasy about using military terms in the church, Booth loved the military as a child and so appropriated these terms for his new organization. The "local unit" became a corps working from a citadel. "Knee drill" stood for prayer. "Fire a volley" meant to shout "Hallelujah!" "Fix bayonets" meant to raise your right hand in public declaration. And Salvationists did not die; they were simply "promoted to glory." That is William Booth, a man who took seriously our Lord’s command to ...
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