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 1701 to 1725 of 4880 results
Sermon
James W. Robinson
... bent on nailing his hide to the wall. II. There is "feeling" in this story of the raising of Lazarus. A. There is the natural, to-be-expected sorrow of the sisters over the loss of their dear brother. They were a closely-knit family. There is, in some prayer books, a petition for the home that asks God to make it a "place of peace and a haven of blessing." The home of Mary and Martha and Lazarus was just that. (We assume that the three lived under the same roof.) Except for the usual domestic spats (busy ...
1702. Who Knows?
Jonah 3:1-10
Sermon
Thomas D. Peterson
... his troubles, put them aside and sailed away. He could not know that whale was there. What a surprise when he found himself right in the belly of the whale, as if he were swallowed up by his problems. I wonder what went through his mind. Prayer for one thing, a beautiful prayer. But other than that, what about his more nearly human thoughts. "Well, Jonah, you didn’t get very far, did you?" "This is it." "Don’t you wish you had ..." No doubt he had once felt secure in managing his own life. What control ...
Sermon
David M. Oliver
... can deliver the people from their oppression. He calls upon God to be their Advocate and intervene against their enemies to bring an end to their misery. The profound realization of how far the people and nation have strayed is also underscored by the prophet's prayer: But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed. We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us ...
Sermon
... we think that it is. We come to church on a Sunday morning - repeat a creed whose very words seem archaic - repeat and listen to prayers to a God whom we cannot see - sing hymns from another era - and listen to a minister who may sound as wise as the ringmaster ... He exists in such a way that we might come to know him. Not simply as the subject of a sermon or the object of a prayer - but as a Being! For, as you meet Him on the pages of Scripture, and as you begin to believe on Him, you discover that ...
Sermon
... in which God’s love can be made meaningful. As a part of the meeting we share the things that have happened in the small prayer and study groups of which most of us are a part. Last week, one girl told us that she had come to a new understanding of Jesus ... Christ and had made a commitment of her own life to Him as the direct result of a now defunct prayer group. No one in the group had any idea that this had taken place. It was just a small group of people - glad that they were ...
1706. The Forgotten Virtue
Philippians 2:1-11
Sermon
Louis H. Valbracht
... with pride and take the chief seats in His Kingdom, and we reject from that Kingdom anyone who doesn’t live up to - NOT HIS - but OUR standards. God forgive us for giving this picture of the church that He gave us. How well we need to remember the prayer of the little girl who prayed, "Dear God, please make the bad people good and the good people nice." We are so proud of being good - I wonder how many think we’re nice? Our Lord entered the Upper Room to eat His last supper with His disciples. Did ...
Sermon
Louis H. Valbracht
... , all-powerful King sitting on a throne, with earth as His footstool trembling beneath His feet, getting what He wants done, miraculously, by a wave of His hand or a nod of His head or a blow of His fist. With this idea of omnipotence, they pray their foolish prayers, and they ask their foolish questions, as they do their stupid thing. Why doesn’t God stop wars? Why doesn’t He smash the schemes of wicked men? Why doesn’t He come in power and put an end to this human tragedy? If this is His will, why ...
Sermon
Charles L. Koester
... of our darkness into the marvelous light of God. In fact, one definition of the word "salvation" means "to be pulled out." Pulled out of darkness. Pulled out of our sins. Rescued. "Jesus Christ, take my hand." Because of God’s Easter, those words become our enlightened prayer rather than a curse uttered from our darkness. John, in his Epistle and our text for today, says, "This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him is no darkness at all." It was always so ...
Sermon
Leonard H. Budd
... sanctified coin for offerings were thrown out of their place of business by this same Galilean rabbi. The merchants who bartered with sacrificial animals and birds were forced to flee the wrath of this teacher. "God’s house," he had shouted, "shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers." In the last hours of the second day before Passover the Roman guards were given orders to fulfill. Next day would be my crucifixion. And this rabbi would be one, also. He had preached too much, had ...
1710. Focused Light
Acts 10:23b-48
Sermon
William F. Dunkle
... Only by this light can we perceive our brothers and sisters impartially as God does and serve them as he wills. When Daylight Saving Time was first instituted, Orthodox Jews were perplexed about when to recite the daily Shema and other prescribed morning prayers. When, now, does night technically end and when exactly does day begin, was their serious question. One rabbi ruled that a new day begins when there is enough light to discern the difference between blue and purple threads. To Christians that seems ...
1711. Glorious Light
2 Corinthians 4:1-18
Sermon
William F. Dunkle
... crucified quick. This is what’s meant by letting "your light so shine before men that they may glorify your father who is in heaven." The Epiphany Star first seen over ancient Bethlehem still shines in believing hearts. Many of Charles Wesley’s hymns are prayers. Here is one we can pray regularly: Jesus, thine all-victorious love Shed in my heart abroad; Then shall my feet no longer rove, Rooted and fixed in God. Refining fire, go through my heart Illuminate my soul; Scatter thy life through every part ...
Sermon
Brett Blair
... It fell open to an article titled "The Needs of the Congo Mission". Casually he began to read when he was suddenly consumed by these words: "The need is great here. We have no one to work the northern province of Gabon in the central Congo. And it is my prayer as I write this article that God will lay His hand on one - one on whom, already, the Master's eyes have been cast - that he or she shall be called to this place to help us." Professor Albert Schweitzer closed the magazine and wrote in his diary: "My ...
Sermon
Brett Blair
... over the deep and often raging chaos of life. We know water! All over the world Baptism unites us. It also brings us back to the basics. Perhaps in our lifetime the most public statement of repentance was that of President Bill Clinton's. The one he made before a Prayer Breakfast on September 10, 1998. He summed up the task perfectly when he said, "I don't think there is a fancy way to say that I have sinned." Then he quoted from a book given him by a Jewish friend in Florida. The book is called "Gates of ...
Sermon
Brett Blair
... not to let them define your goal. You’ll loose your focus and make your hard work more difficult. III Finally, when everyone is searching for you remember to pray. Our Lord needed to and so do you. There may not be a lot of time to get adequate prayers in when the crowds are descending upon the house and there are 12 disciples coming at you, and demons to deal with, and sick family members but find a moment, even if you have to hide. They’ll find you eventually, you know they will, but by then you ...
Sermon
George Bass
... retreat of Christ beyond the river Jordan. But for too many of us, Lent is confined to the gospel experience we have on Sundays; the forty days of Lent are, for many, literally lost. And it isn’t simply a matter of the Lenten discipline of almsgiving, prayer, and fasting, but of a season in which we might reflect on our baptismal experience. Jesus’ "Lent" had to include reflection upon God’s word to him, "You are my Son." That made the wilderness into a garden again, didn’t it? It took Christ all ...
Sermon
George Bass
... love him enough to call him Lord. And that’s why the mission of the church is so important. There are, indeed, "other sheep that are not of this fold" who, at Christ’s command, must be brought into it. And for this - especially through our prayers and our sharing of our lives and life-supporting finances - we participate in telling the Good Shepherd’s story to everyone able to hear it. And, in time, there will be one flock, one shepherd. 42. Published in the Minneapolis Star and Tribune, July 5, 1983 ...
Sermon
Larry Powell
... he said to them, ‘Pray that you may not enter into temptation’ " (Luke 22:40). Calvary was imminent. He knew it. And yet he did not ask them to pray for him, but for themselves that they might not enter into temptation. He had his own prayer: "Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but thine be done" (Luke 22:44). The disciples had their own agenda. They were sleepy. Matthew tells us that they dozed three different times. Preoccupied by fatigue, they were content ...
Sermon
Richard L. Eslinger
... with God’s robe of righteousness? They may have to change their name. Right there in front of everybody. To a name that points not to themselves, but to the source of all righteousness. "Covenant," "Redeemer," "Saint Paul" ... that’s for the people themselves to decide, prayerfully and with a Bible in hand. But this much is clear: one sign of the renewal of Christ’s church in our land could be new signs in front of old churches with new names. Because when you are changed by God’s grace, you have ...
1719. A Royal Lament
2 Samuel 1:1-16
Sermon
Roger Prescott
... you a bill for it one of these days." Around eleven o’clock, the President would get undressed and slip into the short-length Brooks Brothers sleeping jacket that he wore in preference to pajamas. Dave would watch him kneel beside his bed and say his prayers. Then he would get into bed, and say to Dave, "Goodnight, pal, will you please put out the light?" Dave would put out the light, leave the apartment, say goodnight again to the Secret Service agent on duty in the downstairs hall, and drive home to ...
Sermon
Roger Prescott
... David’s time, it was finally installed in the holiest chamber of Solomon’s Temple, beneath the cherubim. Nothing is known of what became of the Ark. Today in most synagogues an ark is placed in the wall of the structure facing Jerusalem, toward which prayers are directed. The richness of this symbolism is to be preserved, as is all symbolism that points to our Creator God. But care always needs to be taken that the symbol does not become the main concern. Religion can then become merely form. Halford ...
1721. Back in the Swing
2 Samuel 12:1-31
Sermon
Roger Prescott
... the ground; but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. - 2 Samuel 12:17 I remember the night my sister called and said that Mom was dying. She had fallen at her Health Care Center, probably due to a stroke. The outlook was not good. Our prayers were not that she should be miraculously healed, but that she might not suffer too much. She died the next morning and a marvelous peace came over me. The burial at the cemetery, when only her three children and her son-in-law were present, mirrored this peace ...
Sermon
Bill Bouknight
... War II. I killed lots of people. If I had to do it over, I would. It was essential that we win that war. But that still does not make it right. I want to confess and ask forgiveness for the necessity of killing all those people." We prayed a prayer together. I was so deeply impressed by this layman who understood that just because something is necessary does not make it good or right. There is no place in Christianity for a "jihad," a holy war. We never baptize a war. Even when war is necessary, it is still ...
Sermon
... but also in strength of faith. 6) How do we DO the Gospel? You do it when: * You sit by each other overnight sometimes when someone is critically sick in the hospital. * We support a missionary in a country half-way around the world with our prayers and pocketbooks. * Some of our parish give volunteer time to teach in the Sunday church school so that the faith will go on. * We respond to a special project of the Lutheran Church Women so that some area families will have warm clothes and good food. * We ...
Sermon
Bill Bouknight
... of the Fourth Century before Christ set us a good example in a time of war. How should we react? Pray, post a guard, and build an America that God will find it easy to bless. Let’s look at each of those tasks. FIRST, PRAY. The most faithful prayer warrior I know is Dr. Pauline Hord, that 95-year-old saint of our church. She has been in the hospital recently because her heart is just wearing down. We must pray for Pauline. She has written a most appropriate book for these days. It is entitled, “Praying ...
Sermon
Robert G. Tuttle
... as I have grown older that God has become an intimate Person to me. It makes all the difference. "People often say to me," continues Tournier, " ‘I don’t seem to he able to say my prayers; what ought I to do?’ I reply: ‘Talk to God as you are talking to me; even more simply, in fact.’ Saint Paul writes that the truest prayer is sometimes a sigh. A sigh can say more than could be contained in many words." With a yearning, a hunger, a cry, the lonely soul reaches out to God and finds comfort. Why do ...
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