Communication with God through petitions, thanksgiving, and intimate fellowship.
Prayer: Communion With the Living God
Prayer is not a religious formality; it is the lifeline of the believer, the God-ordained means by which heaven partners with earth. It is how we commune with God, enforce Christ’s victory, and receive His purposes into our lives and situations.
1. The Biblical Definition of Prayer
The Language of Scripture
Several key biblical words help us understand what prayer truly is:
Hebrew (Old Testament):
פָּלַל (palal) – to intercede, to intervene, to judge. It carries the idea of coming before God to appeal, to plead, or to obtain His verdict (e.g., Abraham interceding in Genesis 18).
תְּפִלָּה (tefillah) – prayer, supplication, intercession. This is a broad term encompassing worship, petition, and communion (Psalm 65:2).
קָרָא (qara) – to call, cry out, proclaim. Often used for calling on the name of the Lord (Joel 2:32).
Greek (New Testament):
προσευχή (proseuchē) – prayer, worship; from pros (“toward”) and euchomai (“to wish, to vow”). It implies directing one’s desires and devotion toward God (Philippians 4:6).
δέησις (deēsis) – supplication, entreaty; focused on specific needs (Ephesians 6:18).
ἐντυγχάνω (entynchano) – to intercede, to fall in with, to plead on behalf of another (Romans 8:27, 34).
Putting this together:
Biblically, prayer is the God-ordained, Spirit-empowered communication and communion between God and His people, expressed through worship, petitions, thanksgiving, and intercession, by which His will is sought, agreed with, and released on earth.
Prayer is not merely speaking to God; it is also listening from God. It is relational, covenantal, and participatory in His purposes.
2. Old Testament Foundation
Prayer runs like a river through the Old Testament, from Genesis to Malachi.
Patriarchs: Prayer as Covenant Dialogue
Abraham: He “stood before the LORD” and interceded for Sodom (Genesis 18:22–33). Here we see bold, reverent negotiation with God based on relationship and righteousness.
Isaac and Rebekah: Isaac prayed for his barren wife, and the Lord granted his request (Genesis 25:21).
Jacob: Wrestled with God and refused to let go “unless You bless me” (Genesis 32:24–30). Prayer appears as desperate clinging to God for transformation.
Moses and Israel: Prayer as National Lifeline
Moses: Frequently interceded for Israel when they sinned (Exodus 32:9–14; Numbers 14:11–20). God even says He would destroy Israel and start over with Moses, but Moses’ intercession turned away wrath.
The Tabernacle and Sacrifices: The altar of incense (Exodus 30:1–10) symbolized the prayers of God’s people rising before Him (cf. Psalm 141:2).
Joshua: Sought the Lord after Israel’s defeat at Ai (Joshua 7:6–9), showing that failure should drive us to prayer, not away from it.
Prophets and Kings: Prayer as Prophetic Partnership
Hannah: Bitter in soul, she “prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish” (1 Samuel 1:10). Her answered prayer birthed Samuel, a prophetic reformer.
David: The Psalms are filled with his prayers—lament, praise, confession, petition. David models raw honesty before God (Psalm 51; Psalm 63).
Elijah: Prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain for three and a half years; then he prayed again and the heavens gave rain (1 Kings 17–18; James 5:17–18). Prayer here is shown as a powerful instrument to enforce God’s prophetic word.
Daniel: Even under a death decree, he continued to pray three times a day (Daniel 6:10). In Daniel 9, his intercessory prayer aligns with Jeremiah’s prophecy, and angelic activity is released.
Key Old Testament Insights
Prayer is covenant-based: God listens because of His covenant love.
Prayer can change outcomes: God relents, restores, and releases blessing in response to prayer.
Prayer is both personal and corporate: Individuals and nations are shaped by it.
Prayer is often linked with fasting, repentance, and humbling (Joel 2:12–17).
3. The Fulfillment in Christ
Jesus is not only our Savior; He is our model intercessor and the One who opens the way into the Father’s presence.
Jesus’ Life of Prayer
He often withdrew to lonely places to pray (Luke 5:16).
He prayed all night before major decisions, such as choosing the twelve apostles (Luke 6:12–13).
He prayed at His baptism (Luke 3:21–22), and the heavens opened.
He prayed in Gethsemane with deep agony (Luke 22:41–44).
He prayed for Peter’s faith not to fail (Luke 22:31–32).
He prayed even on the cross: “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34).
Jesus, though fully God, lived as a man in dependence on the Father through the Holy Spirit, modeling the prayer life we are called to.
Jesus’ Teaching on Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9–13): A pattern including worship (“Hallowed be Your name”), submission (“Your will be done”), petition (“Give us this day…”), forgiveness, and spiritual warfare (“Deliver us from the evil one”).
Ask, Seek, Knock (Matthew 7:7–11): Persistent, confident asking based on the Father’s goodness.
Faith and Prayer (Mark 11:22–24): “Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”
Praying in Jesus’ Name (John 14:13–14; 16:23–24): To pray in His name is to pray in His authority, in line with His character and will.
Christ’s Ongoing Ministry of Intercession
After His resurrection and ascension, Jesus did not cease to pray:
“He always lives to make intercession” for us (Hebrews 7:25).
He is at the right hand of God, “who also makes intercession for us” (Romans 8:34).
Prayer is now rooted in Christ’s finished work and His present intercession. We do not come on our own merit, but by His blood (Hebrews 10:19–22).
4. The Power of Prayer for Today (Critical Section)
Under the New Covenant, prayer is supernaturally empowered by the Holy Spirit. This is not mere religious routine; it is spiritual warfare, kingdom administration, and intimate fellowship.
The Holy Spirit: Our Helper in Prayer
Romans 8:26–27: “The Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us…”
The Spirit:
Strengthens us in prayer.
Gives us the right burdens and topics.
Groans through us beyond human language.
Ephesians 6:18: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…”
To pray “in the Spirit” means:
Energized and led by the Spirit.
Often including praying in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:14–15).
In alignment with God’s will and purposes.
Praying in Tongues: A Powerful Charismatic Gift
Paul writes:
“He who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God… in the spirit he speaks mysteries” (1 Corinthians 14:2).
“If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful” (1 Corinthians 14:14).
“I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all” (1 Corinthians 14:18).
Praying in tongues is:
Direct communication with God – bypassing the limitations of the mind.
Self-edification – “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself” (1 Corinthians 14:4; Jude 20).
A channel for Spirit-led intercession – the Spirit praying through us according to God’s perfect will.
Prayer as Spiritual Warfare
Ephesians 6:10–18: After describing the armor of God, Paul concludes with “praying always…” Prayer is how we use the armor.
2 Corinthians 10:3–5: We pull down strongholds and arguments through spiritual weapons, not human reasoning alone.
Binding and Loosing (Matthew 18:18–20): Jesus gives authority to His church to forbid and permit on earth what heaven has already forbidden or permitted, as we agree in prayer.
The continuationist perspective recognizes that:
Demons still oppose God’s purposes.
Sickness, oppression, and bondage are still real.
The gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:7–11) are still active and often released through prayer—healing, miracles, words of knowledge, prophecy, discernment.
Prayer, Faith, and Expectation
Biblical prayer is not wishful thinking; it is confident asking based on God’s promises.
Hebrews 11:6: “He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
James 1:5–7: We must ask in faith, not doubting, or we become double-minded.
1 John 5:14–15: If we ask according to His will, He hears us—and if He hears, we know we have what we asked.
Faith-filled prayer:
Stands on the written Word.
Listens for the Spirit’s leading.
Speaks with authority in Jesus’ name.
Expects God to move in the present, not only in theory.
Prayer and the Authority of the Believer
Because we are seated with Christ in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6), prayer is not begging from below but ruling with Christ from above.
We command sickness to leave in Jesus’ name (Luke 10:9; Mark 16:17–18).
We resist the devil, and he must flee (James 4:7).
We declare the promises of God over situations (2 Corinthians 1:20).
This is not arrogance; it is humble agreement with what Christ has already accomplished.
5. Practical Application: Walking in a Life of Prayer
Here are concrete steps to grow in powerful, Spirit-filled prayer:
1. Establish a Daily Appointment With God
Set a specific time and place each day (Mark 1:35).
Begin with worship: exalt God’s name, thank Him for who He is (Psalm 100:4).
Use the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9–13) as a pattern:
Worship: “Our Father… hallowed be Your name.”
Surrender: “Your kingdom come… Your will be done.”
Petition: “Give us this day our daily bread.”
Confession and forgiveness.
Spiritual warfare: “Deliver us from the evil one.”
Consistency builds spiritual momentum.
2. Pray the Word of God
Open your Bible and turn promises into prayers:
Pray Psalm 23 for guidance and provision.
Pray Ephesians 1:17–19 for revelation and spiritual understanding.
When you don’t know what to pray, let Scripture give you language.
This anchors your prayers in God’s will and strengthens faith (Romans 10:17).
3. Cultivate Praying in the Spirit
If you are baptized in the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues, set aside time daily to pray in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:4; Jude 20).
Alternate between praying in your understanding and in the Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:15).
When you feel a burden but lack words, lean into praying in tongues; often the Spirit is interceding through you.
If you have not yet received this gift, ask the Father in faith (Luke 11:13), receive prayer from mature believers, and expect the Spirit to give you utterance.
4. Engage in Intercession and Spiritual Warfare
Make a list of people, cities, and nations to pray for regularly (1 Timothy 2:1–4).
Ask the Holy Spirit for specific strategies:
What to bind and what to loose (Matthew 18:18).
What strongholds to confront (2 Corinthians 10:4–5).
Use the authority of Jesus’ name to:
Break demonic oppression.
Command healing.
Declare freedom over captives (Luke 4:18–19).
Always stay submitted to God’s Word and character; authority flows from submission (James 4:7).
5. Listen and Obey
After speaking, take time to be silent before God (Psalm 46:10).
Expect the Holy Spirit to:
Highlight Scriptures.
Give impressions, inner witness, or prophetic insight (John 16:13).
Write down what you sense and test it by Scripture and godly counsel.
Obey promptly; often the answer to your own prayer will involve your obedience.
6. Key Scriptures on Prayer (With Brief Commentary)
Jeremiah 33:3 – “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”
God invites us to call, promising not only answers but revelation beyond our current understanding.
Matthew 6:9–13 – The Lord’s Prayer.
Not just a formula to recite, but a framework: worship, surrender, petition, forgiveness, and warfare. It keeps our prayers God-centered and kingdom-focused.
Mark 11:22–24 – “Have faith in God… whoever says to this mountain… and does not doubt in his heart… he will have whatever he says.”
Prayer involves speaking to obstacles in faith, not just speaking about them to God. It reveals the power of believing, declarative prayer.
John 14:13–14 – “Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
Praying in Jesus’ name is praying in His authority and for His glory. It is the legal basis for answered prayer under the New Covenant.
Philippians 4:6–7 – “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God…”
Prayer is God’s antidote to anxiety. As we pray with thanksgiving, His peace guards our hearts and minds.
James 5:16–18 – “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much… Elijah was a man with a nature like ours…”
Prayer is powerful and effective when energized by righteousness and fervency. Elijah’s example proves that ordinary people can see extraordinary answers.
Ephesians 6:18 – “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…”
Prayer is not an optional add-on to the armor of God; it is the atmosphere in which the armor is used. “All prayer” includes worship, petition, intercession, tongues, and prophetic prayer.
Prayer is the believer’s greatest privilege and most potent weapon. Through prayer, you step into partnership with the living God, enforce Christ’s victory, and see the Holy Spirit move in power. Do not treat it as a religious duty; embrace it as your lifeline, your place of intimacy, and your battlefield command center.
Begin where you are. Set your heart to seek God. Pray in faith, in the Spirit, and in agreement with His Word—and expect Him to answer.