Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Importance: Prayer is a fundamental practice in the Christian faith, serving as a means of communication with God. It is both a privilege and a duty for believers, allowing them to express adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. Prayer is an act of worship and a demonstration of faith, reflecting a believer's dependence on and relationship with God.
Biblical Foundation: The Bible provides numerous examples and teachings on prayer. Jesus Christ, the central figure of Christianity, emphasized the importance of prayer and provided a model for it in the Lord's Prayer. In
Matthew 6:9-13 , Jesus instructs, "Pray then like this: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'"
Types of Prayer: Prayer can take various forms, including:
1.
Adoration: Praising God for His attributes and works.
Psalm 145:3 declares, "Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; His greatness is unsearchable."
2.
Confession: Acknowledging and repenting of sins. 1
John 1:9 assures, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
3.
Thanksgiving: Expressing gratitude for God's blessings.
Philippians 4:6 encourages, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
4.
Supplication: Requesting God's help or intervention.
James 5:16 states, "The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail."
Jesus and Prayer: Jesus exemplified a life of prayer, often withdrawing to solitary places to pray (
Luke 5:16). He prayed at significant moments, such as before choosing His disciples (
Luke 6:12) and during His agony in Gethsemane (
Matthew 26:39). His prayers reveal His submission to the Father's will and His intercession for others.
The Role of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit aids believers in prayer, interceding on their behalf.
Romans 8:26 explains, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words."
Prayer in the Early Church: The early Christians devoted themselves to prayer, as seen in
Acts 2:42 : "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." Prayer was integral to their communal life and mission.
Conditions for Effective Prayer: The Bible outlines conditions for effective prayer, including faith (
Mark 11:24), righteousness (
James 5:16), and alignment with God's will (1
John 5:14). Jesus taught persistence in prayer, as illustrated in the parable of the persistent widow (
Luke 18:1-8).
Obstacles to Prayer: Hindrances to effective prayer include unconfessed sin (
Psalm 66:18), doubt (
James 1:6-7), and selfish motives (
James 4:3). Believers are encouraged to approach God with a pure heart and sincere intentions.
Conclusion: Prayer remains a vital aspect of the Christian life, fostering a deeper relationship with God and aligning believers with His purposes. Through prayer, Christians find strength, guidance, and peace, trusting in God's sovereignty and love.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n. & v.) See Pry.
2. (v. i.) To make request with earnestness or zeal, as for something desired; to make entreaty or supplication; to offer prayer to a deity or divine being as a religious act; specifically, to address the Supreme Being with adoration, confession, supplication, and thanksgiving.
3. (v. t.) To address earnest request to; to supplicate; to entreat; to implore; to beseech.
4. (v. t.) To ask earnestly for; to seek to obtain by supplication; to entreat for.
5. (v. t.) To effect or accomplish by praying; as, to pray a soul out of purgatory.
Greek
4336. proseuchomai -- topray... to
pray. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: proseuchomai Phonetic Spelling:
(pros-yoo'-khom-ahee) Short Definition: I
pray,
pray for Definition: I
pray,
pray...2172. euchomai -- topray
... topray. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: euchomai Phonetic Spelling:
(yoo'-khom-ahee) Short Definition: Ipray, wish Definition: Ipray, wish....
5614. hosanna -- save, wepray
... save, wepray. Part of Speech: Hebrew Form (Indclinable) Transliteration: hosanna
Phonetic Spelling: (ho-san-nah') Short Definition: hosanna Definition...
1189. deomai -- to want, entreat
... deomai Phonetic Spelling: (deh'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I request, beg Definition:
I want for myself; I want, need; I beg, request, beseech,pray....
2065. erotao -- to ask, question
... Phonetic Spelling: (er-o-tah'-o) Short Definition: I ask, question, request Definition:
(a) I ask (a question), question, (b) I request, make a request to,pray...
2171. euche -- a prayer
... 2171 (from 2172, "topray, vow," which is the root of 1336, the most common
NT word for "pray") -- properly, a or (as in Js 5:15)....
2107. eudokia -- good pleasure
... 1:10], indeed each time wepray about () you -- for the purpose () that our God
may deem you worthy of the calling, and may fulfill every (2107 , of God) that...
3686. onoma -- a name, authority, cause
... them from all others. Thus "praying in" means topray () , bringing revelation
that flows out of being . "Praying in Jesus' name...
4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness
... 2 Thes 1:11: "To this end (glorification) – indeed each time wepray about () you
for the purpose () of our God counting you worthy of the call – even that...
3870. parakaleo -- to call to or for, to exhort, to encourage
... call near, ie Invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation) -- beseech,
call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort(-ation), intreat,pray...
Strong's Hebrew
6739. tsela -- topray... to
pray. Transliteration: tsela Phonetic Spelling: (tsel-aw') Short Definition:
pray.
... root Definition to
pray NASB Word Usage
pray (1), praying (1).
pray.
...4994. na -- I (we)pray, now
... na. 4995 . I (we)pray, now. Transliteration: na Phonetic Spelling: (naw) Short
Definition: please. Word Origin a prim.... I beseechpray thee you, go to, now, oh...
6279. athar -- topray, supplicate
... 6278, 6279. athar. 6280 . topray, supplicate. Transliteration: athar Phonetic
Spelling: (aw-thar') Short Definition: supplication. Word Origin a prim....
994a. bi -- Ipray, excuse me
... 994, 994a. bi. 994b . Ipray, excuse me. Transliteration: bi Short Definition:
Oh. Word Origin from bayay Definition Ipray, excuse...
994. biy -- Ipray, excuse me
... 993, 994. biy. 994a . Ipray, excuse me. Transliteration: biy Phonetic
Spelling: (bee) Short Definition: alas. alas, O, oh Perhaps...
6419. palal -- to intervene, interpose
... 6418, 6419. palal. 6420 . to intervene, interpose. Transliteration: palal Phonetic
Spelling: (paw-lal') Short Definition:pray. Word Origin a prim....
1156. bea -- to ask, seek
... request (1), requested (2), seeking (1), trying (1). ask, desire, make petition,
pray, request, seek. (Aramaic) or b ah (Aramaic) {beh-aw...
7592. shaal -- to ask, inquire
... asked (1), earnestly asked leave (1), greet* (5), greeted* (1), inquire (6), inquired
(18), inquires (1), making (2), medium* (1),pray (1), questioned (2...
3863. lu -- if, oh that
... if haply, peradventure, Ipray thee, though, I would, would God that.... if (haply),
peradventure, Ipray thee, though, I would, would God (that). 3862, 3863....
7878. siach -- to muse, complain, talk (of)
... commune, complain, declare, meditate, muse,pray, speak, talk with. A primitive
root; to ponder, ie (by implication) converse (with...
Library
Lord Teach Us ToPray
Lord Teach Us ToPray. <. Lord Teach Us ToPray Alexander Whyte. Table of
Contents. Title Page. PREFACE. PART I. INTRODUCTORY AND GENERAL....
How toPray
... VOLUME I: ST. LUKE Chaps. I to XII HOW TOPRAY. 'And it... 13. Christ's praying
fired the disciples with desire topray like Him. There...
How toPray
... How toPray.... 4. Something about God's Will in Connection with Prayer.5. May
WePray with Assurance for the Conversion of Our Loved Ones?...
"Let usPray"
... "Let UsPray". A Sermon (No.288). Delivered on Sabbath Morning, November 6th, 1859,
by the. REV. CH SPURGEON. at the Music Hall, Royal Surrey Gardens....
Whether it is Becoming toPray?
... OF PRAYER (SEVENTEEN ARTICLES) Whether it is becoming topray? Objection
1: It would seem that it is unbecoming topray. Prayer...
I WillPray with the Spirit and with the Understanding Also-
... I WILLPRAY WITH THE SPIRIT AND WITH THE UNDERSTANDING ALSO-. OR, A DISCOURSE
TOUCHING PRAYER; WHEREIN IS BRIEFLY DISCOVERED,. 1. WHAT...
1 toPray is as it were to be on Speaking Terms with Me...
... III. PRAYER SECTION III 1. Topray is as it were to be on speaking terms
with Me? 1. Topray is as it were to be on speaking terms...
Whether the Saints in HeavenPray for Us?
... OF PRAYER (SEVENTEEN ARTICLES) Whether the saints in heavenpray for us? Objection
1: It would seem that the saints in heaven do notpray for us....
Is This, IPray, that Daring and Heinous Iniquity on Account of...
... Book I. 26 Is this, Ipray, that daring and heinous iniquity on account
of which the mighty? Is this, Ipray, that daring and...
"Pray Without Ceasing"
... "Pray Without Ceasing". A Sermon (No.1039).... CH SPURGEON,. At the Metropolitan Tabernacle,
Newington. "Pray without ceasing.""1 Thessalonians 5:17....
Thesaurus
Pray (2583 Occurrences)... 5. (vt) To effect or accomplish by praying; as, to
pray a soul out of purgatory.
Multi-Version Concordance
Pray (2583 Occurrences).
...Prays (14 Occurrences)
... (WEY RSV NIV). 1 Corinthians 14:14 For if Ipray in another language, my spirit
prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. (WEB WEY DBY NAS RSV NIV)....
Prayeth (28 Occurrences)
... (KJV WBS). 1 Corinthians 14:14 For if Ipray in an unknown tongue, my spirit
prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. (KJV ASV WBS)....
Tarry (62 Occurrences)
... Genesis 19:2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, Ipray you, into your
servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up...
Intercede (12 Occurrences)
... Yahweh, and against you.Pray to Yahweh, that he take away the serpents from
us." Moses prayed for the people. (See NAS). 1 Samuel 2...
Reward (213 Occurrences)
... Matthew 6:5 "When youpray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to
stand andpray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they...
Confess (65 Occurrences)
... name. (Root in ASV DBY NIV). James 5:16 Confess your offenses to one another,
andpray for one another, that you may be healed. The...
Eli'sha (52 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 2:2 And Elijah said unto Elisha: 'Tarry here, Ipray thee; for the LORD
hath sent me as far as Beth-el.' And Elisha said: 'As the LORD liveth, and as...
Peradventure (35 Occurrences)
... Numbers 22:6 Come now therefore, Ipray thee, curse me this people; for they are
too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and...
Praying (71 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) ofPray. 2. (a. & n.) from
Pray. Multi-Version Concordance Praying (71 Occurrences)....
Resources
What does it mean to pray for your enemies? | GotQuestions.orgHow to pray? What is the proper way to pray? | GotQuestions.orgHow can I know what to pray for? | GotQuestions.orgPray: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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