Prayer: Concept, practice and results for a person who prays

Prayer is a concept present in mankind from the beginning. We see this practice in churches, in movies, in book covers, and even in jokes. This makes it common and ignored at the same time. Do you remember the first time you prayed?

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Yes, I remember the first time in my life when I prayed. Maybe you will remember, too. But it may be that you have never prayed a prayer, for several reasons or even for lack of one. I invite you to discover something new about your own person. You may not know it but you were created with a resource capable of exponentially expanding your results. This is what we will discuss in this post about the practice of prayer.

Don’t worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart.

Apostle Paul, letter to the Philippians 4:6

How to Pray with Guaranteed Results

Prayer is every sentence with full meaning and a verb. This is the grammatical definition. But it represents exactly what prayer is in the spiritual context. When a person approaches God, prayer is this communication way that includes meaning and action at the same time.

When we think about meaning, we realize that every true prayer includes a message. It allows an expression of a person’s heart to reach God. However small and simple that person may be, he can access God at any time through prayer.

In addition, action is always present in a true prayer. Naturally a person does not long to pray. It takes some kind of movement, intention or effort for a prayer to come out of a person’s mouth and go up to heaven. The spiritual world is an environment free from inertia, being more real than the physical world.

In this way, whenever a person approaches God, he is engaging in a serious commitment that has real consequences. The best metaphor for prayer is a healthy relationship between a father and a son. This healthy adjective is important here.

Our Father…

God is a good father. His intentions are always the best about us. So we can conclude that it would be very inconvenient to start a prayer with requests. Even worse would be with a complaint. Now that I am an adult, also a father, I avoid asking anything from my father. Much less do I come to him to complain about any subject.

This does not mean that prayer should not include requests. Obviously it should as Jesus taught us. But an intelligent and honorable prayer always begins with thanksgiving:

This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven: May your holy name be honoured…

Jesus, in Matthew 6:8

You can access this link to learn more about Jesus’ teaching on prayer, answering his disciples. I encourage you to do so, because the idea of this post is to invite you to a life of prayer. This requires your own interest and pursuit for a deeper understanding. I pray that you will be awakened accordingly.

And as you realize that prayer is not just a religious practice or a means of getting answers, you can pray in a way that benefits your life and gives thanks to God. Prayer, in fact, is the most powerful resource for generating results. But observe that results are different from answers. There are people who, without discovering the value of prayer, seek in response to it, receive something. But far above that, prayer generates results that are the alignment of one’s life in the right direction.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

James 5:16

In addition to a grateful heart for the beginning of a prayer, at least 50% of your time and words should glorify God. This is roughly the proportion Jesus taught us in the prayer known as the Lord’s Prayer. Do not waste your time just asking. Start and finish your conversation with God in worship and gratitude. He is a good father and he is always about to bless you.

How to Pray through the Word of God

The Bible guides us clearly about prayer. Below I present a list of subjects by which the word of God specifically instructs us to ask. You may notice that the most common prayer requests among people are not there. Weird, huh?

Not only do people shy away from praying for matters that the Bible guides, but they also insist on praying for reasons that it warns us not to pray. For example, the Bible does not instruct us to pray for our finances. Instead, it teaches us to be good stewards and generous so we can succeed in this area. But other questions that should be included in our prayers are not always there.

God in his infinite goodness answers us when we ask. And whatever we ask in prayer we will receive. But as you begin to ask in prayer according to the Word of God, your life will reach another level of intimacy with him. More important than praying for any reason is to be in fellowship with God and develop a sincere relationship with Him.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Apostle Paul, in the letter to the Romans 12:12

Do you use the tone of voice and the words you would use with your father to pray to God? Do you speak to God in prayer as you would with your father? Or, instead, you impose a different tone and search for words outside of your common vocabulary? Better than anyone, God knows you. Do not try to be who you are not before him. Relax! Be sincere and personal when you pray.

25 Prayer Reasons According to the Bible

And these are the top 25 reasons why the Bible calls us to pray. Pay special attention to the top 3 on the list, which are most emphasized throughout the Bible:

• Faithfulness and Justice: Ps 143:1, 1Ki 8:45, Lm 3:59, Mt 6:33
• Wisdom: Pv 2:3, Tg 1:5, Col 1:9
• Cures and Health: 2 Kings 20:5, Ps 107:20, Jas 5:15
• Communion with the Father: Matthew 6:6, John 10:30
• Love, in knowledge and perception: Phil 1:4, Col 1:9
• Firmness in the will of God: Col. 4:12, 1Th 5:17
• Holiness: 1Ti 4:5, Heb 12:14
• Strength: 10:17, John 16:33
• Support: Matthew 6:11; Fp 4:6
• Prayer in tongues: Rom 8:26, 1Co 12:10, Jd 20
• Preaching the Gospel: Eph 6:19, Col 4:3
• New Christians: John 17:20
• New workers: Mt 9:38, Lk 10:2
• Forgiveness for our sins: Acts 8:22, Mt 26:28
• Forgiveness for Others: Mt 6:12, 1 John 5:16
• Enemies: Mt 5:44, 2Si 22: 4
• Spiritual power and authority: Mt 17:21, Mark 9:29
• Deliverance from unbelievers: Rom 15:31, Mark 9:24
• Protection and deliverance: Ps 32: 6, Mt 26:41
• Authorities: Ps 72:15, Jl 1:14
• Grace before men: Num 1:11
• Answer and revelation: Dn 9:23
• Perfectioning: 2 Corinthians 13: 9
• Friends and Families in Suffering: James 5:13
• Israel and Jerusalem: Ps 122:6

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Jesus, in John15:7

Dedicate yourself to prayer

I pray that this post will be a milestone in your prayer practice, giving you a clearer understanding of your value and leading you to better results. Whenever you pray, speak secretly with the Father in the name of Jesus. Dedicate yourself to prayer. And do not ever get discouraged but persist. Your life will be infinitely better with the intelligent and sincere practice of prayer with thanksgiving.

Prayer: Father, I adore you for You are good and your love endures forever. Please teach me to pray so that I may glorify you and obtain the result that You desire in my life. I trust in You and I give thanks in the name of Jesus, amen.

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