Bible – Bible Society of Zimbabwe

What is prayer?

Just as how we communicate in order to keep our relations intact, we should also be in constant touch with our Father in Heaven. One way of doing that is through prayer. Prayer is the communication between us and God. We can boldly go to Him in prayer and tell him how we feel, what we desire, seek guidance etc. Prayer is giving our attention to God in a two-way spiritual relationship where we talk to God and also listen to Him. Prayer is like a child’s conversation with their father. It is natural for a child to ask his father for the things they need, or to ask for advice or guidance.

Who should pray?

Prayer is an open invitation extended to everyone, regardless of their circumstances, background, or status. The Bible is explicit in its encouragement for all people to engage in prayer. In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV), the Apostle Paul encourages believers by saying, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” This passage conveys that prayer is not limited to a select few but is a continuous and open invitation for all believers.

So to answer the question, “YOU” should pray.

Why should you pray?

When you receive Christ into your heart, you become a child of God and have the privilege of talking to Him in prayer at any time about anything. The Christian life is a personal relationship to God through Jesus Christ. And best of all, it is a relationship that will last for all eternity.

There are many promises in God’s Word to encourage us to pray, such as: “He shall call upon me and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him” (Psalm 91:15); “And it shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24); “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7). These Scriptures assure us that God hears and answers prayer.

When should you pray?

You should pray at all times.

1 Thessalonians 5 v 17 “Pray without ceasing”.

The Bible is clear that we should pray always–And we should. However, there are some circumstances in our lives that should trigger immediate prayer. Here are examples of circumstances that should trigger prayer.

1. When you are happy.

“Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.” James 1:13

2. When you are tempted. “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matt. 6:13).

“Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41

3. When you are worried. The Bible teaches us to cast their burdens on the Lord.

Paul wrote, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Phil. 4:6).

4. When you have a great decision to make or problem to solve: The Bible teaches that,” If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James. 1:5).

5. When you are discouraged: In living the Christian life, you should not quit. You need to turn to God in prayer. Jesus said,“Men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Lk. 18:1).Paul said, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Ephesians. 6:18). When you are discouraged, ask God to send you some help in the form of other Christians.

6. When you have sinned.: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1John: 1:7-9).

Where should you pray?

This question has a lot of different answers, and thank goodness it does. God hears your prayers no matter where you’re praying. In the Bible, people prayed in houses, in closets, on mountaintops, in deserts, late at night, early in the morning, before meals, and after battles. So maybe it doesn’t really matter where your body is during prayer and at what time you pray. Instead, it’s about where your heart is when you pray. Any time you want or need to talk with God, that’s when you should pray. Any place you need to feel the influence of His love, that’s where you should pray. You don’t have to wait for the perfect time or place (or the perfect you). Just pray. God will hear you.

The Lord Will Punish the Guilty

1 I, the Lord, was ready

to answer even those

who were not asking

and to be found by those

who were not searching.

To a nation that refused

to worship me,

I said, “Here I am!”

2 All day long I have reached out

to stubborn and sinful people

going their own way.

3 They keep making me angry

by sneering at me,

while offering sacrifices

to idols in gardens

and burning incense

to them on bricks.

4 They spend their nights

hiding in burial caves;

they eat the meat of pigs,

cooked in sauces

made of stuff unfit to eat.

5 And then they say to others,

“Don't come near us!

We're dedicated to God.”

Such people are like smoke,

irritating my nose all day.

6 I have written this down;

I won't keep silent.

I'll pay them back

just as their sins deserve.

7 I, the Lord, will make them pay

for their sins and for those

of their ancestors—

they have disgraced me

by burning incense

on mountains.

8 Here is what the Lord says:

A cluster of grapes

that produces wine

is worth keeping!

So, because of my servants,

I won't destroy everyone.

9 I have chosen the people

of Israel and Judah,

and I will bless them

with many descendants.

They will settle here

in this land of mountains,

and it will be theirs.

10 My people will worship me.

Then the coastlands of Sharon

and the land as far

as Achor Valley

will turn into pastureland

where cattle and sheep

will feed and rest.

11 What will I, the Lord, do

if any of you reject me

and my holy mountain?

What will happen to you

for offering food and wine

to the gods you call

“Good Luck” and “Fate”?

12 Your luck will end!

I will see to it that you

are slaughtered with swords.

You refused to answer

when I called out;

you paid no attention

to my instructions.

Instead, you did what I hated,

knowing it was wrong.

13 I, the Lord God, will give

food and drink to my servants,

and they will celebrate.

But all of you sinners

will go hungry and thirsty,

overcome with disgrace.

14 My servants will laugh and sing,

but you will be sad

and cry out in pain.

15 I, the Lord God, promise

to see that you are killed

and that my chosen servants use

your names as curse words.

But I will give new names

to my servants.

16 I am God! I can be trusted.

Your past troubles are gone;

I no longer think of them.

When you pray for someone

to receive a blessing,

or when you make a promise,

you must do it in my name.

I alone am the God

who can be trusted.

The Lord's New Creation

17 I am creating new heavens

and a new earth;

everything of the past

will be forgotten.

18 Celebrate and be glad forever!

I am creating a Jerusalem,

full of happy people.

19 I will celebrate with Jerusalem

and all its people;

there will be no more crying

or sorrow in that city.

20 No child will die in infancy;

everyone will live

a very long life.

Anyone a hundred years old

will be considered young,

and to die younger than that

will be considered a curse.

21 My people will live

in the houses they build;

they will enjoy grapes

from their own vineyards.

22 No one will take away

their homes or vineyards.

My chosen people will live

to be as old as trees,

and they will enjoy

what they have earned.

23 Their work won't be wasted,

and their children won't die

of dreadful diseases.

I will bless their children

and their grandchildren.

Prayer

Any time you want or need to talk with God, that's when you should pray. Any place you need to feel the influence of His love, that’s where you should pray. You don’t have to wait for the perfect time or place (or the perfect you). Just pray. God will hear you.

24 I will answer their prayers

before they finish praying.

25 Wolves and lambs

will graze together;

lions and oxen

will feed on straw.

Snakes will eat only dirt!

They won't bite or harm anyone

on my holy mountain.

I, the Lord, have spoken!

1 I have bene sought of them that asked not: I was found of them that sought me not: I sayd, Beholde me, beholde me, vnto a nation that called not vpon my Name. 2 I haue spred out mine handes all the day vnto a rebellious people, which walked in a way that was not good, euen after their owne imaginations: 3 A people that prouoked me euer vnto my face: that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense vpon brickes. 4 Which remaine among the graues, and lodge in the desarts, which eate swines flesh, and the broth of things polluted are in their vessels. 5 Which say, Stand apart, come not neere to me: for I am holier then thou: these are a smoke in my wrath and a fire that burneth all the day. 6 Beholde, it is written before me: I wil not keepe silence, but will render it and recompense it into their bosome. 7 Your iniquities and the iniquities of your fathers shalbe together (sayth the Lord) which haue burnt incense vpon the mountaines, and blasphemed me vpon the hilles: therefore wil I measure their olde worke into their bosome. 8 Thus sayth the Lord, As the wine is found in the cluster, and one sayth, Destroy it not, for a blessing is in it, so will I doe for my seruants sakes, that I may not destroy them whole. 9 But I will bring a seede out of Iaakob, and out of Iudah, that shall inherit my mountaine: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my seruants shall dwell there. 10 And Sharon shalbe a sheepefolde, and the valley of Achor shalbe a resting place for the cattell of my people, that haue sought me. 11 But ye are they that haue forsaken the Lord and forgotten mine holy Mountaine, and haue prepared a table for the multitude, and furnish the drinke offerings vnto the number. 12 Therefore wil I number you to the sword, and all you shall bowe downe to the slaughter, because I called, and ye did not answere: I spake, and ye heard not, but did euil in my sight, and did chuse that thing which I would not. 13 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Beholde, my seruants shall eate, and ye shalbe hungrie: beholde, my seruants shall drinke, and ye shall be thirstie: beholde, my seruants shall reioyce, and ye shalbe ashamed. 14 Beholde, my seruants shall sing for ioye of heart, and ye shall crye for sorow of heart, and shall howle for vexation of minde. 15 And ye shall leaue your name as a curse vnto my chosen: for the Lord God shall slay you and call his seruants by another name. 16 He that shall blesse in the earth, shall blesse himselfe in the true God, and he that sweareth in the earth, shall sweare by the true God: for the former troubles are forgotten, and shall surely hide themselues from mine eyes. 17 For lo, I will create newe heauens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembred nor come into minde. 18 But be you glad and reioyce for euer in the things that I shall create: for beholde, I will create Ierusalem, as a reioycing and her people as a ioye, 19 And I wil reioyce in Ierusalem, and ioye in my people, and the voyce of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voyce of crying. 20 There shall be no more there a childe of yeeres, nor an olde man that hath not filled his dayes: for he that shall be an hundreth yeeres old, shall dye as a yong man: but the sinner being an hundreth yeeres olde shall be accursed. 21 And they shall build houses and inhabite them, and they shall plant vineyards, and eate the fruite of them. 22 They shall not build, and another inhabite: they shall not plant, and another eate: for as the dayes of the tree are the dayes of my people, and mine elect shall inioye in olde age the worke of their handes. 23 They shall not labour in vaine, nor bring forth in feare: for they are the seede of the blessed of the Lord, and their buds with them. 24 Yea, before they call, I will answere, and whiles they speake, I will heare. 25 The wolfe and the lambe shall feede together, and the lyon shall eate strawe like the bullocke: and to the serpent dust shall be his meate. They shall no more hurt nor destroy in all mine holy Mountaine, saith the Lord.