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.

1 Pavl, and Siluanus, and Timotheus, vnto the Church of the Thessalonians, which is in God the Father, and in the Lord Iesus Christ: Grace be with you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Iesus Christ. 2 We giue God thankes alwayes for you all, making mention of you in our prayers 3 Without ceasing, remembring your effectuall faith, and diligent loue, and the patience of your hope in our Lord Iesus Christ, in the sight of God euen our Father, 4 Knowing, beloued brethren, that ye are elect of God. 5 For our Gospell was not vnto you in worde only, but also in power, and in the holy Ghost, and in much assurance, as ye know after what maner we were among you for your sakes. 6 And ye became followers of vs, and of the Lord, and receiued the worde in much affliction, with ioy of the holy Ghost, 7 So that ye were as ensamples to all that beleeue in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For from you sounded out the worde of the Lord, not in Macedonia and in Achaia only: but your faith also which is toward God, spred abroad in all quarters, that we neede not to speake any thing. 9 For they themselues shew of vs what maner of entring in we had vnto you, and how ye turned to God from idoles, to serue the liuing and true God, 10 And to looke for his sonne from heauen, whome he raised from the dead, euen Iesus which deliuereth vs from that wrath to come.

1 From Paul, Silas, and Timothy—

To the people of the church in Thessalonica, who belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

May grace and peace be yours.

The Life and Faith of the Thessalonians

2 We always thank God for you all and always mention you in our prayers. 3 For we remember before our God and Father how you put your faith into practice, how your love made you work so hard, and how your hope in our Lord Jesus Christ is firm. 4 Our friends, we know that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own. 5 For we brought the Good News to you, not with words only, but also with power and the Holy Spirit, and with complete conviction of its truth. You know how we lived when we were with you; it was for your own good. 6 You imitated us and the Lord; and even though you suffered much, you received the message with the joy that comes from the Holy Spirit. 7 So you became an example to all believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 For not only did the message about the Lord go out from you throughout Macedonia and Achaia, but the news about your faith in God has gone everywhere. There is nothing, then, that we need to say. 9 All those people speak about how you received us when we visited you, and how you turned away from idols to God, to serve the true and living God 10 and to wait for his Son to come from heaven—his Son Jesus, whom he raised from death and who rescues us from God's anger that is coming.

1 Thessalonians 1