What promise of God is especially comforting to us, when we feel that we are not able to pray properly?

When we feel that we do not know how to pray to God, we are comforted by the fact that God knows all things, and that the Holy Spirit Himself prays for us.

Rom. 8:26-27: Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Where and when may we pray?

We may, and we are to pray everywhere, especially when we are alone, when we have our home devotions, and when we participate in the congregation’s worship services. We are to pray at all times, especially during times of tribulation, and before we make decisions.

1 Tim. 2:8: I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

Matt. 6:6: But thou,when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to the Father which is in secret. And thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Ps. 26:12: In the congregations will I bless the Lord.

1 Thess. 5:17: Pray without ceasing.

Ps. 50:15: Call upon Me in the day of trouble.

Appropriate times for prayer at home, are: morning and evening, before and after meals.

Why may a Christian at times feel that God has not heard his prayer?

In times of tribulation we often do not notice the help that God has already given us. When God does not always give us help that would free us from our distress, He has His own good and fatherly reasons for doing so, even though we are unable to understand them. He teaches us in the midst of tribulation to trust in Him as our merciful heavenly Father, and to continue to rely on the promises of His Word.

Mark 11:24: What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Ps. 42:9,11: I will say unto God my rock: Why hast Thou forgotten me?... Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art Thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God. For I shall yet praise Him, Who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Assignment: Read Matt. 15:22-28: The Canaanite woman.

What types of prayers has God not promised to hear?

God has not promised to hear prayers that

1. Are offered in unbelief
   

   James 1:6-7: But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.



2. Are selfish and contrary to God’s will
   

   James 4:3: Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

   
   Assignment: Read Matt. 20:20-23: The selfish prayer of the mother of the sons of Zebedee.


3. Wish evil for our neighbor
   

   Rom. 12:14: Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.



4. Prescribe to God the time and manner, when and how He should help us. Note: In God-pleasing prayer we do not give commands to God. A God-pleasing prayer is the humble and thankful plea of a forgiven and obedient child.

Does God hear every prayer?

God hears every true prayer, but He answers in His own way at His own time, and each time gives us what is truly for our good.

2 Cor. 12:7-9: And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And He said unto me: My grace is sufficient for thee, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.

Joh. 2:4: Mine hour is not yet come.

Is. 54:7: For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.

For whom are we to pray?

We are to pray for ourselves and for all people, especially for God’s Church, mission work, the servants of the Word, our government, and also for our enemies.

1 Tim. 2:1-2: I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men: For kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

Col. 4:2-3: Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving, withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ.

Matt. 5:44: Pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.

We are not to pray for the dead, for the time of grace ends at death, and after that, our prayers would have no effect on the state of the dead. Neither have we a command from God to pray for the dead.

Heb. 9:27: It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.

2 Cor. 5:10: We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Luther: “We are to preserve the funeral customs, and weep with those who weep, because they have lost their dear friends, and express our sympathy to them, but not in such a manner, that we pray for the dead.” (Explanation of Genesis, 1540, on the basis of Gen. 35:20).

Assignment: Read about those who prayed: Luke 18:13: The Publican prayed for himself; Gen. 18:23-32: Abraham prayed for Sodom; Job. 42:10: Job prayed for his friends; Dan. 6:5-13 and 9:3-20: Daniel prayed for God’s people; Matt. 15:22-28: The Canaanite woman prayed for her daughter; Luke 23:34: Jesus prayed for His enemies; Acts 7:60: Stephen prayed for those who stoned him.

To what are we to appeal when we pray?

We are to present our prayers to God in the name of Jesus; in other words, we are to trust firmly that God is merciful to us and hears our prayers because of Jesus Christ.

Joh. 16:23: Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you.

For what may we pray and for what are we to pray?

We may pray for, and we are to pray for, everything that redounds to God’s glory and for the true benefit of ourselves and our neighbor.

When we pray for temporal matters, such as health and better living conditions, we are to add the following words to our prayer: “If it be Your will.” God, you see, alone knows what is to His glory and for our benefit.

For spiritual gifts that are necessary for our slavation, such as forgiveness for our sins, perseverance in faith, and the salvation of our neighbor, we are to pray unconditionally; for we know from God’s Word, that God wants to give us these gifts and that they are for His glory and our good.

Phil. 4:6: Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God.

Luke 11:13: If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him.

James 1:5: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, That giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Matt. 8:2: A leper... worshiped him, saying: “Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.”

To whom are we to pray?

We are to pray only to the true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. For there is no other God. To Him alone belongs all honor, and only He can hear us and help us. Therefore joint prayers with those, who pray to angels, to people or to other false gods, are an abomination to the Lord.

Matt. 4:10: Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Ps. 65:2: Thou that hearest prayer.

Prov. 28:9: He that turneth away his ear from hearing the Law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

1 Tim. 1:17: Unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Is. 63:16: Thou art our Father though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not; Thou, O Lord, art our Father, our Redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.

Rev. 22:8-9: I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things. Then saith he unto me: See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book; worship God.

What moves us to pray?

We are moved to pray by

1. God’s command.
2. God’s promise to hear and answer our prayers.
3. Our own and our neighbor’s needs.
4. The glory and honor that belong to God.

What is prayer?

True prayer: A believer in Christ speaking to God from his heart.

Prayer is an act of worship, wherein we in true faith in our Mediator, Jesus Christ, bring our petitions before the true and living God in order to receive what we ourselves and our neighbor need. In prayer we also praise and thank God for what He has given and promised us.

Prayer is based on God’s command and the promises of God’s Word, as well as on God’s mercy – not on our own merits.

Prayer is the result of faith and belongs in the area of good works. It is not a means of grace. True prayer nevertheless refreshes believers spiritually, because it is connected with the remembrance and use of God’s Word , and the Word is a means of grace through which God speaks to us.

Ps. 19:14: Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer.

Ps. 145:18: The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth.

Is. 65: Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

Dan. 9:18: We do not present our supplications before Thee for our righteousnesses, but for Thy great mercies.

Matt. 7:7: Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

Matt. 18:19: If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

James 4:2: Ye have not, because ye ask not.

Ps. 50:15: Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.

Ps. 103:2-3: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits; who forgiveth all thine iniquities.