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Pioneer and Bell Church of Christ

Foreword: All About Prayer

Prayer is an integral part of Christianity; and most other religions as well. This is made clear by Paul's admonition when writing to the Christians at Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 5:17), in the Bible. He wrote, "Pray without ceasing." In writing to the preacher Timothy, he amplified his exhortation (1 Timothy 2:1-5): "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. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."

 Prayer is currently defined as "a request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or another deity. 2. (prayers) a religious service at which people gather to pray together. 3. An earnest hope or wish." However in earlier English, the verb pray carried the concept of a formal request from a superior, whether a king or God. Thus Paul (1 Timothy 2:1-5) distinguishes prayers from supplications, intercessions, and the giving of thanks.

 Although Christians can and do pray for others, we need to understand, that God's people have always had a special access to Him. This is based on the fact that "there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5). Although God would "have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (ibid), He chose not to save man by prayer but rather by obedience to the Gospel (Romans 1:16-18ff; John 3:5; etc.). In other words because the world rejected God and His wisdom, "it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (1 Corinthians 1:21).

 Our access to the Heavenly Father through prayer then comes naturally after we become His child rather than when we are still a child of the Devil and in rebellion to God's will as revealed in the Bible. To become a child of God we must be born again (John 3:3-5). The basic purpose of our study is simple -- Am I on praying terms with God when the storms of life arise and we look for that peace that passes understanding?

 Dale I. Royal, Elk City, OK