Prayer For The Purpose Of Godliness
The Circle of Prayer
In the book titled “Talking with God” by Dr. Dick Eastman, he explains how important it is to set aside time to be in the presence of the Lord. During this time with the Lord, he explains that we are entering into a conversation. As in any effective communication, there needs to be a beginning, a middle and an end. Now that we understand that prayer is an essential part of a Christian’s Spiritual Discipline let’s consider what this author reveals and how it will affect the quality of time we spend with the Lord.
At the heart of Dick’s practice of hour-long prayer is a circle with twelve biblical focuses. He believes praying according to this helpful guide will empower and transform one’s prayer life as they help him revere God’s nature, wait in silent surrender, pray Scripture, intercede for others, give thanks, receive spiritual guidance, and magnify our loving Creator. “Nothing is beyond your reach when you talk with God through prayer.”
1. Praise
Praise God for who He is.
The Act of Divine Adoration.
2. Waiting
Wait on the Lord.
The Act of Soul Surrender
3. Confession
The cleansing of the Soul.
The Act of Declared Admission.
4. Scripture Praying
The expanding Soul.
The Act of Faith Appropriation.
5. Watching
Discerning the Spirits.
The Act of Mental Awareness.
6. Intercession
The desires of our Soul.
The Act of Earnest Appeal.
7. Petition
Our Daily Bread.
The Act of Personal Supplication.
8. Thanksgiving
Our response to God’s provision.
The Act of Vocal Appreciation.
9. Singing
Express our thoughts and feeling to the Lord.
The Act of Melodic Worship.
10. Meditation
Explore the depth of God’s wisdom.
The Act of Spiritual Evaluation.
11. Listening
The receiving of God’s reply.
The Act of Mental Absorption.
12. Praise
Praise God for what he did, what He does and what He will do for you and His Kingdom.
The Act of Divine Magnification.
Praise According To The Scriptures
1 Chronicles 29
10 Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.11 Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.12 Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.13 Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.
Psalms 7:17
“I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.”
Psalms 21:13
“Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.”
Psalms 28:7
“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.”
Psalms 47
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! 7For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm!8 God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.
Psalms 63:2-4 2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. 3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.4 So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.
Psalm2 663 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.4 All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.” Selah5 Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.
Psalms 951 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!3 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. Psalms 1501 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. Isaiah 43:21“This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.” Romans 15:11“And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.” Ephesians 1:6“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” Ephesians 1:12-1412 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. Hebrews 2:12 “Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.” Hebrews 13:15“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”
Waiting According To The Scriptures
Waiting On The Lord
Exodus 24 : 11-1311 And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank.12 The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and wait there, that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.”13 So Moses rose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God.
Numbers 9:7-9 7 And those men said to him, “We are unclean through touching a dead body. Why are we kept from bringing the Lord’s offering at its appointed time among the people of Israel?” 8 And Moses said to them, “Wait, that I may hear what the Lord will command concerning you.”9 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 10 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If any one of you or of your descendants is unclean through touching a dead body, or is on a long journey, he shall still keep the Passover to the Lord. Psalms 27:14 “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” Psalms 33:20-22 20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.22 Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee. Psalms 37:6-86 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. Psalms 62:5 “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.” Psalms 130:5-6 5 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning. Isaiah 25 :99 It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”
The Lord Waits On Man
Isaiah 30:18 “And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.”Isaiah 55:5-8 6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. James 5:7 “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.” Luke 15:20 “And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.” Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” James 4:8 “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 16 Rejoice evermore.17 Pray without ceasing.18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
APPLICATION
To wait on the Lord indicates our dependance and reliance on His presence in our lives.
We need His provision of grace and the work of the Holy Spirit as He brings about a change of heart and mind in agreement with His heart and mind.
A time to set aside our tendency for self-dependance and pride, humbling ourselves before our mighty Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Prepare ourselves to be recipients of his grace according to His will for our lives. Willing to accept the teachings of the Holy Spirit and rejecting the teachings of this world.
Allow yourself to be grace conscious rather than sin conscious. Think like a child of God. Focus on the love relationship and your position in Christ.
Confession
Psalm 325 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.
Psalm 3817 For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever before me.18 I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin.
Isaiah 59Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God,and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. Psalm 13923 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
1 John 19 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Scripture Praying
July 15, 2020 by: Donald S. Whitney
This article is part of the 10 Things You Should Know series.
1. Prayer is talking with God.
It’s easy to complicate prayer. There is a place for detailed, theologically-precise definitions of prayer. I could write a paragraph-length one that included most of the points found in this article. And while it might be a thorough and helpful explanation (more than a definition) of prayer, it wouldn’t be memorable. So while there is a lot of important biblical information to understand about prayer, at its essence prayer is simply talking with God.
2. Prayer is acceptable to God only in Jesus’s name.
All access to God—including prayer—is possible only through the merits of who Jesus is and what he has done. Jesus made this plain in John 14:6: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” But to pray “in Jesus’s name” is not accomplished simply by adding (often mindlessly) those words at the end of a prayer; rather, it is to pray with reliance on what Jesus has done for us and not the worthiness of who we are or what we have done. See also the emphasis made by Jesus on praying in his name in John 14:13 and John 16:23-24.
3. Prayer, apart from a relationship to God through Jesus, is heard—but not with a view to answering.
God hears everything. He hears the sound of every electron going around every atom in the universe. He even hears our thoughts (Psalm 139:2). So in one sense, God hears every prayer uttered by every person. But he does not hear with a view to answering unless we are in a relationship with him through Christ and honor his word. As Proverbs 28:9 puts it, “If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.” Proverbs 15:8 adds, “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.” Again, Jesus’s words in John 14:6 apply here: “No one comes to the Father except through me.”
4. Prayer is a lifelong desire in all those indwelled by the Holy Spirit.
When the Holy Spirit indwells a person, he gives him or her the voice of a child. Just as children by nature begin communicating with their parents as soon as their voice can make a sound, so when the Holy Spirit makes us children of God, He causes us to cry, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15). In other words, the work of the Spirit within us gives us a new Fatherward orientation. As a result, all those who are indwelled by the Spirit become people who genuinely want to talk with their Heavenly Father. His presence makes them prayerful people.
5. The Holy Spirit helps believers pray.
The Holy Spirit not only prompts prayer in all believers, but he also helps us pray rightly. As Romans 8:26-27 explains, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” Not only can the Spirit call to mind biblical truth to guide our prayers when do not know what to pray for or when we might pray for the wrong things, he can improve our prayers in the Father’s ears and even pray for us. Beyond that, the Spirit is able to take even our Godward groans and transform them into prayers that conform to the will of God. Thus, we should pray despite “our weakness” and uncertainty, and even when our hearts are so heavy that all we seem able to do is groan Godwardly.
6. In the Bible, almost every prayer includes a reason why God should answer.
The general reason why we could ever expect God to hear our prayers, as we’ve already noted, is because access to God is given to believers in Christ on the basis of what Jesus has done for us (see John 14:6 again, as well as Hebrews 10:19-22). Beyond this, the Bible teaches by example—in almost every prayer recorded in Scripture—we should give to God a specific reason why he should answer. One of many possible examples is the prayer of Jacob in Genesis 32:11–12 where he pleads a promise from God as a reason why he should answer. Other reasons given in prayer why God should answer include an appeal to one of his attributes—his glory, our relationship to God, the request is God’s will, and more.
7. Prayer shaped by the words of the Bible solves many of the most common problems in prayer.
It’s normal to pray primarily about things pertaining to our own lives. And since our lives don’t change dramatically very often, it’s common to say the same old things about the same old things almost every time we pray. Even when we pray about matters regarding others it’s easy to pray repetitively (“Bless the missionaries.”) Not only can this result in mindlessness in prayer, it can come close to violating Jesus’s command not to “heap up empty phrases” (Matt. 6:7) in prayer.
A simple, permanent, biblical solution to this is to pray the Bible; that is, to turn the words of Scripture into prayer. The Psalms are ideal for this, but you can also go back and pray through part of your Scripture reading for the day. You’ll find that 1) you never run out of things to say, 2) you’ll pray about the things you want about each day but in new ways each time, 3) your mind won’t wander as often, 4) your prayers will conform more to Scripture and God’s will, and 5) you’ll frequently experience prayer for what it actually is: a real conversation with a real person. Jesus did this twice on the cross when he prayed words from the Psalms in Matthew 27:46 and Luke 23:46. The church in Jerusalem prayed from Psalm 2 in Acts 4:24-26 and “the place in which they were gathered together was shaken” (Acts 4:31). The great man of prayer and faith, George Müller, said praying the Bible transformed his prayer life. Why not you?
Our Father loves to hear our voices. Nothing is too small to bring to him.
8. Jesus gave us a model for prayer.
In what is commonly called the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus gave us what could otherwise be known as the “Model Prayer.” While it’s certainly good to offer this prayer verbatim, it wasn’t intended to be the only form of prayer we may use, for none of the prayers found in the rest of the New Testament include the Model Prayer. Rather, this prayer—found in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4—models the basic elements that should be part of our prayers. In other words, one of the best ways of evaluating the content of our prayers by the standard of Scripture is to determine whether they contain the components of the Model Prayer. And by the way, if you consistently pray through passages of Scripture as described above, the elements in the Model Prayer will regularly be a part of your prayers.
9. Prayer is both natural and learned.
Prayer is natural for all those indwelled by the Holy Spirit (see the comments on Rom. 8:15, 26-27 above). Our Father loves to hear our voices. Nothing is too small to bring to him. His word encourages us, “Let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6). There is another sense, however, that prayer must be learned, for it is possible to “ask wrongly” (James 4:3). To pray rightly we must learn the principles of prayer from Scripture.
If you are speaking with someone and your crying child rushes in with blood all over his hand, you do not chide him for interrupting. But most of the time you expect your children to learn and speak according to the normal means of conversation you have taught them. In the same way, there are often times for each of God’s children when your heart is so heavy that all you can do is “pour out your heart before him” (Ps. 62:8). Normally, though, we show honor to our Father by learning to speak to him according to the conditions for answered prayer he has given us in his word.
10. Prayer should be practiced privately, with the family, and with the church.
When we think of prayer, probably most Christians envision something they do in private. Indeed, Jesus said, “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret” (Matt. 6:6). But we should also consider it a normal part of family life in a Christian home. Beyond a prayer of thanks at meals, Christian couples should regularly pray together. When Peter warned husbands to live with their wives “in an understanding way” and to show them honor (1 Pet. 3:7), he added “so that your prayers may not be hindered.” The prayers here are not the private prayers of the husband, but instead refer to mutual prayer; that is, prayers husbands and wives pray together. And surely Paul’s admonition to bring children up “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4) implies praying with them. Likewise, life together with the family of God should be unthinkable without the element of praying together. When God’s people gathered in the Book of Acts (Acts 4:23-31; Acts 12:1-17; Acts 13:1-3; Acts 16:13) and elsewhere in the New Testament (1 Tim. 1-2, 8), they prayed together. It was a normal part of life together in the body of Christ. The same should be true when churches gather today.
Donald S. Whitney is the author of Praying the Bible.
Watching
Matthew 2640 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Colossians 42 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
Intercession
Genesis 207 Now then, return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”
Matthew 936 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Ephesians 618 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
1 Timothy 22 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
Petition
Psalm 282 Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to you for help,when I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary. Psalm 866 Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace.7 In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me. Phillippians 4The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 1 John 514 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
Thanksgiving
Psalm 11617 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 516 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Singing
Psalm 1001 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!2 Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!
Psalm 1353 Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing to his name, for it is pleasant! Psalm 951 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!3 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.4 In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also.5 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.
Meditation
Joshua 18 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Psalm 11914 In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.15 I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.
1 Timothy 4 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.
Listening
Psalm 254 Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Psalm 377 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Jeremiah 332 “Thus says the Lord who made the earth,[a] the Lord who formed it to establish it—the Lord is his name: 3 Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
Finish With Praise
Let Everything Praise the Lord
150 Praise the Lord!Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens![a]2 Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness!
3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!