Dedication in prayer
There are many different kinds of prayers. Hannah prayed a prayer of intercession asking for a child. Then she prayed a prayer of adoration after she had given birth to Samuel. Here is what the Bible says about prayer. Hannah is such a fantastic example of being dedicated to prayer. Hannah grieved because she was barren. Since her husband, Elkanah had other children with Peninnah so that would mean it was Hannah’s “fault” for being barren. Children meant self-worth not having children meant worthlessness and rejection. Hannah was blessed because Elkanah loved her over Peninnah. Yet Hannah wanted children and she grieved because she was barren. There was no help except that of the LORD God. So Hannah prayed. She poured out her soul to the LORD.
There are many different kinds of prayers. Hannah prayed a prayer of intercession asking for a child. Then she prayed a prayer of adoration after she had given birth to Samuel. Here is what the Bible says about prayer.
Confession: If we confess our sins and forsake them, the LORD God who is faithful and just will have mercy and forgive us our sins, and will cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9; Proverb 28:13). Whosoever confesses Jesus before men, Jesus will confess also before His Father which is in heaven and before the angels of God. (Matthew 10:32; Luke 12:8).
Intercession: Is pray for those that are afflicted (suffering). The sick should call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. (James 5:13-15). The Holy Spirit makes intercession for the saints according to the will of the LORD GOD. The Holy Spirit helps our infirmities (weakness) and searches the hearts and knows what the mind is, and the Spirit makes intercession for us with groaning’s which cannot be uttered, because we do not know what we should pray for as we ought to. (Romans 8:26-27).
Adoration: Means to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration). When the seventy returned to Jesus after being sent out to preach Jesus said, I thank You, O Father, LORD of heaven and earth, because You have hid these things from the wise and prudent, and has revealed them unto babes (a simple-minded person, an immature Christian). Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things are delivered unto Me of My Father: and no man knows the Son, but the Father; neither knows any man the Father, except the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. (Matthew 11:25-27; Luke 10:21-22).
Supplication: It is graciousness; causatively, entreaty: favor, grace, supplication. Paul exhorted (desire), that 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 Savior; (1 Timothy 2:1-3)
Thanksgiving: Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto GOD. (Philippians 4:6). When you offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the LORD, offer it at your own will. (Leviticus 22:29).
PERSONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Purity of heart: If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. (Psalm 66: 18-19).
Believing: Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If you have faith, and doubt not, you shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if you shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive. (Matthew 21:22).
In Christ’s name: And whatsoever you shall ask in the name of Christ, that will He do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you shall ask any thing in the name Jesus, He will do it. If you love Jesus Christ, keep His commandments. Jesus will pray to the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; (John 14:13-15).
According to GOD’S will: Those that believe on the name of the Son of GOD; may know they have eternal life, and this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He hears us: And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him. (1 John 5:13-15).
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF PRAYER:
Forgiving spirit: For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: (Matthew 6:14).
Simplicity: And when you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But you, when you pray, enter into your closet, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father which is in secret; and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly. (Matthew 6:5-6).
Humility and repentance: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, GOD, I thank you, that I am not as other men are, extortionists, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, GOD be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted. (Luke 18:10-14).
Unity of believers: Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:19-20).
Tenacity: which is very determined or stubborn: tending to stick firmly to any decision, plan or opinion without changing or doubting it.. Jesus spoke a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which did not fear GOD, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I do not fear GOD, nor regard man; Because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall not GOD avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:1-8).
Importunity (wearisome persistence: the fact of being troublesomely demanding or insistent. 2. Persistent demand: a demand made repeatedly or insistently). Jesus asked:Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needs. (Luke 11:5-8).
Intensity (1. Quality of being intense: the strength, power, force, or concentration of something 2. Intense manner: a passionate and serious attitude or quality). Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him? (Matthew 7:7-11).
Confident expectation: Jesus said: What things so ever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them. (Mark 11:24).
Without many words: But when you pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. (Matthew 6:7).
Unceasingly: Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of GOD in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Matthew 7:7 gives us the answer about prayer and why we should pray. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:”
Both Jesus (Luke 18:1) and Paul (1 Timothy 2:1) emphasized the importance of prayer, noting that people ought always to pray. Prayer includes asking and getting answers from the LORD God. But it is more than just asking; it is confession, adoration, thanksgiving, and fellowship with GOD. It is by its very nature that prayer is talking with the LORD God. Hannah is our example of the dedication to prayer.
Cite Article Source
MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “Dedication in prayer: .” Becker Bible Studies Library Dec 2014.< https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1796,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2014, December) “Dedication in prayer:.” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1796,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2014) “Dedication in prayer:.” Becker Bible Studies Library (December), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1796, (accessed).
Joanne B. Holstein is a Becker Bible Studies teacher and author of Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians. She has received her Master of Science degree in Psychology/Christian Counseling with honors from Liberty University. She is well-known as a counselor to Christian faithful who are struggling with tremendous burden in these difficult times. She is a leading authority on the history of development of the Christian churches and the practices and beliefs of world religions and cults.
