PRAYER
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Psalms 122:6
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The Lord's Prayer
Matthew 6
[9] After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
[10] Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
[11] Give us this day our daily bread.
[12] And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
[13] And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
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Luke 18
Jesus teaches about prayer and humility.
[1] And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
[2] Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
[3] And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
[4] And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
[5] Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
[6] And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
[7] And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
[8] I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
[9] And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
[10] Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
[11] The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
[12] I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
[13] 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.
[14] I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
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Paul and Silas Pray while in Prison
Acts 16
Paul and Silas traveled to Derbe, Lystra, and other cities. They met Timothy in Lystra.
Paul had a vision in which a man of Macedonia plead with Paul to come help him. Paul and his companions thus traveled to the city of Philippi in Macedonia.
Paul baptized a woman named Lydia and her household in Philippi. Lydia was a seller of purple cloth, which was expensive. The dye for the cloth came from mollusk, a type of shellfish.
Lydia's conversion was the start of the establishment of the Church in Philippi.
Paul cast an evil spirit out of a woman who was a soothsayer. The woman had been earning money for her masters but could no longer do so after the evil spirit was cast out. The woman's masters then had Paul and Silas beaten and cast into prison.
Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns in prison. The other prisoners heard these prayers.
At midnight, an earthquake shook the prison. The prison doors opened. The prison keeper was scared that Paul and Silas had escape, but they had not. As a result, Paul preached to the keeper, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."
The keeper and his household were baptized.
The magistrates told the keeper to free Paul and Silas. Paul and Silas returned to Lydia's house.
Acts 16 does not give the exact words that Paul and Silas prayed. Had Paul and Silas prayed that they would be released from prison? Recall that neither Paul nor Silas escaped when they had a chance.
Most likely, Paul and Silas had prayed that the Lord's will be done. They recalled the prayer that Jesus Christ gave at the garden of Gethesemane:
Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. - Luke 22:42
As a result of following the Lord's plan, Paul and Silas were able to teach the gospel to the prison keeper and his family.
Sometime, the Lord may leave us in "prisons" so that his wise purposes can be fulfilled.
Never forget that all things work together for good to them who love God. - Romans 8:28
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[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.
James 1
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1 Thessalonians 5
[17] Pray without ceasing.
[18] In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in
Christ Jesus concerning you. |
[52] Behold, my beloved brethren, remember the words of your God; pray unto him continually by day, and give thanks unto his holy name by night. Let your hearts rejoice.
2 Nephi 9
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Alma 34
Amulek teaches
[17] Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you;
[18] Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to save.
[19] Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him.
[20] Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks.
[21] Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening.
[22] Yea, cry unto him against the power of your enemies.
[23] Yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness.
[24] Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them.
[25] Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase.
[26] But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness.
[27] Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you.
[28] And now behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, do not suppose that this is all; for after ye have done all these things, if ye turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and impart of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand in need -- I say unto you, if ye do not any of these things, behold, your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing, and ye are as hypocrites who do deny the faith.
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Alma 38
Alma's instruction to his son Shiblon.
[13] Do not pray as the Zoramites do, for ye have seen that they pray to be heard of men, and to be praised for their wisdom.
[14] Do not say: O God, I thank thee that we are better than our brethren; but rather say: O Lord, forgive my unworthiness, and remember my brethren in mercy -- yea, acknowledge your unworthiness before God at all times.
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Prayer I know not by what methods rare
But this I know, God answers prayer.
I know that He has given His Word,
Which tells me prayer is always heard,
And will be answered, soon or late.
And so I pray and calmly wait.
I know not if the blessing sought
Will come in just the way I thought;
But leave my prayers with Him alone,
Whose will is wiser than my own,
Assured that He will grant my quest,
Or send some answer far more blest.
- Eliza M. Hickok |
I knelt to pray when day was done
And prayed, "O Lord, bless everyone;
Lift from each saddened heart the pain,
And let the sick be well again. And then I woke another day
And carelessly went on my way;
The whole day long I did not try
To wipe a tear from any eye.
I did not try to share the load
Of any brother on the road;
I did not even go to see
The sick man, just next door to me.
Yet, once again, when day was done,
I prayed, "O Lord, bless everyone."
But as I prayed, into my ear
There came a voice that whispered clear:
"Pause now, my son, before you pray;
Whom have you tried to bless today?
God's sweetest blessings always go
By hands that serve Him here below."
And then I hid my face and cried,
"Forgive me, God; I have not tried.
Let me but live another day,
And I will live the way I pray. - Whitney Montgomery |
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