A quite simple definition of prayer is communion or communication with God. In prayer we discuss to God and he, in flip, talks to us.

The elements of prayer is often stated to be captured within the acronym, ACTS: Adoration/Praise, Confession of sin, Thanksgiving/Gratitude and Supplications/Petitions.

The Bible teaches that God solutions prayers. He at all times hearkens and responds to our supplications and petitions. But we have to notice that God’s main concern is to fulfill us at our very level of want. He is aware of what’s finest for us in a means that we don’t. Therefore, he could reply our prayers or meet our wants in methods totally different from the actual methods we’ve utilized for or put up in our prayers. This implies that though God at all times solutions the prayers of his devoted individuals, His solutions is not going to at all times be “Yes.” It can as nicely be “Wait,” if God perceives that you’re not but ripe for what you might be asking; or an outright “No,” if He is aware of that what you ask for will not be good for you or that He has one thing higher for you than what you might be asking for.

Furthermore, it must be stated right here that though prayer is straightforward sufficient for a kid to grasp, it is usually so profound that we spend a lifetime plumbing its depths.

Supplication or petition is to not inform God of issues that He would in any other case be unaware of, however an indication of our belief and dependence on Him. There can be no stress or inconsistency between the instructing of the scripture on God’s sovereign foreordination of all issues (the idea of “What will be, will be”) and the efficacy of prayer. God foreordains each the means and the tip. Our prayer is foreordained, because the means whereby He brings His sovereign will to go. Thus, prayer could probably not induce God to control occasions or in any other case act on our behalf. But in prayer, we discover confidence in an intimate relationship with a God who hears, cares, and is ready to act.

Our confidence that God solutions prayers is predicated on historic info, as recorded within the Bible; experiences (each private and others’ testimonies of) and belief within the guarantees of God. Some of the guarantees might be discovered within the following Bible passages: Psalm 9:12; Psa. 145:18; Matt. 7:7; James 1:5; 5:16; 1 Pet. 3:12; 1 John 5:14 .

•The Venerable Dr Princewill Onyinyechukwu Ireoba, FIMC, CMC. is the Rector, Ibru International Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State. princewillireoba@gmail.com, trinityfoundationibrucentre@gmail.com