Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Nature: Prayer, in the Christian tradition, is a fundamental practice of communication with God. It is both a privilege and a duty for believers, serving as a means to express adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. Prayer is an act of faith, reflecting a believer's trust in God's sovereignty, wisdom, and love.
Biblical Foundation: The Bible presents prayer as an essential aspect of a believer's life. In the Old Testament, figures such as Abraham, Moses, David, and Daniel exemplify lives marked by prayer. The Psalms, in particular, are rich with prayers of various kinds, from lament to praise. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ models and teaches about prayer, emphasizing its importance and providing guidance on how to pray.
Jesus' Teaching on Prayer: Jesus' teachings on prayer are foundational for understanding its role in the Christian life. In the Sermon on the Mount, He instructs, "But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" (
Matthew 6:6). He also provides the Lord's Prayer as a template, highlighting key elements such as reverence for God, submission to His will, and dependence on Him for daily needs (
Matthew 6:9-13).
The Role of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in the believer's prayer life.
Romans 8:26-27 states, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." This passage underscores the Spirit's assistance in aligning our prayers with God's will.
Types of Prayer: Prayer can take various forms, including:
1.
Adoration: Praising God for His attributes and works.
2.
Confession: Acknowledging and repenting of sin.
3.
Thanksgiving: Expressing gratitude for God's blessings.
4.
Supplication: Presenting requests for oneself and others.
The Power and Efficacy of Prayer: Scripture affirms the power of prayer.
James 5:16 declares, "The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail." Prayer is not merely a ritual but a dynamic interaction with God, capable of effecting change in circumstances and in the hearts of those who pray.
Prayer in the Early Church: The early church was characterized by a strong commitment to prayer.
Acts 2:42 notes, "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." This devotion underscores the centrality of prayer in the life and mission of the church.
Conclusion: Prayer is a vital component of the Christian faith, serving as a means of communion with God and a source of strength and guidance. It is both a personal and communal practice, integral to spiritual growth and the life of the church. Through prayer, believers align themselves with God's purposes, experience His presence, and participate in His work in the world.
Nave's Topical Index
Matthew 27:1When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:
Nave's Topical Index
Greek
4335. proseuche -- prayer ... prayer. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: proseuche Phonetic Spelling:
(pros-yoo-khay') Short Definition:
prayer, a place for
prayer Definition: (
... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4335.htm - 7k2171. euche -- a prayer
... a prayer. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: euche Phonetic Spelling:
(yoo-khay') Short Definition: a prayer, vow Definition: a prayer comprising a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2171.htm - 6k
685. ara -- a prayer, curse
... a prayer, curse. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: ara Phonetic Spelling:
(ar-ah') Short Definition: a prayer or prayer for evil, a curse ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/685.htm - 6k
1162. deesis -- a need, entreaty
... entreaty. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: deesis Phonetic Spelling:
(deh'-ay-sis) Short Definition: supplication, prayer Definition: supplication ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1162.htm - 7k
1783. enteuxis -- a petition, ie spec. supplication
... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: enteuxis Phonetic Spelling:
(ent'-yook-sis) Short Definition: a petition, prayer, intercession Definition: ( ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1783.htm - 8k
4336. proseuchomai -- to pray
... Verb Transliteration: proseuchomai Phonetic Spelling: (pros-yoo'-khom-ahee) Short
Definition: I pray, pray for Definition: I pray, pray for, offer prayer. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4336.htm - 9k
5440. phulakterion -- an outpost, fortification, an amulet
... parchment capsule containing little parchment rolls with the Hebrew texts, affixed
to the left upper arm or the forehead of men at morning prayer, and regarded ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5440.htm - 7k
1967. epiousios -- for the coming day, for subsistence
... coming day," see the dictionary.]. 1967 ("aptly substantive") only occurs
in the Lord's Prayer. It refers to God's provision that ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1967.htm - 7k
2589. kardiognostes -- knower of hearts
... preferences (convictions). Accordingly, God hears "the prayer of our prayers"
as He discerns our inner heart-preferences. Word Origin ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2589.htm - 7k
4506. rhuomai -- to draw to oneself, ie deliver
... In Mt 6:13 ("the Lord's Prayer"), 4506 () is used in the closing sentence, " (4506 )
us from evil" -- ie "." That is, "Lord me out of my (personal) pains and ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4506.htm - 8k
Strong's Hebrew
8605. tephillah -- prayer... 8604, 8605. tephillah. 8606 .
prayer. Transliteration: tephillah Phonetic
Spelling: (tef-il-law') Short Definition:
prayer. Word
... /hebrew/8605.htm - 6k 3908. lachash -- a whispering, charming
... Word Origin from lachash Definition a whispering, charming NASB Word Usage amulets
(1), charm (1), charmed (1), enchanter (1), whisper a prayer (1). ...
/hebrew/3908.htm - 6k
6279. athar -- to pray, supplicate
... entreat (2), entreated (2), listened to our entreaty (1), made supplication (2),
make supplication (4), moved by his entreaty (1), moved by prayer (2), pray (2 ...
/hebrew/6279.htm - 6k
7879. siach -- complaint, musing
... talk (1). babbling, communication, complaint, meditation, prayer, talk.
From siyach; a contemplation; by implication, an utterance ...
/hebrew/7879.htm - 6k
7881. sichah -- complaint, musing
... meditation, prayer. Feminine of siyach; reflection; be extension, devotion --
meditation, prayer. see HEBREW siyach. 7880, 7881. sichah. 7882 . ...
/hebrew/7881.htm - 6k
1245. baqash -- to seek
... A primitive root; to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer);
by implication, to strive after -- ask, beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get ...
/hebrew/1245.htm - 6k
4864. maseth -- an uprising, utterance, burden, portion
... From nasa'; properly, (abstractly) a raising (as of the hands in prayer), or rising
(of flame); figuratively, an utterance; concretely, a beacon (as raised); a ...
/hebrew/4864.htm - 6k
2589. channoth -- be gracious, entreat
... be gracious, entreat From chanan (in the sense of prayer); supplication -- be gracious,
intreated. see HEBREW chanan. 2588, 2589. channoth. 2590 . ...
/hebrew/2589.htm - 5k
8469. tachanun -- supplication for favor
... Tehinnah. Or (feminine) tachanuwnah {takh-an-oo-naw'}; from chanan; earnest prayer --
intreaty, supplication. see HEBREW chanan. 8468, 8469. tachanun. 8470 > ...
/hebrew/8469.htm - 6k
2470. chalah -- to be weak or sick
... entreat -- beseech, (be) diseased, (put to) grief, be grieved, (be) grievous, infirmity,
intreat, lay to, put to pain, X pray, make prayer, be (fall, make) sick ...
/hebrew/2470.htm - 6k
Library
Quiet Talks on Prayer
Quiet Talks on Prayer. <. Quiet Talks on Prayer SD (Samuel Dickey) Gordon.
Produced by Distributed Proofreaders Table of Contents. Title Page. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on prayer/
Holy Wisdom: or, Directions for the Prayer of Contemplation
Holy Wisdom: or, Directions for the Prayer of Contemplation. <. Holy
Wisdom: or, Directions for the Prayer of Contemplation Ven. ...
/.../baker/holy wisdom or directions for the prayer of contemplation/
Prayer.
... PRAYER. A work of this nature would be inexcusable for not saying something about
prayer, for who can live life triumphantly without prayer? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/how to live a holy life/prayer.htm
Of Prayer--A Perpetual Exercise of Faith
Of Prayer"A Perpetual Exercise of Faith. <. Of Prayer--A Perpetual Exercise
of Faith John Calvin. Henry Beveridge (Translator) Table of Contents. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/of prayer--a perpetual exercise of faith/
Prayer.
... PRAYER. Upon this subject and the one following I ... The value of prayer can
hardly be estimated. Unless you are willing to take up a ...
/.../orr/food for the lambs or helps for young christians/prayer.htm
On Prayer
On Prayer. <. On Prayer Tertullian. Translated by Rev. S. Thelwall Table
of Contents. Title Page. Chapter I.--General Introduction. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/on prayer/
Prayer.
... NOTES ON THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER. PRAYER. ... Prayer is faith passing into act; a union
of the will and the intellect realising in an intellectual act. ...
/.../coleridge/confessions of an inquiring spirit etc/prayer.htm
Touching Incidents and Remarkable Answers to Prayer
Touching Incidents and Remarkable Answers to Prayer. <. Touching
Incidents and Remarkable Answers to Prayer SB Shaw. ...
/.../shaw/touching incidents and remarkable answers to prayer/
With Christ in the School of Prayer
With Christ in the School of Prayer. <. With Christ in the School of Prayer
Andrew Murray. Table of Contents. Title Page. PREFACE. FIRST LESSON. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/murray/with christ in the school of prayer/
Origen on Prayer
Origen on Prayer. <. Origen on Prayer Origen. Table of Contents. Title
Page. CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION. CHAPTER II SCRIPTURAL ...
//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen on prayer/
Resources
What is fervent prayer (James 5:16)? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is listening prayer? Are listening prayers biblical? | GotQuestions.orgIs there evidence that God answers prayer? | GotQuestions.orgPrayer: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
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Bible Thesuarus