Topical Bible: Prayer: Enjoined

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Prayer, as a fundamental aspect of the Christian faith, is enjoined upon believers throughout the Scriptures. It is both a privilege and a duty, serving as a means of communication with God, an expression of faith, and a vital component of spiritual life. The Bible provides numerous exhortations and examples that underscore the importance of prayer in the life of a believer.

Old Testament Foundations

The Old Testament lays the groundwork for understanding prayer as an essential practice. In 1 Chronicles 16:11, believers are encouraged to "Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His face always." This call to seek God through prayer is a recurring theme, emphasizing the necessity of maintaining a relationship with the Divine.

The Psalms, often considered the prayer book of the Bible, are replete with examples of prayer. Psalm 145:18 declares, "The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth." This verse highlights the accessibility of God to those who earnestly seek Him in prayer.

New Testament Exhortations

The New Testament continues to enjoin prayer as a central practice for Christians. Jesus Himself provides a model for prayer in the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), teaching His disciples to approach God with reverence and trust. In Luke 18:1, Jesus emphasizes the importance of persistence in prayer, stating, "Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart."

The Apostle Paul frequently exhorts believers to engage in prayer. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, he instructs, "Pray without ceasing." This directive underscores the idea that prayer should be a continual and integral part of a believer's life. Similarly, in Philippians 4:6, Paul encourages, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

Prayer in the Early Church

The early church exemplified a commitment to prayer, as seen in the book of Acts. Acts 2:42 describes the early believers as devoted to "the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." This devotion to prayer was foundational to the life and growth of the early Christian community.

In Acts 4:31, the power of communal prayer is demonstrated: "After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly." This passage illustrates the transformative and empowering nature of prayer when believers come together in unity.

The Role of Prayer in Spiritual Warfare

Prayer is also enjoined as a critical component of spiritual warfare. Ephesians 6:18 instructs believers to "pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints." This verse highlights the necessity of prayer in standing firm against spiritual opposition and supporting fellow believers.

Conclusion

Throughout the Bible, prayer is enjoined as an essential practice for believers. It is a means of seeking God's presence, expressing dependence on Him, and participating in His work in the world. The consistent biblical exhortation to pray underscores its importance in the life of faith, calling believers to engage in this vital spiritual discipline with sincerity and perseverance.

Nave's Topical Index

Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Of Prayer in General...
... And hence likewise it is that the duty of prayer is enjoined after such a manner
as no other duty is, for we are commanded to exercise it without intermission. ...
/.../chapter i of prayer in.htm

Epistle vii. To the Clergy, Concerning Prayer to God.
... not for himself only, but for all the brethren, even as the Lord has taught us to
pray, when He bids to each one, not private prayer, but enjoined them, when ...
/.../cyprian/the epistles of cyprian/epistle vii to the clergy.htm

Mental Prayer.
... I shall here confine myself to the consideration of the latter of the two, habitual
or inward prayer, which is enjoined in the text, with the view of showing ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol vii/sermon xv mental prayer.htm

To Prayer, Then, are we Indebted for Penetrating to those Riches ...
... Accordingly, we see that nothing is set before us as an object of expectation from
the Lord which we are not enjoined to ask of Him in prayer, so true it is ...
/.../calvin/of prayer--a perpetual exercise of faith/chapter 2 to prayer then.htm

Of Stations, and of the Hours of Prayer.
... a sanction, moreover, did God confer on the edict which enjoined that Station ... of
sin, and with difficulty exempted from punishment through the prayer of the ...
/.../on fasting in opposition to the psychics/chapter x of stations and of.htm

Chapter ii
... outside of man being so great, man's natural inability to always judge kindly, justly,
and truly, and to act the Golden Rule, so prayer is enjoined by Christ ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bounds/the possibilities of prayer/chapter ii.htm

The Third Kind of General Mortification is Silence; the which is ...
... The third kind of general mortification is silence; the which is strictly enjoined
in St. ... He left no power at all to use his tongue but only for prayer in the ...
/.../chapter vii the third kind.htm

Now Comes the Second Part of the Prayer, in which we Descend to ...
... bread seem to be very little accordant with our Saviour's meaning; for our prayer
would be ... We are enjoined to ask our bread, that we may be contented with the ...
/.../calvin/of prayer--a perpetual exercise of faith/chapter 44 now comes the.htm

A Short and Easy Method of Prayer
... Prayer is the application of the heart to God, and the internal exercise of love.
S. Paul hath enjoined us to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. ...
/.../guyon/a short and easy method of prayer/a short and easy method.htm

Answer to Objections: the True Place of Prayer in Man's Life
... Now, since the performance of actions enjoined by virtue or by the commandments
is also a constituent part of prayer, he prays without ceasing who combines ...
/.../origen/origen on prayer/chapter vii answer to objections .htm