Topical Bible: Prayer is Described as Crying to God

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Prayer, in the Christian tradition, is often depicted as a heartfelt communication with God, characterized by sincerity, urgency, and deep emotional expression. One of the vivid descriptions of prayer in the Bible is the act of "crying to God." This expression captures the essence of prayer as an earnest plea for divine intervention, guidance, or comfort.

The concept of crying out to God is prevalent throughout the Scriptures, illustrating the human need for God's presence and assistance in times of distress, need, or thanksgiving. This form of prayer is not merely a vocal expression but a profound outpouring of the soul, reflecting a deep reliance on God's power and mercy.

Biblical Instances of Crying to God

1. Psalms: The Book of Psalms frequently portrays prayer as crying out to God. In Psalm 18:6 , David declares, "In my distress I called upon the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for His help reached His ears." This verse highlights the belief that God is attentive to the cries of His people and responds to their needs.

2. Exodus: The Israelites' experience in Egypt is another powerful example. In Exodus 2:23-24 , it is recorded, "The Israelites groaned in their labor, and they cried out, and their cry for help because of their bondage rose up to God. So God heard their groaning, and He remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." Here, crying out is linked to God's covenant faithfulness and His readiness to deliver His people.

3. Hannah's Prayer: In 1 Samuel 1:10 , Hannah's prayer is described as a deep cry to the Lord: "In her bitter distress, Hannah prayed to the LORD and wept with many tears." Her earnest plea for a child demonstrates how crying out in prayer can be an expression of personal anguish and hope in God's provision.

4. The Prophets: The prophets often called the people to cry out to God in repentance and supplication. Joel 1:14 urges, "Consecrate a fast, proclaim a sacred assembly; gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD." This call to communal prayer underscores the importance of seeking God's mercy and intervention.

Theological Significance

Crying to God in prayer is a testament to the believer's faith in God's sovereignty and compassion. It acknowledges human limitations and the need for divine assistance. This form of prayer is an act of humility, recognizing that God is the ultimate source of help and hope.

Moreover, crying out to God is an expression of trust in His character. It reflects the belief that God is not distant or indifferent but is a loving Father who hears and responds to the cries of His children. This understanding is rooted in the biblical narrative, where God consistently demonstrates His willingness to listen and act on behalf of those who call upon Him.

Practical Implications

For believers, crying out to God in prayer is both a personal and communal practice. It involves bringing one's deepest concerns, fears, and desires before God, trusting in His ability to provide comfort, guidance, and deliverance. This form of prayer encourages believers to be honest and vulnerable with God, fostering a deeper relationship with Him.

In times of crisis or uncertainty, crying out to God can be a source of strength and reassurance. It reminds believers that they are not alone and that God is attentive to their needs. This practice also serves as a reminder of the power of prayer to effect change, both in the individual and in the broader community.

In summary, prayer as crying to God is a profound expression of faith, dependence, and hope in the divine. It is a central aspect of the Christian life, inviting believers to engage with God in a deeply personal and transformative way.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 27:7
Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also on me, and answer me.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 34:6
This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

My Creed Leads Me to Think that Prayer is Efficacious...
... It is no voice crying unheard and unheeded in the silence. ... Prayer puts God in full
force in the world. ... God is described as laughing at their enfeebled hate. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bounds/purpose in prayer/chapter i my creed leads.htm

The Gethsemane Prayer
... The scene is well described by Luke ... for prayer, He makes our will the measure and
condition of prayer. ... dread, of hesitancy and shrinking back, of crying out for ...
/.../bounds/the reality of prayer/xii the gethsemane prayer.htm

Prayer Takes in the Whole Man
... Prayer engages all the powers of man's moral and ... somewhat the praying of our Lord
described as in ... up prayers and supplications, with strong crying and tears ...
/.../bounds/the essentials of prayer/i prayer takes in the.htm

Prevailing Prayer.
... why, then, should persons be thought to be distracted, when they cannot forbear
crying out at ... I am to show that such prayer as I have described will avail ...
/.../finney/lectures on revivals of religion/lecture iv prevailing prayer.htm

Education and Preparation.
... to a sister such as we have described, her brother's ... This prayer was answered, and
afterwards this very friend ... offer up supplications with strong crying to God ...
/.../education and preparation.htm

God's Love for a Sinning World
... such a will, and none the better though these elect were described as residents ... Perhaps
will hear my prayer.". ... Whose heart leaps up, crying, Here am I! send me? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/finney/sermons on gospel themes/i gods love for a.htm

Another Royal Procession
... are paid to him similar to those described by the ... now a matter to be sought for by
importunate prayer. ... the members of other churches, are crying, "would God ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/another royal procession.htm

Preparation for Service
... I had hitherto had no lack, and I continued in prayer. ... get into such a state as he
described, and that ... thirty-six hours old, moaning rather than crying at her ...
/.../taylor/a retrospect/chapter iii preparation for service.htm

The Trial by Fire
... The short prayer of faith does in a moment what all the long day of crying could
not do ... The language in which the answer is described emulates the rapidity ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the trial by fire.htm

Introduction.
... with a numerous class of members, aptly described by the ... that it must be waited for
in prayer, and that ... are saved when you hear His Spirit crying, Abba, Father ...
//christianbookshelf.org/booth/godliness/introduction.htm