Thoughts on Prayer
“O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name:” (Psalm 105:1)
2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God,” Scripture is how we hear from God. God also wants to hear from us. “Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.” (Psalm 25:1) “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud, and he shall hear my voice.” (Psalm 55:17)“Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.” (Psalm 61:1) God wants us to give Him thanks and to pray.
Jesus said, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.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.” (Matthew 6:9-13) These words are a general guide for how to pray.
When you know Jesus as your Saviour, you can call God “Our Father which art in heaven,” “Hallowed be thy name.” means we show reverence for His name. “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is is heaven.” means God is sovereign over all. “Give us this day our daily bread.” means we take nothing for granted, even little blessings in life.
“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”Jesus paid a terrible price for us to be forgiven. We are also to be forgiving to others: “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:” Genesis 4:7 says, “…sin lieth at the door.” Temptation can be sudden and unexpected. We need God’s help when it comes. “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” Again, we are to honor God’s sovereignty.
Many Bible verses tell us to pray. When we sin, we are to confess sins to God: “I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.” (Psalm 32:5) For help and in times of trouble, we are to pray: “…ye people, pour out your heart before him:” (Psalm 62:8) “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” (Psalm 50:15)
God calls Himself “the one who hears prayer:” “O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.” (Psalm 65:2) Psalm 145:18 also says, “The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.” It doesn’t say God is nigh (near) to people who read the Bible or witness or attend church, although those are all important. It says God is near to those who CALL UPON HIM.
In police work and in politics, you often encounter complicated situations and the right answer may not be readily evident. You need wisdom and good judgment. Pray for it. “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 1:5)
Isaiah 57:15 says, “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit,” God is high and lofty over all, yet He wants to hear from us as we humbly seek His face and His help.