Press IN Prayer

Here is installment 2 in my series on prayer. I want to share one thought to consider before I include the lesson on prayer:

The answers we receive in prayer are in essence the fringe benefits of spending time of unmitigated prayer before the throne. This phrase has been a constant companion in my time of meditation. I'll share more as the time becomes available but let me just state this, unmitigated means not diminished or moderated in intensity or severity; absolute. Prayer is a form of worship. It is adoration to Adonai who is able to take care of every need in exceeding abundance.



Here are a few definitions of Pray and Prayer that I wanted to share with you from my own study. You will find with me, that words are huge. I love them. I love weaving them together to create. Words are full of so much and often times we don't realize the effect our words have or the connotation they represent.

So.. if we go to the Greek and Hebrew Roots of the words Pray and Prayer we come up with the following.

In the Old Testament the most common form of the verb - to pray - is palal ~ meaning to interceed. You can find this word used in 1 Samuel 12:23

The most common noun form of prayer is tepillah ~ meaning to make a request, intercession, supplication or set to music as an implication of a hymn. This word is used in 1 Kings 8:28,and Habbakuk 3:1. You will also find this word in the titles of 5 Psalms ( 17,86,90,102,142) And.. it is written at least once in each of the following Psalms.(4,5,6,17,35,39,42,54,55,61,64,65,66,69,72,80,84,86,88,90,102,109,141,142,143)

Because the New Testament was primarily written in Greek you can find the word roots listing in a Greek

In the verb we have

1.euchomai ~ meaning to wish; by implication to pray to God - pray wish, will.
You can find this word translated into prayer in the following scriptures 1 Cor 13:7,9; James 5:16, 3 John 3, Acts 26:29, Acts 27:29, Romans 9:3

2. Proseuchomai ~ meaning to pray, it is always used of prayer to God. It is the most frequent word used in this respect especially in the Synoptic Gospels and Acts.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synoptic_Gospels) - the Synoptic Gospels are Matthew, Mark and Luke. See link for more.
Proseuchomai is also used in Rom 8:36, Ephesians 6:18, Phil 1:9, 1 Tim 2:6, Hebrews 13:8, Jude 5:20 and 1 Thessalonians 5:17

As a Noun in the New Testament you will find the word prayer comes from 3 greek words in translation.

1. euche -~ meaning a prayer. James 5:15 and a vow in Acts18:18 and 21:23

2. Proseuche ~ meaning a prayer TO God. Matthew 21:22, Luke 6:12
as an objective term rather than subjective. - James 5:17.
Proseuche is also used as means of praying with prayer.. this would be indicative to the Hebraic forms of chants or prayers.. using scripture..psalms if you will to pray. Look at Ephesians 6:18, Phil 4:6, 1 Tim 2:1 and 5:5


Porseuche is also consider a place of prayer as in Acts 16:13,16.

3. Deesis - primarily a wanting or a need - then asking, an entreaty, supplication. Here it is often in the objective form.. being addressed to.
- a petition, prayer, request, or supplication

Referenced in the following scriptures:
Luke 1:13, 2:37, 5:33; Romans 10:1; 2 Cor 1:11, 9:14; Philippians 1:4, 19; 2 Tim 1:13; Hebrews 5:7; James 5:16; 1 Peter 3:12


I will post more on the definitions and scriptures for Intercession and prayer when I have time and then try to tie the 2 together.

When thinking of prayer focus on some of these questions in your journal.

How has prayer affected your life?
How much time do you devote to prayer?
Do you have a "prayer closet"?
Do you recognize his small still voice when he calls you to pray and interceed for others?

Remember prayer is intimacy with your Heavenly Father. Just to go back to the word.. what is intimacy? Intimacy is the state of being intimate, or familiar. It is getting to really know the heart of God.

Consider that David was a man after God's own heart and he penned many of the Psalms we have in our Bibles. He was a worshipper. Look at John 4:23-24. A great way to know His heart.. of course is spending time in the word but what a joyous time to spend it in the Psalms. I've referenced above that 5 of the 150 titles of Psalms have the word "tepillah" as the title, which means making a prayer request through music or hymns. Find a psalm that really touches your heart and commit it to memory. One I have committed to memory is Psalm 91 and when fear tempts to raise it's ugly head I combat it with the Word.. especially those written in Psalm 91.

I want to plant a seed here at the end. As we go forward in the things of God we can often expect that there will be adversity. Remember that as a born again believer, we have the ability to stand under the blood of Christ and No weapon formed against you shall prosper. ( Isaiah 54:17) Use the Word of God as your ultimate tool to combat the enemy in your life. Read Ephesians 6:10-18. The Word of God is the Sword you carry. Your armor has to be balanced so you need to use it all equally, but what I am trying to point out is that the sword of the spirit ( the 2-edged sword which is the word of God) cuts in two every attack of the evil one. And lastly, remember your fight is NOT with flesh and blood but with principalities, powers and spiritual wickedness in high places. ( 2 Cor. 10: 3-5)

Blessings to all!
Press IN in prayer!
Dawn