I have been slowly continuing my study of all the prayers of the Bible, having already completed and posted about the prayers of Genesis.
Herbert Lockyer’s classic book has been my faithful guide and will continue to lead me through the rest of the prayers of the entire bible. I anticipate this will take me about ten years!
The following are the main points concerning prayer which I have gleaned from Exodus and Leviticus, that may stimulate your own thinking and practices about prayer :
- Redemption is essential to a prayer relationship with God.
- Fellowship/prayer can only happen with God when there is a constant “cleansing” and posture of humility.
- Answered prayer is dependent upon purity of heart .
- The best response to a grumbling, oppressive atmosphere is powerful intercession.
- Our groans can be as prayers in the ears of God.
- Inarticulate anguish, prompted by the Spirit of God, is understood by God and responded to by him.
- True prayer is a two-way channel; we speak to God and God speaks to us! There were hints of this in Genesis, but it comes fuels force in Exodus.
- Prayer is fruitless unless we receive some reply from God — “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening” is how we should end our prayers.
- Prayer acknowledges the Lordship of God, as well as his Fatherhood.
- When God replies, we must respond back with complete reliance and obedience to what he has said.
- Our prayers can be complaints and God is patient and considerate with this.
- True prayer results in obedience.
- Prayer often brings a renewed commission.
- One posture of prayer is our hands stretched out — indicates human need and God’s ability to meet it.
- We must be ready and willing to pray for all men, even wicked men.
- We must preserve/control our temper towards others, praying for them with a level of grace, even affection.
- Our prayers can be songs of praise and thanksgiving.
- Weaponless hands of prayer are more powerful and effective than our enemies and the battles all around.
- Proper perspective (on God and God alone) as we lift our hands and pray is essential.
- Lifted, praying hands over others impart God’s deliverance.
- Prayer cries for help are heard by God.
- We can pray for the delay of deserved punishment — confession is the key in this.
- We can “pray God’s words” (scripture) back to him as a way of reminder — he delights in this!
- Our prayers can “hold back” some destruction God has planned (this is a mystery).
- Confessing prayer can be done on behalf of a people with whom I have authority over/ties to, for sins I did not personally commit.
- Shed blood is the only basis on which we can approach God (pray).
- Boldness to come before God depends on the blood (of Jesus), not on my feelings or behavior.
- Sins of the ages are linked, age by age, by a chain of sin and the response to this reality is (corporate) confession and worship, through the privilege of prayer.
ANGELA BLYCKER 