WHAT IS PRAYER
Pastor J. R. Wilhite, author
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Gen 12:13 Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my
soul shall live because of thee. (KJV)
The above few verses and some of the ones to follow show you that praying is no more than
asking.
Matt 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them
that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (KJV)
If you again place "ask" for "pray" you would see that in Matthew 26:36 Jesus was stating
"while I go and ask yonder". Then read verse 26:39 and you see that He did go and ask the
Father for the cup to be removed
Matt 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but
the flesh is weak. (KJV)
Now all that praying is, is to ask, you ask the Father because as with anyone, you first ask. You
do not ask someone who doesn't exist, or who you do not believe in. So as you ask, and show
your belief in Him, He rewards you.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must
believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (KJV)
The only way you can please God is by faith, and faith is believing in something. So to please
God you have to believe in God, and that what He says is true and it will be done as He says. So
to please God you have to ask, not just to ask, but to show your belief by asking.
Ask for what?
Mark 11:23 "he shall have whatsoever he saith." (KJV)
No matter what you ask (pray) and don't doubt, but believe (Heb 11:6, this is how
you please God), you shall have whatever you ask (pray for).
Remember prayer is private, it is not a lot of empty words, it is comunicating
with the Father.
In the above few verses insert "ask" wherever you see "pray", and do the same for the following
verses. What you will find out is "to pray is to ask".
Gen 12:13 Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be
spared because of you." (NIV)
Gen 13:8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee,
and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. (KJV)
Gen 13:8 So Abram said to Lot, "Let's not have any quarreling between you and me, or between
your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. (NIV)
Gen 13:9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt
take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to
the left. (KJV)
Gen 13:9 Is not the whole land before you? Let's part company. If you go to the left, I'll go to the
right; if you go to the right, I'll go to the left." (NIV)
Matt 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray
standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men.
Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. (KJV)
Matt 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door,
pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee
openly. (KJV)
Matt 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they
shall be heard for their much speaking. (KJV)
Matt 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy
name. (KJV)
Matt 9:38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his
harvest. (KJV)
Matt 14:23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to
pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. (KJV)
Matt 19:13 Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on
them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. (KJV)
Matt 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: (KJV)
Matt 26:36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the
disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. (KJV)
Matt 26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father,
if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. (KJV)
Matt 26:53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me
more than twelve legions of angels? (KJV)
Mark 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou
removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that
those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. (KJV)
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