Integrity- People of God

Private Prayer:

Jesus told us to go to our room, close the door or to go to an unseen place so we may pray in secret to God. Prayer is a personal and private conversation between us and God. Jesus went to the mountain to pray and he prayed at night while others were sleeping. He told us to not be like the hypocrites who pray loud, long, public prayers just to be seen. They are not praying to God they are praying to be seen by men and they have received their reward, the recognition of men.

We are to pray privately to God who will answer us openly. Most of our prayers should be simple conversations between friends, us and God. There are times when we are called to pray publicly as Jesus did when He prayed for Lazarus. This was for the benefit of those who were around and did not believe or know how to pray

Matthew 6: 5-8 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.  But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him

John 11: 41-42 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.  I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

Prayer in the Holy Spirit:

Prayer may be a groans from our spirit because prayer is communication with God. God is Spirit and He understands our spirit even though we may not be able to express ourselves in words. He understands our hurts those that are so deep in our soul that we may not be able to utter them. Sometimes the situations are so great we do not have words, we can only sigh and groan in our spirit. Yet God hears and understands these prayers from our spirit.

We have been in situations where we did not know how or what to pray. There are times when we may not be able to distinguish what is the right thing to do but we can rely on the Holy Spirit to intercede for us. The Holy Spirit in us understands the will and the plans of God and He prays for us. Though our natural mind may not understand the prayers of the Holy Spirit of God in us, but He is petitioning God on our behalf whether it is us, our families or circumstances that may affect us. Even when I sit in darkness, God is my Light.

Romans 8:26-27 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

Psalm 38:8-9 I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart.  All my longings lie open before you, Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you.

Judges 2:18b for the Lord relented because of their groaning under those who oppressed and afflicted them.

Prayer of Petition and vindication from others:

Jesus gives us an example on how to continue to pray, with the parable of the widow woman. She came to the unjust judge who would not help her, he did not fear God nor had regard for man. Yet because she continued to come repeatedly, she wearied him. The unjust judge avenged her of the wrong done to her. Our Father, who loves us, will avenge His children who cry day and night to be vindicated. These are the prayers we make regarding other people and their injustice to us.

We are told to ask and keep asking, to seek and keep seeking and to knock and keep knocking until our petition is granted. These are not long prayers for show with vain repetition just to be noticed as the hypocrites did in public places. These Prayers may be short but constant petitions before God. Praying daily in our closet where we keep asking, and seeking God for vindication for those who may be lost. We are to keep asking, keep seeking and knocking with our prayers until it is open unto us.

These are prayers of intercession for other people who have a will of their own. Though we are asking and seeking each individual has a will and the ability to choose to receive the direction from God or reject it. This is not to say God is not answering our prayers, because He is, but in this world every person has a choice they exercise. We are not to lose hope because God is our hope. He can orchestrate situations and circumstances to work together for the good of His people and His glory.

Like 18:5-8a Yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me! And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?  I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly

Matthew 7:7-8 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.