“You do not have because you do not ask.” James 4:2
In the epistle of James we find him addressing the matter of unanswered prayers. And yet, when Jesus was conducting His ministry, He spoke a great deal of true, faith-filled prayers being answered, so much so that one would actually receive by faith that which was prayed for. If prayer is to be answered, it must first be made. If there is no prayer, there will be no answer to prayer. If God will hear the effective prayer of the believer, then it must be made with the right motive, and be according to the good and perfect will of God. In other words, in prayer, there must be a seeking first of the hallowing of His name, the coming of His kingdom. What then are these essential prayers, which, along with the Lord’s prayer, are models for us to use? We find them in Paul’s letters to the churches of his day.
In addressing the body of believers in the city of Ephesus, Paul gave them two prayers in his letter, not only to inform them of how he was praying for them, but to provide the knowledge of what they needed in order to pray effectively for themselves, and others. The first prayer is found in the first chapter and deals with the “Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God.” (1:17) This prayer to the Father is the call of the heart to God for the fresh, and ever-increasing revelation by the Spirit of Christ to the soul. It is the appeal to God for Him to take the things of God, and reveal them, make them alive, so that one might KNOW God. This is only possible by the Holy Spirit taking the great truths of God, Christ, and the Gospel, and making them real. With the ever-increasing vision, or perception of God in truth, comes an ever-creasing faith to know Him.
The second prayer is found in chapter three, where the Apostle speaks of being strengthened, or quickened, by the Spirit to believe, or to embrace all that is revealed of Christ. Faith and power go hand in hand in the partaking of Christ, the life of abiding in Him, and He is us. If the very life of Christ is to be operative in the believer, and this in fullest measure, then faith must be strengthened, the power of God being poured into the soul to receive from the Father all that He desires to give, so that His Son will be revealed, or manifested, in the life, and the will of God will be done.
The letter to the Colossians is where we find the third prayer which Paul, or rather the Holy Spirit, has provided for us to know, and to use. It is specific to the matter of the will of God: Paul writes: “…(we) do not cease to pray for you, and to ask, that you may be FILLED with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” (1:9) The knowledge of the will of God is not only the objective truth of Christ, and the kingdom of God. It is the communication of that truth given in such a manner as to understand it, and to grasp something of its application in the life. The believer is absolutely dependent upon the Spirit of God to understand the objective will of God, and how it is to be applied in the life in such a manner as would glorify God.
Lastly, in the book of Philippians, the apostle addresses the matter of praying for the love of God, not only to be known by the believer, but to be a well within him, a spring and river, ever increasing in abundance and power, that others might know that Christ is God, the Savior of the world. Paul’s prayer was, “…that your love may ABOUND still more and more in knowledge and discernment.” Love is a gift, capacity, and fruit of Christ’s life, to know and to give.
Dear Father, Teach us to pray. In Jesus’ name, Amen.