PRAYING IN THE SPIRITS OF JUST MEN

WHAT IS PRAYER? Every Christian writer tries to define the term prayer from his or her own perspective based on the biblical provisions of the constituent elements to cover its purpose and functions. Some may not strictly want to define prayer, but apply a descriptive pattern for a richness of perspectives. However, for the purposes of clarity and exegetical exactitude, I will employ both definition and description to do a fair treatment to this subject. But before that is done, I want to quickly refresh your mind on the broad spectrum nature of the word prayer. This is because Christian believers have the impression that they are the only people that do pray to God. It may interest you to know that people of other faith pray as well as we Christians do. African Traditional Religion has a praying pattern and liturgical process that guides their operation to communicating with the Supreme Being. Consequent upon this illumination on the broad spectrum nature of prayer; let me attempt to define and describe the term called ‘prayer.’ Prayer is a means by which individuals, both Christians and people of other faith including the African Traditional Religious Priest Communicates with the true and only living God called the infinite intelligence, the Almighty God (El-Shaddai) or the Supreme Being. This definition is broad spectrum in nature to cover the macrocosmic nature of the word prayer. In the microcosmic perspective; it is a means by which a Christian believer communicates with God through the way of His Son Jesus Christ. It is so, because, the scripture says in John 14:6; “I am (Jesus) the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the father, but by me (KJV). Jesus is the gate by which you can access the father in heaven. This is the reason every prayer of the Christian believer end in the name of Jesus. In this sense, we in the Christian circle believe that prayer is the sign of the new birth. We have this understanding that praying is not the same thing as saying a prayer. Praying is an act that is in the continuum. That is why the Apostle Paul said to the Thessalonian church to pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17). Praying is done with whole heartedness, contrition, faith, righteousness and obedience. Saying a prayer is a continual process meaning that it can be repeated at intervals. It will interest you to know that Muslim faith finds value in this process as a pattern. Unfortunately, the Christian believers are guilty of the offence of not praying according to Paul’s admonition and exhortation. Rather, we find value in saying prayer instead of praying. Praying is matching what you say with the appropriate word of God. However, the aim of this book is to give captivating insights to the subjects of prayer, so that Christian believers will take their place in the art of communicating appropriately with their God. It is my hope that men and women will wake up to find the true purpose of prayer. Christian believers need to go back to their “Upper Room” which is their prayer closet to unravel the mysteries of and about prayer. “If one only reads the word, neglecting prayer, then cold pride and conceit will be the result. If one only prays, neglecting the word, then fanaticism and all the blindness that is ever connected there with will be the result, for the thoughts of God will not be known – Heijikoop H.L. In the scriptures, great emphasis is put upon prayer. The Lord Jesus began His ministry with prayer. This is evidenced in Luke 3:21, thus: “Now when all the people were baptized it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized and praying the heaven was opened (KJV).