200 Days of Prayer

COMMIT to pray DAILY and every Sunday morning for the services.
Pray that lives would be changed and souls saved.

From Dr. Rick Milne
For God to freely do all that He would desire in and through us, we must earnestly seek His wisdom, guidance, presence and power. Many of us have a desire for our great church to become a more passionate Kingdom movement... For our church to do so, we must stay focused and deeply in touch with our Lord God ... Prayer connects our hearts, our souls, and our minds to our God. May all of us join in this chorus of prayer.
A native of South Africa, Phil Steyne preaches often in Africa and many other foreign lands. He is professor emeritus at Columbia International University.	with Phil Steyne about prayer

Q. It is very common for people, whatever their religious convictions, to say they pray. Does God hear everyone’s prayers?
A. As Sovereign omniscient God, absolutely nothing escapes His attention and concern. Does He answer such prayers? No one can answer with certainty either way. With confidence, we know that the prayers God does hear, and respond to, are the prayers of His children, those who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Q. How can a person know when he or she is really communicating with God?
A. Hebrews 11:6 assures Christians that when a person approaches God in faith, believing, there is communication with the Triune God — God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.

Q. Are quick, little, on-the-run prayers okay or does prayer require quiet reverence and eloquence?
A. Whenever a Christian faces a pressing circumstance, God in His mercy and grace hears the prayers. However, if this is a person’s only pattern of praying, then it may be fair to ask if the person is in genuine relationship with God.

Q. Is it Biblical to pray to Jesus or is prayer to be addressed to God the Father? What is the significance of ending our prayers with “in Jesus name we pray”?
A. The Bible does not disallow prayers made to any Person of the Trinity. Therefore, it is not ‘incorrect’ to pray to Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, or God the Father. By ending a ‘prayer’ in the name of Jesus, Christians are affirming what Jesus Christ instructed in John 15:16. In other words, Jesus Christ Himself is the “Amen” (even so let it be) to the prayer.

Q. Why does a loving God not always grant prayerful requests for healing or protection or well-being?
A. Man is ‘fallen,’ inhabits a ‘fallen’ world suffering the negative consequences of sin that no one or anything escapes. In addition, the Triune God sees the ‘beginning and the end’ of all that transpires in the universe/planet earth. Therefore, in accomplishing His objectives He knows what is consistent with His purposes for individuals, families and nations. And yet, Christians are encouraged to pray for healing, protection, provision etc., because in so doing we declare our total dependence on an all-sufficient God who frequently grants the requests made.

Q. Why should Christians be committed to prayer?
A. The Bible instructs us to pray. “My House shall be called a House of Prayer.” - Isaiah 56:7, Luke 19:46; “Devote yourselves to prayer.” - 1 Corinthians 7:5, Colossians 4:2-3. Numerous other verses highlight the importance of and necessity to pray. See 1 Chronicles 16:11; Matthew 7:7, 26:41; Luke 18:1; 21:36; John 16:24; Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (and many more).

Q. In response to the disciples’ request to teach them to pray, Jesus gave us a model prayer known as “The Lord’s prayer.” As a longtime Christian teacher, can you offer more instruction, especially for new believers?
A. Matthew 6:9-13 presents in brief the principles for a genuine Christian life in total dependence upon Father God. God alone is to be worshiped and acknowledged as supreme and the foundation for all life. His purpose and desire is that His Kingdom will be known and lived out on earth in keeping with His beneficial Will for mankind. He provides for life and its needs, and thus we are instructed to ask and thank Him. Apart from Him, mankind will not survive. He alone saves and delivers humankind from sin and its consequences. He expects that mankind will live in reconciliation with each other, for then they demonstrate that they know and have received His forgiveness. When asked and obeyed, He will keep the Christian from falling into temptation, while also protecting him/her from the power of Satan. He is Sovereign God in control of all that transpires in the Universe/Planet earth, and He alone deserves to be acknowledged as all-powerful deserving of all glory.

Q. Do you have a favorite prayer from the Bible?
A. The prayer I also pray for all believers in Jesus Christ attending First Baptist is Ephesians 3:14-21.