Notes On The Christian Prayer Life

• Defining The Issues:

          -The issue of God seemingly ignoring people's prayer requests has been a source of discouragement in daily religious life. This phenomena has even undermined the faith of some, as it results in a paradox between His love for us and our comforts going unmet. However, there are significant issues that demand consideration, such as whether God has promised to answer us in the way that we desire and whether we even have any right to insist on having our own way. There is a need for us to reevaluate our assumptions concerning our place as creations in relation to our Creator and what prayer was meant for in the first place. Further, there are several biblical principles for a Christian to take into account regarding the nature of prayer.

• It Is The Will Of God That We Maintain Prayerful Hearts:

          -"Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

            *Prayer is a serious act that should never be done thoughtlessly or carelessly. It is communication with God Himself.

• God Will Not Answer The Prayers Of Somebody Who Has The Wrong Motives:

          -"You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures." (James 4:3)

            *Prayer is to be centered around the will of God. He will not yield to our selfish requests, no matter how many times that we petition Him.

            *People are not to be rewarded for actions that appear good on the outside, but were intended to harm others or for one's own greedy gain. Even if such a person seemed to have a prayer request answered, it may either be due to Satanic influence or mere coincidence.

• God Will Not Answer The Prayers Of People Who Have Doubt In Their Hearts:

          -"But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." (James 1:6-8)

            *A person who has doubt in his heart is not reliable in the service of God. He is not spiritually stable and has no steady conviction to stand by.

• Other Points Worthy Of Consideration:

          -Even when God says no to a prayer request, that is still an answer to prayer. That is not the same as having no answer to prayer at all, just an unsatisfactory one.

          -God can answer our prayers in totally unexpected ways. He may have something else in mind than we ourselves do, and oftentimes does.

          -The forgiveness of sin does not entail the undoing of negative consequences for our actions or the actions of others.
          -God wants us to pray according to His will (1 John 5:14). He is not like a genie summoned from a bottle that grants us whatever we wish.

• Different Types Of Prayer:

          -Psalm 51 is David’s confession after his sin with Bathsheba. It emphasizes the depth of sin, the necessity of God’s mercy, and the hope of renewal. The Hebrew word bara (“create”) in verse 10 is the same used in Genesis 1, showing that only God can bring about a truly new heart. When weighed down by guilt, we can echo David’s cry: “Create in me a clean heart, O God.” This prayer invites honesty before God and dependence on His grace for transformation.
          -Jesus offers this prayer (Matthew 6:6-14) as a model, not a formula. It begins with reverence (“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name”), moves to submission (“Your will be done”), and then to dependence (“Give us this day our daily bread”). Its structure reflects a God-centered orientation before personal requests. When unsure how to pray, this prayer centers us on God’s priorities. Reciting it slowly can realign our hearts. For example, “Your kingdom come” challenges us to live with kingdom values in daily decisions.
          -Psalm 23 portrays God as a shepherd, a metaphor rich in the ancient Near Eastern world. Shepherds guided, protected, and provided for their flocks. The phrase “I shall not want” conveys complete trust in God’s sufficiency. Even “the valley of the shadow of death” is endured with God’s presence, not avoided. In seasons of fear or discouragement, this psalm reassures us of God’s constant care. Reading it aloud can strengthen courage. Practically, it invites us to rest in God’s provision rather than striving anxiously.