All scripture quoted is from the New Living Translation. All other quotations are from Ellen White.
There is no real spiritual life without vigorous prayer. After the need for daily repentance, the greatest and most urgent of our needs is a strong prayer life.
Prayer is of course how we talk to God. We want to better understand the goals and process of this communication so we can be more effective and receive the full blessing God intends from this time with Him.
Communication happens through the frontal lobe of the brain. 85 billion neurons. Where all thinking takes place. Moral judgment, learning, decision making.
Remember, only Christian’s pray to a God already on our side. All other religions pray to their God to appease him, to keep evil things from happening to them.
The Human Brain
Has 85 billion neurons or nerve cells. 90% developed by age 7. Fully developed by age 25. Operates by electrical action between neurons. Generates 23 watts of electrical power, enough to power a small light bulb.
The Frontal lobe is where we connect with God. It is the source of decision making. Moral judgment. Right versus wrong. Motivation. Problem solving. Planning. Personality. Attention. Speech. Learning.
Prayer, p.1 – That God is willing and ready to hear and to respond to our heartfelt prayers under all circumstances is profoundly reassuring. He is a loving Father who is interested both when things are going well and when the vicissitudes of life deal us devastating, tough, and terrible blows. When we feel like crying out, “God, where are You?” It is good to know that He is just a prayer away.
Paul explains the Holy Spirit role in prayer in Romans 8:26- 29: 26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Here is very clear description of how the Holy Spirit is involved in our prayer life: The Holy Spirit rewords our prayers in the language of heaven. He helps us understand God’s will so the prayer can be answered with a “yes.”
Prayer 7 – It is a wonderful thing that we can pray effectually; that unworthy, erring mortals possess the power of offering their requests to God. What higher power can man desire than this, —to be linked with the infinite God? Feeble, sinful man has the privilege of speaking to his Maker. We may utter words that reach the throne of the Monarch of the universe. We may speak with Jesus as we walk by the way, and He says, I am at thy right hand.
One of the easiest ways to understand prayer is to compare it with our cell phones and how they help us communicate, let’s look at prayer:
First thing to realize, is that the Holy Spirit electric waves of presence are around us all the time, 24/7/365. He is not far off that and must be pled with to come near. The only thing I need to do to make contact is to turn on the switch so I have power in my mind. That is like the on/off switch on your phone. It is your will power. I need only will it to turn on my mind to God. He is already present outside my mind, and happily comes in. (Repentance necessary here – turning away from evil.)
When my phone is on, my text messages and e-mails are all sending their messages continuously. I need do nothing more to receive them into my phone. So, with God. When we give Him our will, the Holy Spirit communicates His thinking to our mind on a continuous basis.
But with my I-phone, I have to take another action to make contact with a specific person. I must dial their number. That is prayer in spiritual terms.
Prayer then is my reaching out to an ever-present God represented by the Holy Spirit. I choose to make contact and discuss some matter on my mind. Maybe a praise, most often a request for help or guidance.
Steps to Christ, 100 – Keep your wants, your joys, your sorrows, your cares, and your fears before God. You cannot burden him; you cannot weary him. He who numbers the hairs of your head is not indifferent to the wants of His children. “The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” James 5:11. His heart of love is touched by our sorrows and even by our utterances of them. Take to him everything that perplexes the mind. Nothing is too great for him to bear, for He holds up worlds, He rules over all the affairs of the universe. Nothing that in any way concerns our peace is too small for him to notice. There is no chapter in our experience too dark for him to read; there is no perplexity too difficult for him to unravel. No calamity can befall the least of His children, no anxiety harasses the soul, no joy cheer, no sincere prayer escape the lips, of which our heavenly Father is unobservant, or in which He takes no immediate interest.
My mind then connects with the mind of Jesus and He listens to my request.
Col 4:2 – Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
QUESTION: IS PRAYER ONE WAY OR TWO-WAY CONVERSATION? How? I talk to Jesus; He communicates back to me through scripture and impressions in my mind.
The Review and Herald, December 15, 1896 – The Lord speaks to the heart that humbles itself before Him. At the altar of prayer, as the throne of grace is touched by faith, we receive from the hand of God that celestial torch which enlightens our darkness, and convinces us of our spiritual necessity. The Holy Spirit takes of the things of God, and reveals them to the one who is sincerely seeking for the heavenly treasure. If we yield to His guidance, He leads us into all light. As we behold the glory of Christ, we become changed into His image. We have that faith which works by love, and purifies the soul. Our hearts are renewed, and we are made willing to obey God in all things.
5 Testimonies for the Church 163 – The Lord speaks; . . . listen to the voice of truth and conscience. Nothing will give such clear views of self as secret prayer. He who seeth in secret and knoweth all things will enlighten your understanding and answer your petitions. Plain, simple duties that must not be neglected will open before you.
Now let’s test our premise from the inspired writers.
WE BEGIN WITH A COMPREHENSE EXPLAINATION OF PRAYERS GOAL OF AND HOW IT WORKS:
Ephesians 3:16-21 – I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.
What are His glorious, unlimited resources?
Eph 3:9 – He graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ.
Phil 4:19 – And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
Col 1:27 – For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.
He empowers you with inner strength through his Spirit.
Col 1:11-12 – We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, 12 always thanking the Father. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
What is the home in my heart? Power to understand comes from the mind. Experiencing the love of Christ happens in my mind. It is this indwelling of Christ in my mind that develops a completeness of life and power from God.
In Heavenly Places 75 – That power alone that comes in answer to prayer will make men wise in the wisdom of heaven and enable them to work in the unity of the Spirit, joined together by the bonds of peace. Prayer, faith, confidence in God, bring a divine power that sets human calculations at their real worth—nothingness…. He who places himself where God can enlighten him, advances, as it were, from the partial obscurity of dawn to the full radiance of noonday.
Question: Can I ever have perfect fullness and power from God?
Prayer 158,159 – Sanctification is not the work of a moment, an hour, or a day. It is a continual growth in grace. We know not one day how strong will be our conflict the next. Satan lives, and is active, and every day we need to cry earnestly to God for help and strength to resist him. As long as Satan reigns we shall have self to subdue, besetments to overcome, and there is no stopping place, there is no point to which we can come and say we have fully attained. . . .
We receive Christ through His word, and the Holy Spirit is given to open the word of God to our understanding, and bring home its truths to our hearts. We are to pray day by day that as we read His word, God will send His Spirit to reveal to us the truth that will strengthen our souls for the day’s need.
In teaching us to ask every day for what we need—both temporal and spiritual blessings—God has a purpose to accomplish for our good. He would have us realize our dependence upon His constant care, for He is seeking to draw us into communion with Himself.
Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 142 – The victory is not won without much earnest prayer, without the humbling of self at every step. Our will is not to be forced into cooperation with divine agencies, but it must be voluntarily submitted.
Ephesians 3:20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
Notice how the Bible describes our need for power from God:
Phil 4:13 – For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Gal 3:14 – We who are believers receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.
James 5:16 – The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
Romans 7:22-25 – I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Selected Messages 1:97 – The guardianship of the heavenly host is granted to all who will work in God’s ways and follow His plans. We may in earnest, contrite prayer call the heavenly helpers to our side. Invisible armies of light and power will work with the humble, meek, and lowly one.
TRUE OR FALSE? THE BIBLE SAYS WE ARE TO PRAY ALL THE TIME?
1 Thess 5:16-19 – Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 19 Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.
Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 510 – There is now need of much prayer. Christ commands, “Pray without ceasing;” that is, keep the mind uplifted to God, the source of all power and efficiency.
Prayer 10 – Although there may be a tainted, corrupted atmosphere around us, we need not breathe its miasma, but may live in the pure air of heaven. We may close every door to impure imaginings and unholy thoughts by lifting the soul into the presence of God through sincere prayer. Those whose hearts are open to receive the support and blessing of God will walk in a holier atmosphere than that of earth and will have constant communion with heaven.
Prayer 12 – If we keep the Lord ever before us, allowing our hearts to go out in thanksgiving and praise to Him, we shall have a continual freshness in our religious life. Our prayers will take the form of a conversation with God as we would talk with a friend. He will speak His mysteries to us personally. Often there will come to us a sweet joyful sense of the presence of Jesus.
Prayer 83 – The strength acquired in prayer to God will prepare us for our daily duties. The temptations to which we are daily exposed make prayer a necessity. In order that we may be kept by the power of God through faith, the desires of the mind should be continually ascending in silent prayer.
The Review and Herald, March 11,1880 – One of the greatest reasons why many have so little disposition to draw near to God by prayer is, that they have unfitted themselves for this sacred work by reading fascinating stories, which have excited the imagination and aroused unholy passions. The word of God becomes distasteful; the hour of prayer is not thought of.
TRUE OR FALSE? THE BIBLE PROMISES WE CAN HAVE ANYTHING WE WANT IF WE ASK GOD IN FAITH?
John 15:7 – But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!
1 John 5:14-15 – And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.
Conditional promise
Rom 11:33 – Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!
Gospel Workers, 258 -To every sincere prayer an answer will come. It may not come just as you desire, or at the time you look for it; but it will come in the way and at the time that will best meet your need. The prayers you offer in loneliness, in weariness, in trial, God answers, not always according to your expectations, but always for your good.
WHAT SPECIFIC THINGS DOES PRAYER DO FOR ME?
Connects me to Jesus and Holy Spirit.
Brings to mind Bible teachings.
Helps me resist temptation.
Matures the fruit of the Spirit.
Empowers my Spiritual Gifts.
Quickens and expands the mental powers.
Deepens my love for Jesus.
Acts of the Apostles 564 – Prayer is heaven’s ordained means of success in the conflict with sin and the development of Christian character. The divine influences that come in answer to the prayer of faith will accomplish in the soul of the suppliant all for which he pleads. For the pardon of sin, for the Holy Spirit, for a Christlike temper, for wisdom and strength to do His work, for any gift He has promised, we may ask; and the promise is, “Ye shall receive.”