Is it not written, My house will be called a House of Prayer for all nations.
Knowing that prayerlessness is our declaration of independence from God, we seek to make listening prayer a vital part of our ministry. We are not to be just a church with a prayer ministry-but we are to be a praying church. Prayer is not a ministry of the church but the ministry that brings us into the presence of God so that we can receive his design for us and all ministries of his church.
Why Pray?
We are invited to pray for our needs (Luke 11:9-13)
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks the door will be opened.
We are encouraged to be bold in our requests (Luke 11:8)
I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
We are so exhorted to being everything to God (Phil 4:6)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God.
Anyone can pray, because God is reaching out to everyone (Isaiah 65:1)
I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, here I am, here I am.
God is waiting for us to call on him and will respond even before we make that call (Isaiah 65:24) Before they call I will answer, while they are still speaking I will hear.
We are to pray anytime (Eph 6:18)
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Prayer is also listening to God (John 10:27)
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me.
For the times when we sense our prayers our not being answered , we need to search our hearts to discover what hindrances there are in our lives that may be causing this.
It may be:
lack of obedience (Isaiah 59: 1-2)
lack of faith (James 1:6)
wrong motives (James 4:3)
not helping those in need (Prov. 21:13)