Questions tagged [prayer]
The prayer tag has no usage guidance.
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What's the purpose of fasting and prayer in Acts 14:23?
Acts 14:21-23 reads (NKJV, emphasis mine):
And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the ...
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Luke 11:8 - "Shameless" teaching about Prayer
In Luke 11:8, Jesus is teaching about prayer using a parable following the teaching of the "Lord's Prayer" a few verses earlier. The important word here is a hapex lemomenon, ἀναίδεια (...
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What does "being watchful" mean in Colossians 4:2?
Colossians 4:2 states the following (emphasis added):
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. (ESV)
Here, Paul tells Christians to be "watchful" in prayer. ...
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What is the difference between gifts of healing (1 Cor 12) and praying for the sick to get healed (James 5)?
1 Corinthians 12 (ESV):
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has ...
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Ought Christians to pray daily for forgiveness of sins
Jesus apparently directed his disciples, in the model prayer (cf. Matthew 6), to ask daily for forgiveness. Some Bible students hold that Christians have access to continual forgiveness, and thus such ...
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Did Jesus ever pray to Jehovah?
Usually, when people attempt to make a case for prayer to Jesus being disallowed, they make the point that Jesus followed the example of ancient Israelites who only prayed to Jehovah. They point out ...
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Is 2 Corinthians 13:14 a prayer to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
Paul ends 2 Corinthians with the following statement (13:14, NKJV, emphasis mine):
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
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Was the early Church waiting for divine intervention in Acts 4:23-31?
My question is motivated by some controversy caused by a related question I asked on Christianity Stack Exchange. On that question I make the assumption that the early Church was expecting and waiting ...
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Why does God condition his divine intervention and mercy on intercessory prayer? Ezekiel 22:29-31
Ezekiel 22:29-31 (ESV):
29 The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy, and have extorted from the sojourner without justice. 30 And ...
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Is Matthew 17:14-21 implying that miracle-working faith can be attained through prayer and fasting?
Matthew 17:14-21 (ESV):
14 And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him, 15 said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he has seizures and he suffers terribly. For often ...
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Will Jesus do anything we ask Him in His name or not? John 14:12-14 vs. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9
John 14:12-14 (ESV):
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever ...
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What is meant by meditation in Psalm 48:9 and Psalm 104:34?
What is meant by meditation in Psalm 48:9 and Psalm 104:34?
The English word “meditate” evolved its meaning in the mid- to late-1900’s. Previously, it had been more like ”to contemplate”. So how can a ...
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Job 28:7-11 is about the benefits of praying and speaking in tongues [closed]
Benny Hinn mentions in this youtube video -->( https://youtu.be/mX_Ts0jAFNU?t=823 ) that Job 28:7-11 is about the benefits of praying and speaking in tongues:
( Job 28:7-11 )
7 “The path no ...
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What does it mean for food to be "received with thanksgiving" and "sanctified by ... prayer" (1 Tim. 4:3-5, NKJV)?
In his letter to Timothy, Paul wrote that the food some would forbid was actually created by God “to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth”:
3 forbidding to marry, ...
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How might we understand Jesus "not entrusting Himself" to those around Him (John 2:23-25)?
From the 2nd chapter of the Gospel of John we read:
John 2:23-25: "Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was ...
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Does prayer, itself, deter temptation (Matthew 26:41)?
γρηγορειτε και προσευχεσθε ινα μη εισελθητε εις πειρασμον [TR, undisputed]
Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation [Matthew 26:41 KJV]
One could add punctuation and say 'Watch, and pray ...
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"but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words" - can the Holy Spirit literally intercede with groanings? Romans 8:26-27
Romans 8:26-27 (ESV):
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 ...
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Is there any value in "giving thanks with one's spirit" when the person doing the thanksgiving lacks the gift of interpretation of tongues?
1 Corinthians 14:13-19 (ESV):
13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What am I to do? ...
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Did the Apostle Paul pray to Jesus in 2 Corinthians 12:8-9?
2 Corinthians 12:8-9 (ESV):
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” ...
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Did David pray to angels in Psalms 103:20-21?
Psalms 103:20-21 (NIV):
20 Praise the Lord, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
21 Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants ...
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Did Peter converse with (pray to) the Holy Spirit in Acts 10:9-19?
Acts 10:9-19 (NIV):
9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and ...
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Are "praying in a tongue", "praying with one's spirit" and "praying in the (Holy) Spirit" interchangeable expressions?
Jude 1:20 (NIV):
20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
Ephesians 6:18 (NIV):
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with ...
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Where are we to speak in tongues when no interpreter is around?
1 Corinthians 14:26-28 (NIV) says:
26 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an ...
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Is praying in tongues to God in a private setting scripturally supported by 1 Corinthians 14:2?
1 Corinthians 14:2 (NIV):
For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.
If someone does not speak to ...
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Is Luke 11:5-13 talking about being filled with / baptized in the Holy Spirit and that believers should seek it with perseverance?
Luke 11:5-13 (NIV):
5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to ...
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Why are prayer and fasting required to cast out certain kinds of demons?
The casting out of demons is one of the signs that Jesus promised would follow all believers:
Mark 16:17 (KJV):
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out ...
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How did the disciples drive out demons, if not by prayer?
In Mark 9, Jesus drives a demon out of a child which his disciples could not drive out. In response to their question of why they could not drive the demon out themselves, he responds,
This kind ...
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Is there any textual evidence in the Gospels that Jesus thought we should pray to Jesus? [closed]
It is a common practice among contemporary Christians to pray 'to Jesus'. Because most contemporary Christians believe Jesus is God, they believe they are praying to God. Fair enough.
A common ...
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Is agreed-upon prayer always answered?
Matthew 18:19-20 (NASB):
Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have ...
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Why did Elijah pray seven times?
Elijah makes the statement
“And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, "O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you ...
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Question about Romans 8:26 - what is 'prayer'?
The apostle Paul himself stated that the Holy Spirit has to pray for us since we don't know how to pray (Romans 8:26). It is therefore difficult for anyone to say exactly what prayer is.
I have been ...
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In Genesis 21:17 why does God hear only the boy's prayer?
As I read Genesis 21:17, I spent a good time wondering why God heard the cry of the boy whereas his mother also cried at the same time.
"And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God ...
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What does Elijah's prayer for drought have to do with prayers for healing? (James 5:17-18)
I am curious why James selects Elijah’s prayers starting and ending a drought in Israel as an example of how powerfully a righteous man’s prayer can give healing (James 5:17-18). How does this ...
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Is Luke's mention of "the hour of prayer" in Acts 3:1 intended to establish that time as the time for Christians to pray?
Does the mention of "the hour of prayer" in Acts 3:1 suggest that Christians are to pray at a specific time?:
Act 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the
hour of prayer, ...
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In Hebrews 7:25, what does it mean that Christ “intercedes”?
What does “intercession” mean in this context? Does it mean prayer?
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession ...
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Does "ask and you shall receive" apply to all believers or just to the Apostles?
In John 14:14 Jesus told the Apostles "And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son." Does this promise apply to anyone and everyone from that time forward ...
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In Mark 9:24 what is the father requesting?
How should the verse be translated?:
Westcott and Hort / [NA27 variants]
εὐθὺς κράξας ὁ πατὴρ τοῦ παιδίου ἔλεγεν Πιστεύω· βοήθει μου τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ.
Is it a reasonable request?
Does Jesus in fact come ...
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In Luke 24:30 is the "blessing" on the road to Emmaus the Jewish Kaddish Prayer? And if so, what would be the significance of that?
I saw that someone said in another Christian discussion forum, that - the "blessing" of Luke 24:30, on the road to Emmaus, was the Jewish "Kaddish Prayer" - a prayer said at meals, and mourning, and ...
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Which translation is better Philippians 4:6 Pray about everything (NLT) or pray in every situation?
NLT "Pray about everything" implies ask for anything, don't hesitate in asking even for little things, ask everything freely; be meticulous. Whereas other translations put it "in everything or in any ...
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In Matthew 27:46, what did Jesus mean by referring to God as "my" God?
In Matthew 27:46, what did Jesus mean by referring to God as "my God"?:
Mat 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice,
saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My ...
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In John 17:1, why did Jesus lift up his eyes to the sky to address God?
In John 17:1, Jesus looks up toward the sky to address God?:
Joh 17:1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to
heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son ...
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Who was recording Jesus prayer? Mat 26
Does anyone have an idea who may be recording Jesus prayer in The Garden of Gethsemane (Mat 26:36-44)? I mean,Jesus three disciples were sleeping.
One friend asked me this question some weeks ago and ...
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In Luke 18: Pharisee and Tax Collector
In Luke 18, we read the story of the prayers of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in the temple. The Pharisee's prayer (vv 11-12):
The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you ...
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What does Jesus mean by "Pray then like this:" before the "Lord's Prayer"
7“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ...
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What does 'prayers' mean in 1 Timothy 2:1 as distinct from supplications, intercessions, and thanksgivings?
In 1 Timothy 2, Paul urges four activities that might all fall into the range of meaning of the English word 'prayers' as it is used today:
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, ...
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