Prayer Simplified

The aim of this book is to keep readers in the know of what prayer is and keep its many facets as SIMPLE as possible. It is also written to fuel the prayer life of Christians (new converts and nominal) having challenges with prayers. All broad topics can be made simple if they are broken down into sub topics or items. Also there are many great prayer legends but none became great in prayer suddenly, it happened by gradual steps as they understood the basics of prayers and built upon the foundation they know. Prayer becomes simple as we know the basics and put what we know into practice over a period of time. Prayer as a topic is inexhaustible as the learning process is continuous. Prayer can sometimes be abused as well as under utilised. This book helps put issues in the right perspectives. This book is a condensation of over fifteen years of lessons learnt during personal prayers. It is broken into 30 topics. To get the best from this book, it is strongly recommended that you read a topic daily. You read leisurely and meditatively along with the Bible. After reading the book once, you may start over and over again. I hope you find this material practically helpful for your prayer life. Knowledge is progressive, there is room to build on what is written here. Therefore, I have included the phrase “LOTS MORE” after highlighting some points on some topics. May your understanding of prayers be broadened and deepened. May the spirit of prayer be poured powerfully on you as you go through this book. CONTENTS Introduction (Prayer)…………………………….. ONE Whom to Pray to TWO Reasons for Prayers THREE Who can Pray FOUR Learning How to Pray FIVE Benefits of Prayer (Advantages) SIX Prayer Times SEVEN Prayer Hindrances EIGHT Prayer Intensity (Temperament) NINE Prayer Lists and Records TEN Prayer Groups and Agreement ELEVEN Prayer Places (Venues) TWELVE Prayer Postures (Positions) THIRTEEN Prayer Responses (Answers) FOURTEEN Prayer Maintenance FIFTEEN Balancing Prayer and Work SIXTEEN Prayer and Knowledge SEVENTEEN Prayer Levels (Level 1 - Level 5) EIGHTEEN Prayer Response Media NINETEEN Different kinds of Prayer TWENTY Duration of Prayer TWENTY ONE Natural Prayer Tools TWENTY TWO Spiritual Prayer Tools TWENTY THREE Prayer and Fasting TWENTY FOUR When to Start and Stop Praying TWENTY FIVE Biblical Prayer Legends TWENTY SIX Contemporary Prayer Legends TWENTY SEVEN Prayer Songs/Hymns TWENTY EIGHT Examples of Prayer Points Development TWENTY NINE Questions on Prayers (Personal) THIRTY Prayer Closet Preview Chapter ELEVEN PRAYER PLACES (VENUES) You can pray anywhere and everywhere but not any how - God is omni present and there is no distance in the realm of the spirit. It is not a bad idea if we have a specific place to pray but get to know what works best for you and stick to it. When you consistently pray and find favour with Him, GOD can be as near as your breath. 1 Timothy 2:8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. Some of the places to pray include but not limited to the following: • Your House: Bed Room, Sitting Room, Kitchen, Dinning Table, Bath Room, Garage or anywhere in the house even the Toilet! . Act 9:11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus: for, behold, he is praying • When in transit: In the Car, Bus, Plane, Ship, Space Shuttle or while walking but open your eyes if you are driving. Jonah was on a ship sailing to Tarshish and the sailors prayed. Paul was on a ship going to Rome (they fasted aboard for 14 days as recorded in Acts 27) Jonah 1:14 Therefore they cried out to the LORD and said, “We pray, O LORD, please do not let us perish for this man’s life, and do not charge us with innocent blood; for You, O LORD, have done as it pleased You.” • Mountains, Fields, Gardens or Wilderness: Some prayers might require separation. Exodus 19:20 And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up. Mark 9:2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter, and James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves: and He was transfigured before them. • Place of Worship – Church, Crusade grounds, Temple. 2 Chronicles 7:1 when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled) the temple 2 Kings 19:14 - 15 And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. Then Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said: “O LORD God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Matthew 21:13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer but you have made it a ‘den of thieves. • Prison - Paul & Silas. Act 16:24 - 25 having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison, and fastened their feet in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas were praying, and singing hymns to God: and the prisoners were listening to them. • Dangerous Environments. There are some environments one never planned to be but for reasons beyond one’s control. Examples: Jonah in the belly of the fish and Daniel in the Den of Lions (Daniel 6:16 - 22). Some people have found themselves in slaughter houses and God miraculously intervened. • Lots more.