Miscellaneous Thoughts About Prayer

~~~~~From the venerable Rabbis:



Here is one of the Jewish blessings recited in their services after the Torah scroll has been read, tied and covered.

Blessed are You, Hashem, our God, King of the Universe, Rock of all eternities, Righteous in all generations, the trustworthy God, Who says and does, Who speaks and fulfills, all of Whose words are true and righteous. Trustworthy are You, Hashem, our God and trustworthy are Your words, not one of Your words is turned back to its origin unfulfilled for You are God, trustworthy and compassionate King. Blessed are You, Hashem, the God Who is trustworthy in all His word.

~~~~~From the Westminster Catechism:



Westminster Catechism Question 107:

Q. What does the conclusion of the Lord's Prayer teach us?
A. The conclusion of the Lord's Prayer, which is, For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever, Amen. teaches us to take our encouragements in prayer from God only [a], and in our prayers to praise Him, ascribing kingdom, power, and glory to Him [b]; and, in testimony of our desire, and assurance to be heard we say, Amen [c].

[a] Dan 9:4, 7-9, 16-19; Luke 18:1,7-8
[b] 1 Chron 29:10-13; 1 Tim 1:17; Rev 5:11-13
[c] 1 Co 14:16; Rev 22:20





~~~~~What we learn from Job, chapter 42

From the LORD to Job's 3 friends:

Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to my servant Job and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.

So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the LORD commanded them: for the LORD had accepted Job.


And the LORD restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.



It appears Job did not know God would restore his losses until after he prayed for his friends. He acted first in obedience to pray for his friends, and then God restored His blessings on Job.

Is there a lesson here for us?


~~~~From George McDonald

Intercessory Prayer

And why should the good of anyone depend on the prayer of another? I can only answer with the return question, "Why should my love be powerless to help another?"