Prayer

God said to David:

"Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever’” (2 Samuel 7:11-16).

David said in response:
"For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. 28 And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 29 Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever” (2 Samuel 7:27-29)

Paul wrote:
"Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many" (2 Corinthians 1:9-11).

Then he wrote:
"For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory" (2 Corinthians 1:20).

All our prayers must be based on God's promises. David prayed in response to God's promise to establish his offspring. Paul called on the church to pray in response to God's promised deliverance. The climax of prayer and promise comes in the person of Jesus Christ. All the promises of God, on which we base our prayers, find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. Jesus promised, "Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it" (John 14:13&14). Our prayers should not be grounded on our needs, God knows our needs. Our prayers must be grounded in Jesus Christ the one who fulfills all the promises of God. Jesus is the reason for prayer. Jesus is the reason God answers prayer. Jesus is the reason God hears our prayers. Jesus is king forever. Our prayers will be heard forever and those that are based on Him will find their Yes forever.

In the name of Jesus Christ I pray to You my God and Father. Through Jesus Christ You have given me forgiveness and life. Thank You in Jesus' name. Through Jesus Christ You have given me hope for today and for all eternity. He has experienced Your rod of discipline because of my sin. He has taken my place. You have made Yourself a people and I am a part of that people because of Jesus. Father, I praise You for the marvelous work of grace You accomplished for me in Christ Jesus. When I pray to You, when I seek Your forgiveness, You tell me Yes because of Christ. Keep me near to Christ. I want to pray according to Your will and I want to pray so that I glorify my Savior. Help me Father. Do for me what I cannot do for myself.

In the name of Jesus
Amen