Reflection
(1Ti 2:1 ESV) First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,
(1Ti 2:2 ESV) for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
(1Ti 2:3 ESV) This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,
(1Ti 2:4 ESV) who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
(1Ti 2:5 ESV) For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
(1Ti 2:6 ESV) who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
(1Ti 2:7 ESV) For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
(1Ti 2:8 ESV) I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;
Discussion
What is prayer?
That is the main question to ask when we learn what the Bible teaches about prayer. What did prayer look like throughout the Bible?
Prayer is Learned.
First, prayer is something we learn to do by empowerment from the Holy Spirit. While Jesus was on earth, He taught His disciples to pray. We can follow those examples in the Bible.
(Luk 11:1 ESV) Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”
What follows is the Lord’s prayer. This is listed here and in Matthew. Here, the disciples are near Jesus when He prayed and when He was finished they asked Him to teach them to pray like that.
Certainly His prayer was something new and different to them. Had it been the same old babbling they’d heard all their lives there would have been no desire to learn to pray like Him.
We too should be desirous of a prayer life like Jesus. This verse is a simple prayer we can make as well, “Jesus, teach me to pray like you.”
Connection
Prayer is simply a conversation with God. What happens when you have a conversation with someone?
Read: (Psa 34:15 ESV) The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.
What does this verse from Psalm 34 signal when you pray?
Read: (Heb 4:16 ESV) Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
What does it mean to pray with confidence?
Expansion
We are commanded to pray, but more we should desire it always
Luke 11:1; Ps 34:15; Heb 4:16; Ecc 5:2; 1 Pe 5:6-7; Php 4:6; Romans 8:26; Acts 12:5; Acts 12:7; Luke 11:2-4; Luke 11:5-8; Luke 11:9-13; Luke 18:1-8; 1 Th 5:17; Eph 6:18-19; Luke 11:9-10; Mat 6:5-8; Luke 22:39-44; John 15:7; 1 John 5:14; Ps 66:18; James 4:3; Isa 59:1-2; Luke 6:12; Luke 22:45-46; Col 4:2-3; Ps 13:1-2; Ps 22:2; 2 Co 12:7-8; Mat 14:35-36