Posts Tagged ‘prayers’
Can someone with Down Syndrome lead a prayer?
Question: Can or should a person with severe Down Syndrome lead a prayer? Answer: Leading a prayer requires the ability to communicate one’s thoughts to others and to God. People with Down Syndrome understand language well but are often delayed in developing the skills to express themselves verbally. “Delayed” is a keyword here. Communications skills…
Read MoreGod Doesn’t Hear the Prayers of Sinners
by Zeke Flores We don’t know much about what the newly-seeing man in John 9 believed about many things, but he was right about this: God doesn’t hear the prayers of sinners (John 9:31). Both Old and New Covenants abound with the idea that God refuses the prayer of those who obstinately sin (see Isaiah…
Read MorePrayer and Devotion
by Larry White via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 13, No. 4, December 31, 1987 We pray little because we desire little. A full soul, full of the world and fat on the plenty and pride of this world, will not be a praying soul. He requires nothing. The hungry soul longs for God, never resting, ardently…
Read MoreDo you have to say amen at the end of a prayer?
Question: Does the Bible say you must say amen at the end of a prayer? Answer: Many prayers are recorded in the Bible, but not all end with “Amen.” Hannah’s prayer in I Samuel 2:1-10 Solomon’s prayer in I Kings 8:23-53 Daniel’s prayer in Daniel 9:4-19 Jesus’ prayer in John 17:1-26 Thus, it is not…
Read MoreSteadfast Persistence
by Zeke Flores Luke 11 includes an event in which Jesus’ disciples ask Him to teach them to pray. He instructs them in what we commonly call the Lord’s prayer (although technically, it’s the disciples’ prayer since Jesus taught it to them) and follows it up with the famous saying about asking, seeking, and knocking.…
Read MoreGive Him No Rest
by David Gibson In a not-so-familiar passage, God urges Israel, “You who remind the LORD, take no rest for yourselves; and give Him no rest …” (Isaiah 62:6-7 NASB). In other words, keep petitioning God in your prayers for the good of His people. He will hear and respond! Persistence pays! Jesus strongly emphasizes the…
Read MorePrayer and Fasting
by Edward Smith How many Christians do you know who practice fasting for religious reasons? The people who have a conviction to fast are often the very ones who also have a conviction not to do it to be seen by men – so their fasting goes unnoticed (Matthew 6:16-18). The perception, sadly, is that…
Read MoreWhy wasn’t the child rescued?
Question: Hi, First, thank you for your ministry and for sharing. I came across your site and read the timeline for when Jesus was raised in three days. I have a follow up question on this post: “Why didn’t God rescue my friend?” The reader asked why God didn’t rescue her friend. I didn’t think…
Read MorePray at the Proper Time
by Andy Sochor via Unmasking Sophistry, Vol. 5, No. 1, January-March 2025 Zechariah prophesied of the future prosperity and deliverance of God’s people. Much of this was tied to the coming of Christ (the Messiah). Despite the oppression from outside forces, they could look forward to peace. Regarding His plan to bless them, God said,…
Read MoreWhy Pray for the Sick?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Why-Pray-for-the-Sick.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Acts 3:1-11 I. We have talked about the purpose of miracles earlier A. Purpose 1. To reveal the truth – John 16:13 2. To confirm the truth a. Hebrews 2:3-4 – God shows his agreement with the speaker b. Mark 16:20 – Confirmed the word spoken c. Acts 2:22 – Jesus was attested…
Read MoreDoes everything you have faith in come true?
Question: Hi sir, I was just wondering if everything you have faith in comes true. The Bible says faith can move mountains. Is that always the case? What if the thing that I wanted to have happen wasn’t meant to happen, but I still had faith in it? Another question is: You know how when…
Read MoreI found help about God healing in this present day
Question: Greetings to you all in the blessed name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am a Christian. Recently, I was diagnosed with an illness that shook me to the core as the knowledge of it surely tugged at the very foundation of my faith in our God’s ability to heal the sick in this…
Read MoreThe Power of Adjectives
by Terry Wane Benton One of my favorite verses on prayer is Ephesians 3:20. Notice the adjectives used. Taking out the adjectives, Paul said, “God is able to do…all we ask or think.” Putting in the adjectives one at a time: God is able to do above all we ask or think. Then, “God is…
Read MoreMercy to Enemies
by Zeke Flores “Ah, sword of Yahweh, how long will you not be quiet? Withdraw into your sheath; be at rest and stay still. How can it be quiet? Yahweh has given it a command; against Ashkelon and against the seacoast — there He has assigned it” (Jeremiah 47:6-7 LSB). While God’s judgment is certain…
Read MoreAm I appropriately spending time with God?
Question: Good day, sir! I have a question about whether I am appropriately spending time with God. Every morning, I set my alarm to 5 a.m. to wake up and spend time with God before doing anything else. I wake up, turn off my alarm, turn my phone over to avoid being distracted, grab a…
Read MoreHow can I listen better during a long prayer?
Question: Hello Jeffrey, I hope you’re doing well by the grace of God. I need your help with a challenge I face during worship. I find it hard to focus when someone called to lead the congregation in prayer gives a relatively long prayer. Can you please share any helpful tips you know that can help…
Read MoreAre there inappropriate times to sing or pray?
Question: Are there times it would be inappropriate to pray or sing hymns? I’ve often wondered if you should pray or sing while taking a shower, for example, when you’re quite literally wholly exposed. Is it wrong to approach God in prayer like that or to worship Him in a song like that? Or even…
Read MoreIs it wrong to ask for forgiveness?
Question: Good day, I hope you are well, My question here is twofold. First, I was taught that we shouldn’t ask for forgiveness; instead, we should thank God for his forgiveness. This, though, feels both right and wrong. This confuses me a bit because nowhere in the Scripture does it say we need to say…
Read MoreIs saying “in the precious name of Jesus” at the end of a prayer wrong?
Question: Dear brother, Recently, a brother in the congregation insisted that it is wrong and unscriptural to end one’s prayer with the phrase “in the precious name of Jesus.” He insisted that adding the adjective “precious” is tantamount to adding to the word of God. He has quoted a La Vista Church of Christ article…
Read MoreIs it proper for a church to pray together silently?
Question: Good day, brother Jeffery, Thanks for always answering questions. They’ve been helpful to me and the people around me. I want to ask you a question about the orderliness of prayer in the church. Can the church pray such that a time is given during worship, such as 10 to 20 minutes where prayers…
Read MoreI don’t feel good enough to pray
Question: Hi! I got a woman I was dating pregnant. We married a few months later. We now have a son, and we love each other, but the problem is my walk with Christ. I feel spiritually down. I want to be back on my feet, but it’s hard. I love my family. I want…
Read MoreHow do I pray for someone I do not have anything particular to request?
Question: Good evening, I wanted to ask you something that came to my mind recently. I am trying to get better at praying for others; specifically, people who have not given me any ways that I can pray for them. How can I pray for someone if I do not know exactly how to pray…
Read MoreWe have problems with people wanting to do mass prayers
Question: We have a problem with some Christians imitating the Pentecostal’s mass prayers where many people pray out aloud at once. I need your help with the Bible refutation. Answer: People tend to gravitate to things that are exciting and novel. A large noisy party is exciting. A lectureship in comparison is dry. Yet, in…
Read MoreAm I failing because I don’t lead prayers in the congregation?
Question: I have followed your site for many years and asked a few questions from time to time. Now I have a big one. I have been a member of the church of Christ for many years. I do sermon readings, I always participate with answers in class, I say the prayers at the Lord’s…
Read MoreWhat is meant by “God will give you the desires of your heart”?
Question: Hello, I hope that you are blessed in every aspect of life. I am emailing you because I want to understand the meaning of the scripture in Psalm 37:4, which says that God will give you the desires of your heart. Now, I do not want to confuse the meaning where some of us…
Read MoreDaily Religion
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Daily-Religion.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 9:23-26 I. What kind of religion do you have? How is your faith expressed? A. Acts 5:42 – The early Christians had a daily religion B. It seems today that many have a once a week, once a month, or even a once a year religion C. Even in the Old…
Read MoreAn Inspired Prayer to Both the LORD and Jesus
by Doy Moyer
Read MoreShould we pray directly to the Holy Spirit?
Question: Good day, brothers in Christ. I heard a few Christians who would lead public prayers and at the end of their prayers, they would include the Holy Spirit (e.g “Father, all these things we pray in the mighty name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen”). Is this acceptable? Also, I’m…
Read MoreThe One Thing that Matters
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/The-One-Thing-that-Matters.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 11:5-13 I. How do you pray? What do you pray for? A. A young Chinese preacher asked me to explain Luke 11:9-10 better so that he could teach others in his area better B. God is all knowing, but God expects us to ask 1. Consider how many people won’t even…
Read MoreIs it wrong to bow during a prayer offered by someone who does not live a Christian life?
Question: My brother often leads prayer at family gatherings. I have a problem with this. He drinks alcohol daily, often is intoxicated, and lives a sexually immoral life. When he says, “Let’s pray,” everyone bows their heads. My husband is always present and sometimes he does lead the prayer. My brother is not a member…
Read MoreIs it wrong for your mom or sister to lead prayers at home?
Question: I know I Timothy 2:11-12 says that women cannot exercise leadership over a man nor teach him, but I’m a little confused. I’ve heard that this only applies in church or in schools, so some clarification on the wording would be very helpful. I ask this because my sister and my mother sometimes lead…
Read MoreWas the formerly blind man correct in John 9?
Question: Hello, How are you? Well, I hope. I have a question and this was the only way I knew how to contact you. I was in a discussion earlier today with a man on the topic of the sinner’s prayer. I quoted John 9:31 to the man and his response was “that blind man…
Read MoreThoughts and Prayers
by Matthew W. Bassford People in our society say lots of dumb things. Surely among the most foolish, though, are the denials of the power of prayer. This usually comes up after mass shootings, when conservatives send “thoughts and prayers” on behalf of the victims’ families. In reply, progressives sneer that thoughts and prayers aren’t…
Read MorePraying for the Dead
by Wayne Jackson via The Christian Courier Whenever someone we love dies — in old age or tragically before their prime — our hearts cannot but anguish with those who are suffering soul-tearing losses. Some children have lost one or both parents. Husbands and wives have been robbed of loving mates. Others will never see…
Read MoreHow does God heal people today?
Question: How does God heal people now that the gifts of the Holy Spirit, including healing are no longer given to people? I believe that God heals us still because He has healed me, but it wasn’t instant like when the apostles healed. We pray for God to heal the sick, but I wonder if…
Read MoreDoes God answer requests to die?
Question: I have a question for you. When someone prays for death does God ever answer that prayer? I have had so many health issues and depression that I want to die and go to heaven. I have asked God to take me peacefully in my sleep. I’m still here and I don’t know why.…
Read MoreDoes God only care about our salvation?
Question: Hi, I am struggling with my faith. It is hard for me to trust God to answer my prayers for friendship and marriage because I think God only cares about my eternal destination and not about my life here on earth. God has given me everything I need like food and clothing but He…
Read MoreMary’s House
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Marys-House.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 12:12-17 I. In Acts 12 we learn that the persecution of the church intensified in Judea. A. Herod had the apostle James killed – Acts 12:1-2 B. It was a popular act, and so he planned to repeat it by having Peter killed – Acts 12:3-4 C. But Peter did not…
Read MoreWhat can we pray to remove a curse?
Question: Dear sir, I am in my mid-30s and I am unmarried. My two older siblings are also unmarried. I am working but my siblings have no jobs. We live with our uncles, aunts, and their children. Recently, my dad died of a heart attack. One of his brothers died from COVID last year and…
Read MoreHow do I deal with friends wanting me to join various prayer groups?
Question: I sure can use your help. I have friends who keep wanting me to join this or that prayer group. They send attachments to many websites that call for prayer on various subjects. I tell them I pray for many of these subjects, but I do it on my own. Answer: “When you pray,…
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