Six Points on Ordered Christian Prayer Life and What Forms of Prayers Christians Use

An Ordered Christian Life has prayer as his or her hallmarks. An adage says, “When I stop to pray, I start to die”. To achieve this, The Christian now apportions time for meeting God daily. In the morning, afternoon, evening, night vigil and days of waiting upon God.

There are scriptural passages to support times of prayer for a true Christian.

1. Mornings: The Psalmist wrote,” But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee. (Psalm 88:13)St Mark reports,” And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he (Jesus Christ) went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
2. Afternoon (Lunch Prayer): “Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour” Around 2pm (Act 3:1)
3. Evening: The Psalmist wrote,” I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me”. (Psalm 3:5) and the writer of Proverbs opined,” When thou liest down, thou shall not be afraid: yea, thou shall lie down, and your sleep shall be sweet”. (Proverbs 3:24)
4. Night Vigil: The apostles demonstrated this hour of prayer with visible signs: And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. (Acts 16:25-26).Also the Psalmist wrote,” O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. (Psalm 22:2)
5. Waiting upon God: Job teaches us to wait upon God. He submitted,” If a man dies, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come”.(Job 14:14)
6. Day and Night: Nehemiah opined,” O LORD, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant day and night, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer”.(Nehemiah 1:11)

What Forms do Christians use?
Asking, seeking and Knocking..St Matthew wrote” Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you”Matthew 7:7)

A prayer less Christian is a powerless Christian. When a Christian becomes lazy to pray, he/she give chances for Satan and his agents to invade his/her spiritual security. We are encouraged by St Paul to pray without ceasing.(1st Thessalonians 5:17) “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”(Ephesians 6:12). At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: For the Father himself loves you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God”(John 16:26-27). “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober”(1st Thessalonians 5:6).

May God give us the grace to achieve all things by prayer and supplication.