How the Bible Says to Pray

Written by Paul Griffitts


I am asked quite often how one can pray effectively. This article will show yourepparttar wayrepparttar 126518 Word of God tells us to pray.

We are going to look atrepparttar 126519 Greek word pray (prayers, praying and prayed) proseuche and proseuchomai but only inrepparttar 126520 Mystery Epistles of Paul, Ephesians, Colossians and Philippians.

The Greek word proseuche appears inrepparttar 126521 New Testament 37 times in 37 verses and proseuchomai appears 90 times in 82 verses, this is quite an abundance of uses so I want to limitrepparttar 126522 study to justrepparttar 126523 three books ofrepparttar 126524 Apostle Paul also know asrepparttar 126525 Prison Epistles.

We must first start our study with some Greek grammar lessons, very basic for now. Whenrepparttar 126526 words proseuche or proseuchomai are used as verbs, or as nounsrepparttar 126527 verbs that are used with them, are always inrepparttar 126528 present tense. The present tense represents a simple statement of fact or reality viewed as occurring in actual time and in most cases this correspond directly withrepparttar 126529 English present tense.

Another characteristic of these verbs are that they are inrepparttar 126530 middle voice. The middle voice indicatesrepparttar 126531 subject performing an action upon himself (reflexive action) or for his own benefit. E.g., "The boy groomed himself." Many verbs which occur only in middle voice forms are translated in English as having an active sense; these are called "deponent" verbs, and do not comply withrepparttar 126532 normal requirements forrepparttar 126533 middle voice. A different way to look at “deponent verbs” is that they occur with passive or middle voice forms but with active voice meaning The Greek middle voice meaning is still applicable, action is done for ones own benefit, this is very apropos to prayer.

The third characteristic of these verbs isrepparttar 126534 mood. These verbs forrepparttar 126535 most part are inrepparttar 126536 participle mood. The Greek participle corresponds forrepparttar 126537 most part torepparttar 126538 English participle, reflecting "-ing" or "-ed" being suffixed torepparttar 126539 basic verb form. The participle can be used either like a verb or a noun, as in English, and thus is often termed a "verbal noun."

We must therefore conclude that even whenrepparttar 126540 word prayer is used as a noun it is a verbal noun and indicates some action byrepparttar 126541 subject. This being said let us now take a look atrepparttar 126542 verses where these words are used and it will become clear as to how prayer is to be done. Eph. 1:16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making (present tense, middle voice) mention of you in my prayers; proseuche (verbal noun).

Eph. 6:18 Praying proseuchomai (present tense, middle voice, participle mood) always with all prayer proseuche (verbal noun) and supplication inrepparttar 126543 Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Applying the Word is Power

Written by Daniel N. Brown


In God’s plan for every believer is peace, hope, and a good future (Jeremiah. 29:11). It is His will that we live abundant and prosperous lives butrepparttar enemy will try to destroy every ounce of peace and hope we have by bringing doubt into our minds.

If you are experiencing doubt and discouragement in your life right now, it is becauserepparttar 126517 devil is robbing you ofrepparttar 126518 blessings that God has for you. The devil is a thief and it is his only mission to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus came that we may have life and may have it more abundantly (John 10:10).

Did you noticerepparttar 126519 word “may”? Webster’s Dictionary describes “may” as permission, opportunity, perhaps, and possibly.

God has done His part by sending His Son to die onrepparttar 126520 cross, not only to save us from our sins, but also to give us life abundantly. Whether we have life abundantly or not depends on us!

God has given us His Word, which is our roadmap for success (Joshua 1:8). His Word is forever established in heaven, and whatsoever we shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever we shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven (Matthew 16:19). What are you binding and loosing in your life?

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