We value...PRAYER as intimate communication with God accessing His unlimited power.
(1 Thes 5:17; John 15:7; John 17:10.)
Prayer is our spiritual response to God’s revealing Himself to us, through His Son, His Word, His Spirit and His creation. It is both a communication of words, thoughts and feelings, as well as listening to God. Prayer talks actively and waits silently (Phil. 4:6; Psalm 27:14; 130:5, 6). Prayer cultivates intimacy with God (Rom. 8:15-16), practices an awareness of His presence (Psalm 90:1; Psalm 91:1,2: Psalm 139:1-10) and expresses the leading of the Holy Spirit (Luke. 2:27). Effective prayer (James 5:7) surrenders our will to the Father and prays to enact His kingdom purposes on earth (Matt. 6:10; 26:42).
These qualities are to characterize our prayer: worship and thanksgiving (Psalm 11:4; John 4:20-24 Romans 15:6,9), love (Eph. 3:14-19, Gal 5:22), humility (Luke 18:10-14), simplicity (Luke 6:5-6, 23:14), expectant faith (Mark 11:24), tenacity (Luke 18:1-8) and unity with the Christian community (Matthew 18:19-20). Prayer asks the Father in the name of Jesus (John 14:13; 16:23-24).
Scripture instructs us to pray for everyone, including those who govern (1 Tim. 2:1-4), continuously, for believers on all occasions (Eph.6:18) and sometimes with fasting (Acts 14:23). Prayers may be asking for needs to be met(Matt. 7:7-11; James 4:2), blessing--but not cursing people (1 Peter 3:9; James 3:9-12), confession and healing (James 5:16; 1 John 1:9), giving and receiving forgiveness (Mt. 6:15, Luke. 6:37, John 20:23), intercession (1 Tim. 2:1), spiritual warfare (Eph. 6:10-18; 2 Cor. 10:4), asking for wisdom (James 1:5) or help (Phil. 1:19).