Pray the force be with you!

Welcome back! I am glad you are here.

We are discovering together what the Bible says about wellbeing. Otherwise, how can you live a more satisfied, fulfilling life! We recently discussed the first step to entering the gateway to Biblically based wellbeing: becoming a Christian by accepting Christ’s forgiveness by faith, understanding our salvation is permanent, and that we should not feel guilt. What great promises!

Based then on this sure foundation, several weeks ago we began to discuss the 5 Scriptural tools to mature our faith by examining Scriptural knowledge (Acts 2:42 and 47). Today, we discuss prayer!

Prayer is one of the cornerstones of the Christian life. Scripture tells us that we should pray frequently and persistently. As Christians we can come boldly before God in prayer uninhibited and unafraid to receive mercy in our every time of need (Hebrews 10:19-22). The content of our prayer should be thankfulness for God and others (Philippians 1:3-4, Colossians 1:3), praise (Hebrews 13:15) and petitions for ourselves and others (Philippians 4:6).

The content of our prayers should be consistent with what glorifies Jesus Christ (John 14:13-14, John 15:7). Paul offers 3 model prayers in which he emphasizes what God wishes us and others to attain by our prayers no matter the situation (Ephesians 1:15-23, Ephesians 3:14-21, Colossians 1:9-14) including: knowledge of our salvation and the Bible, understanding, hope, power and love as well as demonstrate service, patience and persistence in our Christian walk.

Medical research indicates that the active prayer increases wellbeing and the more frequent the prayer the better for wellbeing (1-5). Why would this be? Well this has been studied little to my knowledge but several potential benefits might be:

• Prayer provides a release for our emotions to God perhaps relieving tension and frustration.

• It engenders a sense that somebody cares and is listening. We also know that the Holy Spirit and Christ Himself pray on our behalf (Hebrews 7:25, Romans 8:26,34)

• It causes us to pay attention to Scripture, hopefully, as we pray and so offers us help to consider, and form an answer to, our problems as we deliberate mentally our requests to God.

• It reminds us to be thankful for others and for His blessings to us.

• It helps us to praise and remember that we have a great God whose purposes are greater than ours. Thus, it helps keep our own problems in prospective.

In addition, as Christians we have the benefit of God's promise to answer prayer so there may be a further benefit through His gracious provisions (John 14:13-14).

Therefore, prayer is a key tool to maturity as a Christian, invoking God's help but yet reminding us of Scripture, praise and to be thankful, all which may our assist our wellbeing. Prayer is one of the great benefits of our Christian life. Thanks be to God for such a provision.

Thank you for joining me. See you next time

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WC Stewart

http://teleiosresearch.com/

http://teleiosblog.blogspot.com/

1. Stewart WC et al. The source and impact of specific parameters that enhance well-being in daily life. J Rel Health 2015; in press.
2. MacIlvaine WR et al. Association of strength of community service to personal wellbeing. Community Ment Health J 2014;50:577-582.
3. MacIlvaine WR et al. Association of strength of religious adherence to quality of life measures. Complement Ther Clin Pract 2013;19:251-255.
4. Stewart WC et al. Review of clinical medicine and religious practice. J Relig Health 2013;52:91-106.
5. Stewart WC et al. Association of strength of religious adherence to attitudes regarding glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Ophthalmic Res 2011:45:53-6.

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