Prayer and supplications. Prayers and supplications are one of the most important requirements for a Christian community .Apostle Paul writes to the believers in Philippi not to worry about anything in life but pray and ask God (Yahweh) for every help they needed and thank him always for the benefits they received from him (Phil.4:6-7).”Be anxious for nothing but by prayer and supplications, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God (Yahweh)  and the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ  Jesus (Yahshua).” Such prayers and supplications were made by many prophets and saints in the Bible.

Moses prayed to God (Yahweh) to forgive Israel’s sins, and to protect them. (Deut.9:25-29). Samuel prayed for the people of Israel that they do not die for the sins they had done. (1Sam.12:20-25). King Solomon prayed when he dedicated the Temple. (1Kings.8:38-39). Solomon blessed the congregation after his prayer and supplication to the Lord. God (Yahweh) accepted his prayers saying, ‘I have heard thy prayer...(1Kings.9:3-5). Ezra fasted and prayed when he needed help from God (Yahweh) while he was rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem and for protection from his enemies. The Lord answered his prayer and he completed his work successfully. Ezra.8:21-23.
These are a few examples I have mentioned here. There are many such instances where people made supplications to God (Yahweh). I wish to emphasize on a few ways in which we should pray.

Individual prayer: Each believer should take time to pray. We give tithe and offering when we receive a monetary blessing. We also need to give a tithe of our time (1/10th of 24 hours) in prayers, meditating on his word, singing songs of praises and thanksgiving. I heard in a sermon that if we sing at least 10 songs of praise each day, we will be over comers in life as the Lord delivers us from all the troubles we face each day. These individual prayers allow us to understand the Lord, we will enjoy his presence with us each day. His word will guide us and counsel us. As we praise and worship him, his Holy Spirit will encircle us and protect us from the evil one. Each day will be a day of success and victory in our lives; we will also be a witness and blessing to others around us. Those are the blessings we receive by these individual prayers. Our soul is satisfied and filled with good things. We see in the Bible how Joseph, Daniel, Job and David grew spiritually and faced the world.

Family Prayer: A family which prays together stays together. This is a true saying. Family prayers will make all the members to sit and acknowledge the Almighty, worshipping him that he only is our creator, protector, sustainer and Saviour of our lives. We see many families meet at the dining table to eat and share their experiences with other family members. The same way the family members should have a prayer time to meet the Lord and share their experience, witnessing for the Lord first in the family. By reading the Bible and listening to the text they understand the word because, ‘faith comes by hearing...the word of God (Yahweh).’ When we watch TV or listen to the radio we can learn a lot of worldly things. In the same way when we read the word and pray we learn spiritual things which help us to be closer to God (Yahweh).

Family prayers help us to forgive one another and come together and ask for forgiveness. One more important blessing of family prayers is when two or three ask the Lord anything in prayer, it will be granted (Matt.18:19). When one member of the family has a problem, the rest of the members can encourage them through God (Yahweh)’s word. This is giving counsel by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Through these family prayers, they can be a blessing to many more families and bring them to the Lord. Noah’s family is one such example, another is Lot’s family who were spared the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Church Prayer: Heb.10: 25.’And not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another and so much more as you see the day approaching”.
Yes, most of us feel that going for prayers to far off places is difficult and time consuming. We can stay at home and pray. A true church is not just a building but a place where many such believers come together to worship the Saviour, for such is a heavenly family. It is there we get encouragement to grow spiritually, to do good works and to love one another. Praising him with one accord fills the place with the Holy Spirit. Acts.4:29-31,’ now Lord behold their threatenings , and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word...and when they had prayed, the place was shaken…and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit’.

So the blessing of church prayer is healing, signs and miracles in our lives. Acts.9:31,”then had the churches rest throughout Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified, walking in fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied”.  By assembling together, we are revived, we are filled with peace, we build our lives and avoid evil thoughts and deeds as we fear God (Yahweh) and are comforted by the Holy Ghost. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of his house. (Ps.65:4)

Festival Prayers: We have certain feasts or appointed times in the Bible.  The Lord wants us to assemble at these feasts to receive his blessings. “Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord God (Yahweh)”. (Ex.23:14-33). The Bible lists out seven blessings in keeping these feasts.
1. He will send an angel before you to keep you.
2. He will be an enemy to your enemies.
3. He will give you prosperity
4. He will take sickness away from you
5. He will give you long life
6. He will cause increase and inheritance
7. He will give you a special year of blessing.

Do you spend time in prayers? Are your prayers being answered? Take time to reflect upon your prayer life, seek God (Yahweh) and ask for his guidance in all things and he will lead you and bless you.