In order to pray to God it is best to have a deep understanding of who He is. Getting our prayers answered and our level of faith will be due to the revelation of God to us. Here are some scriptures that talk about knowing God
Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NIV) “This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me”
Daniel 11:32 (NLT) “…the people who know their God will be strong and will resist him” This is referring to resisting the enemy.
Job 22:21 (KJV) “Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.”
Ephesians 1:5-9 (NIV) “he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ”
What are the attributes of God? These are his characteristics. They tell you who He is based on his character. This is not like the personality of man that changes based on the season or situation that we are going through.
The Attributes of God
God is Omniscient. Omniscient means that He knows all things
Daniel 2:22(NIV) “He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.”
Hebrews 4:13 (NIV) “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
Psalm 139:2-6 (NIV) “You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.”
Nothing can be concealed from God
Ezekiel 11:5 (NIV) “Then the Spirit of the Lord came on me, and he told me to say: “This is what the Lord says: That is what you are saying, you leaders in Israel, but I know what is going through your mind.
Additional Scriptures: Hosea 7:2, Psalm 90:8
Read: Job 23:10, Psalm 103:14, Psalm 139:23-24, John 21:17
There is no cause for fearing that the petition of the righteous will not be heard. When you pray God hears because He knows all things. You will never be overlooked even though there are so many supplications going up to Him every minute. He pays attention to millions as if there is only one making supplication.
Read: Isaiah 65:24, Psalm 147:5, Proverbs 19:21
This should fill us with Holy Awe – nothing you think, do or say escapes Him. He foresaw every sin, every backsliding, every evil thing that you do and still He loves you. Proverbs 15:3
God is Sovereign. Sovereignty means that He is over all things. Absolutely nothing is done that does not first go through Him.
1 Chronicles 29:11-12 (NIV) ” Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.”
2 Chronicles 20:6 (NIV) “Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you.”
Job 23:13 (NIV) “But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? He does whatever he pleases.”
Job 42:2 (NIV) “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”
Psalm 115:3 (NIV) “Our God is in heaven; He does whatever pleases Him.”
Read: Proverbs 21:30, Proverbs 16:9, Proverbs 21:1
Joshua 10 – He commands the sun stands still. 1 Kings 17 – He commanded the ravens to feed Elijah by the brook. Isaiah 38 – He makes the shadow of the sun go backwards 10 steps, 2 Kings 6:5 – He makes the head of the ax float.
In light of God’s Sovereignty, how does this change the way that you look at prayer? We know that He is in charge of everything. This is the God that we pray to.
Read: Psalm 31:15, Psalm 37:7
God is Immutable. His immutability means that He doesn’t change.
“What comfort would it be to pray to a god that, like the chameleon, changed color every moment? Who would put up a petition to an earthly prince that was so mutable as to grant a petition one day, and deny it another?” ~ S Charnoch
God is perpetually the same. He cannot change for better or worse. He has no beginning and no ending to Him.
Deuteronomy 32:4 (NIV) 4″He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He.”
James 1:17 (NIV) “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
Malachi 3:6(NIV) “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.”
Exodus 3:14 (NIV) “God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
Psalm 119:89 (NIV) “Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.”
How does it make you feel to know that God is Immutable? How will this change how you pray?
Read: Jeremiah 31:3, John 13:1, Psalm 100:5, Jeremiah 1:5, 1 Sam 15:29, Isaiah 54:10
Who could confide in a God that changes? How would we be able to trust Him? The permanence of His character guarantees the fulfillment of His promises.
Why pray then? We pray because He requires us. Jesus prayed. “If we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us” (1 John 5:14). Anything contrary to His will is rebellion.
Colossians 1:10 (NIV) “so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,”
With a better understanding of who God is we can have a revitalized prayer life. We can enter in with a zeal we have not had before.
Here is a prayer to revitalize your prayer life and bring you out of your dry season.
Father God, thank you for revealing yourself to me through these attributes – Your Sovereignty, Your Immutability, Your Omniscience. Thank you for the rest I can have in you. Knowing that you are in full control of everything that happens gives me rest from my toiling. Renew me according to your word and the scriptures I just read. During this week help me to be refreshed as I think about you and I reflect on your attributes, Amen.
