On the teachings of the doctrines today, Bro Eli Soriano taught us about prayer. We know that prayer is talking to God. As it is in every act of communication, we expect an answer when we talk to God. Our God, Himself wants to relate with us properly during prayers. He wants to hear us and to answer us. Remember what Jesus said in John 16:24:
John 16:24 (KJV) Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
Our joy is full when we receive the answer to our prayers. So, the beauty of prayer lies in our ability to communicate effectively with the Father, and the Father hearing us and answering us.
Trying to set us in the right perspective on prayers, Bro Eli narrated to us certain guidelines on how we should pray. These guidelines are the doctrinal directives from the Bible governing our prayer life. No doubt about it, if we comply with the teachings of the doctrines on prayers, we will be sure that our prayers receive the attention of God. And if so it is, then certainly, we are sure of obtaining the substance of our petitions. Prayers shouldn't be taken as a casual religious exercise. God delights to hear His people call on Him.
Be not like the Hypocrite
In our prayer exercise, we shouldn't pray like the hypocrite. The hypocrite like to make a show of their prayers. They love praying where people will see and complement them. They like praying loud enough to be heard when in the midst of others. Their prayers are always outward demonstration. We should not pray like them. Most of them are not even right with God but in the gathering they make a lot of noise and outward show for people to know that they are praying. We shouldn't pray in humble reverence to God and in quiet simplicity.
Avoid vain Repetitions
According to Bro Eli, our God is not deaf that He doesn't hear us when we pray, which should inform our repeating our words in prayer before He can hear. He is not a wicked God who is hard to entreat. He is loving and caring. He is touch with the feelings of our infirmities. So, we don't need to repeat our words during prayers before He can hear. He knows what we have need of even before we ask Him. Therefore, when we come to God in prayer, let us pray straight to the point, He will hear us and answer us.
The various formats of prayers where different sects of people adopt a form of routines in prayers is not right. Praying with the rosary (as the Catholic do) is not biblical. Repeating chantings or counting rosary during prayers in wrong. God doesn't hear such prayers.
Postures in Prayers
Bro Eli Soriano, citing various instances from the Bible, pointed out to us that the most preferable posture during prayers is kneeling down. When we kneel down, it genders concentration and produces reverence towards God. Praying casually is not right. We should try to coordinate ourselves by adopting postures such as kneeling down during prayers. This doesn't mean that we can't pray using other postures like standing up. According to Bro Eli, if the environment or the situation doesn't afford us the opportunity to kneel, we can adopt other postures to pray.
Women should cover their heads; Men shouldn't cover their Heads
Bro Eli also told us that the Bible commands that women should cover their heads during prayers while the men should keep their heads uncovered. As christians, obeying the doctrines of Jesus Christ should be our priority. So, no matter our fashion style or dress code, let us comply with this instruction of God. Let the men not cover their heads during prayers while the women should have their heads covered.
May God strengthen our hearts to be doers of the doctrines not just ordinary hearers.