Brother Eli was able to teach us further about the doctrine of prayer as he started and the day three of the mass indoctrination he made us to understand that praying is not something that is simply done. And on this day 4, the content of prayer was analysed unlike what the Catholic faithful believes prayer is to be recited as in the case of "Hail Mary mother of God………" we learnt that prayer is not a narrative or telling of stories but It is making a request to God. We are the one who is to pray and not commanding or passing the obligation to Mary who is dead and yet to be resurrected. Despite her Death, the Catholic ask her to pray for them now and the our of their death. Prayer is no vain repetition but a petition
Act 1 Vs 24, when Judas the traitor who betrayed Jesus was to be replaced by the Apostles, they prayed for Judas replacement to complete the 12 again because from the beginning the disciples were 12. They found the two candidate whom they felt suitable but they sought God in prayers before they casted their vote. The prayer was brief because they prayed for what they needed at that moment. We learnt that pray don't need to be long for God to hear us. For example you can pray for a sick wife for healing, pray before boarding a plane for safety.
Phil 4vs16,He Further taught about the importance of thanksgiving in prayers, because while making the request, you should believe that everything you have prayed will surely receive answer.
In Mt 15 vs 36, we learnt the pattern of prayer where Jesus gave thanks to God. And that is why 1 Tim 4 vs 4 teaches that every creature is good and not to be refused if it is received with thankgiving.
When should we pray
We learnt that some people pray only when they are sick, having problems and challenges but whether in difficult situation or not we should pray . To pray at all time is to maintain a line of communication to God. Nowadays people now have their phones always that they don't remember God.
LK 18 admonishes us to pray day and night. Some people would pray 40 days straight repeating same thing over again. We must pray without ceasing as instructed in 2 Tim 1 vs 13, for example , we must pray before we sleep and as we wake up. Even if there is a storm God will always hear us because before we even prayed he know what is in our heart.
1 Tim 2 vs 22 We also learnt that one who calls on God should do it out of a pure heart( 1 pet 3 vs 10) because the eyed of the Lord is over the righteous. If we pray with evil Heart, God won't listen to us .
Act 24 vs 16 we were taught that we must not have anything against God and against man. Mat 15 vs 19-20 we must avoid things that defiles a man, because God can see the Heart and the Heart is deceitful above all things ( jer 17 vs 10). For instance when you are praying to God and you hate your wife , your prayers would be in vain.
I learnt that we must purify our heart as we cannot just pray without a pure Heart. That we should not expect God to hear us , if we yell at our wives, cheat and even beat her (1 pet 3 vs 7; Jn 9 vs 31)
Act 22 vs 16, We learnt that in baptism sin is forgiven and you can then God on the name of God,
1 chr 7 vs 14 the condition of God is not difficult, it is just to leave the evil ways and God will hear us.
Psalms 119 vs 11 it is the will of to clean our heart, Like using the soap to wash our clothes. We must use the word to purify our heart. 1 pet 1 vs 22, Jn 17 vs 17, the truth is the word of God, and purification is by obeying the word of truth. 2 Tim 2 vs 19 teaches every one who must pray should depart from iniquity, he must depart from vices, like womanizing, and following the way of the flesh. We must keep away from thing that is evil according to Gal 5 vs 20-21 if not your prayers are in vain.
Mt 12 vs 33_34 I learnt that when the Heart is evil, what comes out of the mouth and nose tongue would be evil; LK 6 vs 45, the abundance of the heart come out from the mouth. A good man brings out all that is in the treasure of his heart, we can't use the same tongue we use to lie, slander, curse and even deception to pray. We must first remove deception ( 1 pet 3 vs 10)
Mt 5 vs 27; James 5 vs 12, I learnt that our conversation must be truthful, meaning yes when it is yes and no when it is no. That I must speak to my frankly; do not make promises when you are not sure because when God sees deception in our hearts and tongue he won't listen. Therefore , I must learn let the word of God control my tongue.
Prov 31 vs 26 your tongue should no be a whip so the law of kindness should be in our tongues
In conclusion, Brother Eli admonish us to depend on God when we are trouble. He gave examples of his persecution in the Philippines and how God delivered him; he shared his accident experience and all he asked for was the mercy of God. That the right way of praying is our weapon in life and our entire being should be in conformity with the will of God.
I also learnt not to use the name of God for jokes. It is an incomparable thing for God to listen to us because no amount of money or wealth is equal to to God's answered prayers.
When we meet trouble there is a God we can depend on.