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Did You Think To Pray?
Bible study on prayer.

Several questions are asked about pray in the hymn titled Did You Think To Pray? Some deal with thinking to pray, while others deal with the manner in which we pray and things we pray about.

Did You Think To Pray
Prayer is something we can forget to do if we're not careful, especially if things are going well. So we have to make a conscious effort to pray, or we can go through the whole day without praying. When we pray as we should, though, we find that we feel better, and we're more fruitful in the Lord's kingdom.

  • "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil" (1 Th. 5:16-22).

In the song Did You Think To Pray? we're asked these questions about remembering to pray, which can help us evaluate ourselves.

Ere you left your room this morning,
Did you think to pray?

When you met with great temptation,
Did you think to pray?

When your heart was filled with anger,
Did you think to pray?

When sore trials came upon you,
Did you think to pray?

When your soul was bowed in sorrow,
Balm of Gilead did you borrow
At the gates of day?

The song reminds me to pray every day, especially at the start of my day. And it reminds me to pray in times of trouble.

Besides this, the hymn reminds me to pray for people who are in trouble, not only my brethren, but others whom I hear about.

What Did You Pray About?
What we pray about is as important as remembering to pray. For example, our prayers shouldn't be vain repetition but sincere communication to God from our hearts.

  • "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words" (Matt. 6:7, NKJV).

So it's possible to pray a lot, but for our prayers to be in vain because of the content.

In the hymn Did You Think To Pray?, we're reminded of things to pray for.

Did you sue for loving favor,
As a shield today?

By His dying love and merit,
Did you claim the Holy Spirit
As your guide and stay?

Did you plead for grace, my brother,
That you might forgive another
Who had crossed your way?

James and Philippians contain two of the many Scriptures that teach us how to pray, and the things we should pray for.

  • "Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much" (Jas. 5:13-16).
  • "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:4-7).

In the Name of Jesus
We're also reminded in the hymn, Did You Think To Pray?, to pray in the name of Jesus.

In the name of Christ our Savior,
Did you sue for loving favor,
As a shield today?

The word "name", as it's used here, denotes the power and authority of Jesus. Thus, it's by the authority of Jesus, as given Him by the Father, that we can address our heavenly Father in prayer.

  • "'In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full'" (Jn. 16:23-24).
  • "This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him" (1 Jn. 5:14-15).

Conclusion
I hope these thoughts help us to remember to pray, and to pray in a manner that pleases God.

Have you been thinking to pray lately? And are you praying as you should?