Prayer as a Means to God's Ultimate End

Prayer is a direct address to God, an intercourse of the soul with the divine, which can be expressed orally or mentally, and can be occasional or constant ^[3]. It is described in Scripture through various actions such as "beseeching the Lord" (Exodus 32:11), "pouring out the soul before the Lord" (1 Samuel 1:15), and "drawing near to God" (Psalm 73:28) ^[3]. The practice of prayer presupposes a belief in God's personality, His ability, and His willingness to engage with humanity ^[3].

The New Testament emphasizes prayer as a means to align with God's ultimate purposes. The Apostle Peter exhorts believers to be "clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray," because "the end of all things is near" (1 Peter 4:7 BSB) ^[1]. The New American Standard Bible renders this similarly, stating, "the end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer" (1 Peter 4:7 NASB) ^[2]. This suggests that prayer is not merely a personal spiritual exercise but a crucial activity in light of eschatological realities.

Jesus himself provided a model for prayer, commonly known as the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4) ^[4]. This prayer, while succinct, is considered to embody a wide range of spiritual needs and desires ^[4]. It contrasts with the "vain repetition of pagan prayers" and serves as a model of simplicity ^[8]. Notably, Jesus frequently addressed God as "Father," a rare practice in Jewish prayer at the time ^[8]. The Lord's Prayer is seen as the comprehensive type for universal Christian prayer, though its spirit is also guided by Jesus' prayers in Gethsemane and John 17 ^[5]. It contains no explicit allusion to Christ's atonement or the Holy Spirit's offices, yet all Christian prayer is based upon it ^[5].

Prayer is commanded in Scripture (Isaiah 55:6; Matthew 7:7; Philippians 4:6) and is to be offered to God (Psalm 5:2; Matthew 4:10), to Christ (Luke 23:42; Acts 7:59), and to the Holy Spirit (2 Thessalonians 3:5) ^[6]. Access to God through prayer is made possible "by Christ" (John 10:7, 9; 14:6; Romans 5:2; Ephesians 2:13; 3:12; Hebrews 7:9, 25; 10:19; 1 Peter 3:18) and "by the Holy Spirit" (Ephesians 2:18) ^[7]. This access is obtained through faith (Acts 14:27; Romans 5:2; Ephesians 3:12; Hebrews 11:6) and follows reconciliation with God (Colossians 1:21-22) ^[7]. Believers are encouraged to pray "always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit," encompassing all forms of prayer and branches of it, including deprecation of evils, petitions for good, and thanksgiving ^[12]. This continuous prayer stands in opposition to those who do not pray, or who pray only in times of distress ^[12].

The prayers of God's people are understood to contribute to God's ultimate justice and judgment, as seen in Revelation 8:3-4, where the prayers of saints, mixed with incense, reach God's presence, indicating that God hears them and is prepared to act ^[11]. This suggests a dynamic relationship where human prayer participates in the unfolding of divine purposes. The Apostle Paul frequently concluded his letters with prayers for peace and grace, demonstrating a consistent awareness of the Lord Jesus' presence with His people and His role in granting peace (Romans 15:33; Philippians 4:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:16) ^{[9, 10]}. The "Lord of peace" (Jesus Christ) is capable of giving peace "always" and "in every way," an appropriate title given the potential for disunity within the Christian community ^[10].

Sources

I Peter “I Peter 4:7 (BSB) — The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray.”
1 Peter “1 Peter 4:7 (NASB) — The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Prayer — Is converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant, ejaculatory or formal. It is a "beseeching the Lord" (Ex. 32:11); "pouring out the soul before the Lord" (1 Sam. 1:15); "praying and crying to heaven" (2 Chr. 32:20); "seeking unto God and making supplication" (Job 8:5); "drawing near to God" (Ps. 73:28); "bowing the knees" (Eph. 3:14). Prayer presupposes a belief in the personality of God, his ability and willingness to hold inter”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Lords Prayer — the prayer which Jesus taught his disciples. (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4) "In this prayer our Lord shows his disciples how an infinite variety of wants and requests can be compressed into a few humble petitions. It embodies every possible desire of a praying heart, a whole world of spiritual requirements; yet all in the most simple, condensed and humble form, resembling, in this respect, a pearl on which the light of heaven plays."--Lange. "This prayer contains four great general sentiments, which constitute the very soul of religion,--sentiments which”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Lord's Prayer — The name given to the only form of prayer Christ taught his disciples (Matt. 6:9-13). The closing doxology of the prayer is omitted by Luke (11:2-4), also in the R.V. of Matt. 6:13. This prayer contains no allusion to the atonement of Christ, nor to the offices of the Holy Spirit. "All Christian prayer is based on the Lord's Prayer, but its spirit is also guided by that of His prayer in Gethsemane and of the prayer recorded John 17. The Lord's Prayer is the comprehensive type of the simplest and most universal prayer."”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prayer — Commanded -- Isa 55:6; Mt 7:7; Php 4:6. To be offered To God. -- Ps 5:2; Mt 4:10. To Christ. -- Lu 23:42; Ac 7:59. To the Holy Spirit. -- 2Th 3:5. Through Christ. -- Eph 2:18; Heb 10:19. God hears -- Ps 10:17; 65:2. God answers -- Ps 99:6; Isa 58:9. Is described as Bowing the knees. -- Eph 3:14. Looking up. -- Ps 5:3. Lifting up the soul. -- Ps 25:1. Lifting up the heart. -- La 3:41. Pouring out the heart. -- Ps 62:8. Pouring out the soul. -- 1Sa 1:15. Calling upon the name of the Lord. -- Ge 12:8; Ps 116:4; Ac 22:16. Crying to God. -- Ps 27:7; 34:6. Drawing”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Access to God — Is of God -- Ps 65:4. Is by Christ -- Joh 10:7, 9; 14:6; Ro 5:2; Eph 2:13; 3:12; Heb 7:9, 25; 10:19; 1Pe 3:18. Is by the Holy Spirit -- Eph 2:18. Obtained through faith -- Ac 14:27; Ro 5:2; Eph 3:12; Heb 11:6. Follows upon reconciliation to God -- Col 1:21,22. In Prayer -- See Prayer. De 4:7; Mt 6:6; 1Pe 1:17. In his temple -- Ps 15:1; 27:4; 43:3; 65:4. To obtain mercy and grace -- Heb 4:16. A privilege of saints -- De 4:7; Ps 15:1; 23:6; 24:3,4. Saints have, with confidence -- Eph 3:12; Heb 4:16; 10:19,20. Vouchsafed to repenting sinners -- See Repen”
Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 6:9: 6:9-13 The Lord’s Prayer is similar in form to a common Jewish prayer (the qaddish). Jesus gave this prayer to his followers as a succinct expression of their new faith. 6:9 Pray like this: In contrast to the vain repetition of pagan prayers (6:7-8), “the Lord’s Prayer” is a model of simplicity. • Jews rarely addressed God as Father, but Jesus did so in every prayer but one (Mark 15:34). • may your name be kept holy: God’s name is profaned by the sin of his people (Isa 29:22-24; Jer 34:15-16; Ezek 39:7; Amos 2:7).”
2 Thessalonians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Thessalonians 3:16: 3:16 The final prayer echoes Jesus’ blessing in John 14:27 (cp. Num 6:26) and contrasts with the situation these believers faced in Thessalonica (2 Thes 1:4-10; 1 Thes 2:14). Paul was always conscious of the Lord Jesus’ presence with his people (Rom 15:33; Phil 4:9).”
2 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Thessalonians 3:16: Lord of peace--Jesus Christ. The same title is given to Him as to the Father, "the GOD of peace" (Rom 15:33; Rom 16:20; Co2 13:11). An appropriate title in the prayer here, where the harmony of the Christian community was liable to interruption from the "disorderly." The Greek article requires the translation, "Give you the peace" which it is "His to give." "Peace" outward and inward, here and hereafter (Rom 14:17). always--unbroken, not changing with outward circumstances. by all means--Greek, "in every way." Most of the oldest manuscript”
Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 8:3: 8:3-4 The prayers of God’s people ask for God’s ultimate justice and judgment (6:10-11; see also 5:8; Ezra 9:5-6; Ps 141:2; Dan 9:21). The mixture of incense and prayers that reaches God’s presence shows that God hears their prayers (see Rev 6:9-11) and is prepared to act.”
Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 6:18: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit,.... The last weapon is prayer, and takes in all sorts of prayer, mental and vocal, public and private; and every branch of it, as deprecation of evils, petitions for good things, and thanksgiving for mercies: and which should be used always: this stands opposed to such who pray not at all, or who have prayed, but have left it off; or who pray only in distress, and it suggests, that a man should pray as often as he has an opportunity; and particularly, that he should make use of it in times of darkness, ”

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