Prayer in the New Testament
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| This article may not conform to the [Neutral point of view>neutral point of view] policy. A Wikipedian has [POV checknominated this article] to be checked for its neutrality. Discussion of this nomination can be found on the [Colossians 4:2]; [1 Thessalonians 5:17]). The People of God are challenged to include prayer in their everyday life, even in the busy struggles of marriage([1 Corinthians 7:5]) as it brings people closer to God. Jesus encouraged the disciples to pray in secret in their private rooms as a humble response to the prayer of the Pharisees, whose practices in prayer were regarded as inpious by the New Testament writers([Matthew 6:6]). Prayer is a public office of the Church, and seen even from what, according to the Book of Acts, were the first moments of the church ([Acts 3:1]). According to Luke, Jesus frequently seeks to pray alone, for hours at a time [Luke 6:12], as most pertinently seen before he was betrayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. Throughout the New Testament, Prayer is shown to be God's appointed method by which we obtain what He has to bestow ([Daniel 9:3]; [Matthew 7:7-11]; [Matthew 9:24-29]; [Luke 11:13]. Further, the Book of James says that the lack of blessings in life results from a failure to pray ([James 4:2]). The Apostles regarded prayer as the most important part of their life([Acts 6:4]; [Romans 1:9]; [Colossians 1:9]). As such, The Apostles frequently incorporated verses from Psalms into their writings: for example, [Romans 3:10-18] is borrowed from [Psalms 14:1-3] and other psalms. Thus, due to this emphasis on prayer in the early Church, lengthy passages of the New Testament are prayers or canticles, such as [Luke 1:46-55]; [Luke 1:68-79]; [John 17]; and [Ephesians 1:3-14]. Prayer of petition - "And whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive" ([Matthew 21:22]) - and contemplative prayer - Luke's phrase "Mary has chosen the best part" ([Luke 10:42]) - are also found throughout the Gospels.
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