Prayer may be considered from several aspects: asking God for help, praise, complaint, sorrow, etc. This teaching will consider prayer from God’s point of view. In the Old Testament, the offerings made to God were a way to fellowship with him, which was pleasing to him. In the Bible, prayer is also associated with incense as a sweet fragrance to God. The Scriptures also tell us that prayer is God’s delight and a wonderful way to fellowship and spend time with God.
Speaking in tongues as prayer is completely from God’s point of view since we do not know the words being spoken. When we speak in tongues, we magnify God, we bless and give thanks with the spirit. We know this not because we understand what we are saying but because God’s Word tells us so. In Corinthians, there is a reference to the Book of Isaiah, giving us insight into the importance of speaking of tongues. In Isaiah, God warns the Israelites of the impending attack from the Assyrian empire and that shortly, they will be hearing a tongue they do not understand. If they believed him, they could have rest and refreshing but if not, they would definitely hear the Assyrian tongue. Israel chose not to believe. This is quoted in I Corinthians to indicate that speaking in tongues is a sign to those who believe not. If they would believe, they too could enjoy the rest and refreshing.
God also gives us some wonderful prayers in the Book of Ephesians that were written by Paul the Apostle. The aims of these prayers help us to understand God’s perspective on prayer.