Four differences between Old and New Testament prayer.

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There are four ways Old Testament prayer was different from New Testament prayer. We have many privileges as New Testament prayers. Let’s examine four of them.

First difference in prayer between old and new testament

The first way is that in the Old Testament, except for David’s Psalm-Prayers, most of the prayers in the O.T. are concerned with more secular or temporal blessings, like winning battles. But David’s prayers in the Psalms were more geared to establishing a spiritual communion with God.

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.” Psalms 42:1

The second difference

Secondly, in the New Testament, we are encouraged to pray for and seek after spiritual blessings. We enjoy a fuller revelation than those in the O.T. We have even been given specific directions on how to find and use our spiritual gifts.

It’s important to know our spiritual gifts. There are many tools to help. The reason it’s important is that we are at our best when we are fulfilling God’s purposes in our lives. We are at our best in every area of our lives, not just the spiritual. However, without knowing our gifts, we will never find ourselves living out the purposes for which God has called us.

The third difference

Thirdly, we can pray in Jesus’ name. Praying in Jesus’ name means we are praying to someone who understands and accepts our humanness. He knew what it felt like to be tempted, hungry, angry, in pain…Jesus experience every human emotion. So when we pray in Jesus’s name we are praying to someone who really gets our spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical pain.

This doesn’t mean we tack on “In Jesus’ name” to our prayers as some sort of rabbit’s foot. And we don’t have to use it every time we pray. But when we do we are submitting ourselves to the Higher Authority. However, it is because of the sacrifice of Jesus that we even dare use his name. It is a holy name. It is a name to be revered.

We are acknowledging the authority Jesus has on our lives as the son of God. The name of Jesus is never to be used any other way.

The fourth difference between Old Testament and New Testament prayer

Fourthly, New Testament praying means we have an intercessor, Jesus himself. John 17:6-26 which shows how Jesus prayed for the disciples. Jesus continues to pray for us. What a comfort.

Jesus even says that “Whatsoever you ask in my name, that will I do so that the father may be glorified in the son.” John 14:3

And fourth, we have the Holy Spirit to guide us in prayer and at times to pray those prayers we can’t even come up with.

“In the same way, the holy spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we should pray for, but the spirit himself intercedes….” Romans 8:26-27

We need to remember the advantages that are ours in prayer and make good use of them.

God bless and have a good day.