Is Prayer Worship?

It can be.
Humbling yourself before a Holy God, just thanking Him for being Him. Not asking for anything.

 

Yes - Prayer is worship. If you pray to false gods - idols, images etc - you are engaged in an act of Worship to false gods.

Prayer is a central part of all Christian worship services as well as Jewish and Islamic and Buddhists. Some songs are in the form of prayers as well as direct verbal prayers. To worship someone - you must always speak directly to them - and that is always and only done in prayer. (if that person is in heaven)

In Christ,

Bob

 

Greetings,

There are two definitions of the word "To Pray". One is communication with God, and in this sense it is an integral part of worship. However, the word also means "To ask". This is often used in more formal english: "I pray that the court has leniency on my client". In this asking sense, prayer is not worship.

The center of worship is Sacrifice. When Christians in Ancient rome were given the choice of Worship pagan gods or be martyred, they were not told to say a prayer or sing to the foriegn gods, but they were told to offer sacrifice to the gods. Sacrifice is the essence of worship.

peace

 

TP,

In this asking sense, prayer is not worship.

Scripture sets before us only Christ as our Mediator, Propitiation, Intercessor, and High Priest.

Prayer is worship. We bring our petitions before God and offer up praise and thanksgivings. We should pray only to the Triune God. False gods are idols who can not hear us.


Sacrifice is the essence of worship.

No. The essence of worship is divine service, God serving us. The one perfect sacrifice was made at Calvary for us not by us. There is no more an offering for sin.

 

Greetings,

You are forgetting other definitions of the word "to pray". If I say "I pray that the court has leniency on my client" I am NOT worshipping the Court. If I use the phrase "Pray tell". I am not worshiping you.

Prayer is not always used in the sense of worship, but has other meanings.

peace

 

TP,

I agree that another definition of "prayer" is "earnest request." But why would someone make an earnest request of someone who has no power to grant their request and may not even hear it?

In the communication of the attributes, we can be sure that Christ, who is both God and man, hears all the prayers of all the people all over the world who believe in Him. He has promised to be our Mediator and Intercessor with God the Father. Moreover, He has promised that whatsoever we ask in His name, He will grant it.

 

Prayer is asking God for something. Praise is telling Him how much you love Him.

It would be good to praise now, pray later!

Tam

 

A couple times a year at the church I attend, we have a special worship service devoted entirely to prayer based upon the ACTSS formula.

A - Adoration
C - Confession
T - Thanksgiving
S - Supplication
S - Submission

I find it to be a most worshipful service.

So the question was, "Is prayer worship?"
It can be and it should be!

Rob

 

TB,

I don't think I can agree with you that prayer is only asking something of God. For me, prayer is a way of communicating with God which can include praise, intercession and petition etc. Prayer is a way of developing my relationship with God and as much listening to Him as my sharing with Him.

My understanding of prayer is that when one prays to God, one is performing an act of worship inasmuch as one can bring to God things which are beyond human abilities. When one prays to God, one is acknowledging His greatness, His majesty and the place He has in one's life.

Blessings

Sheila

 

I also believe prayer is worship. Humbling yourself before God and praising Him.

 

Yes and no,

From what I've studied, the Greek and Hebrew words most often translated 'worship' in the KJV refer to the act of bowing down. So prayer is not 'worship' (proskuneo) since, but it can be accompanied by worship. In other words prayer does not equal prostration. But one may prostrate while one prays.

Another word for 'worship' means service and is used to refer to a wide variety of service including service in the temple. Latria or something like that. (I can't remember the Greek word off the top of my head for sure.) I would image prayer would be 'worship' in that sense. The reasonable act of 'service' in the KJV of Romans 12 is an act of 'worship' in the NIV.

Btw, I got my information about proskuneo from a retired Greek and Latin professor who also reads Hebrew. His argument is convincing, especially if you look up references to 'proskuneo' and the Hebrew equivilent. I think 'worship' is a very poor translation into our current English for this word. Translators arbitrarily use 'worship' in some contexts, and 'bow down' in others. John tried to bow down to an angel. He didn't ascribe deity to him. Many people bowed down to Jesus ('worshipped' Him) but that doesn't mean they all recognized His deity.

 

I believe prayer may be worship, or it may not be. Depends.

In Christ,
Neal

 

Matt 6:9-13

9 Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.


In my opinion - the bold text is an example of praise and worship in prayer. This passage was given to the disciples by the Lord as an example of things for which we should be praying about!

 

Actually, I am reading a book on the subject right now. Prayer is an action of worship but not worship itself. Biblical worship is sacrifice and offering. Prayer, singing, reading scripture are things we do as a result of worship. True Worship happens as we are in a right relationship with God. Well, thats my take from the early part of the book I am reading.

In Christ,
Brian

 

For me it is.

HankD

 

If the definition of Worship is "Worth-Ship". Or, ascribing Worth or Value to God.

Then prayer can be Worship...

However, as others have stated all prayer is not necessarily worship...

Or, is it?

If Worship is ascribing worth to God...

Then in one sense even a prayer of petition is an act of Worship because you are ascribing worth to God as the only one capable of meeting that need...

And, there were Prayers of Praise...

Why, not Prayers of Worship...

Just a thought.

 

If we care to use the Word of God as our guide - then prayer is always an act of worship and is always directed toward God.

But I understand that there "are" other views.

In Christ,

Bob