TEFILLAH - PRAYER

Petra Hadžidaova
May 11
3 min read

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity.

Jeremiah 29:11-14

(1)

INTRODUCTION

We are to present our request to God by prayer and petition with thanksgiving. The Hebrew word for prayer is tefillah. It denotes more than simple wishing. It describes the process of contemplation and “judging oneself”. At the end of the day, all forms of verbal or non-verbal conversation directed at Abba are considered as prayer.

WHAT IS PRAYER?

We were not given the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. Even if ever faced with challenges, we are not to be anxious, as the Word says in Philippians 4:6-7, and adds, “... but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Prayer is an essential part of the life of every disciple of Yeshua. It is a way in which we primarily remain close to God and further develop our relationship with Him. It further provides us with:

answers,
helps us gain an understanding of God’s loving nature,
helps us find direction in life,
gives us the strength to avoid temptation,
aligns us with God’s will for our lives,
Alongside fasting empowers us to be obedient to God’s instructions,
can work miracles,
invites the Holy Spirit into our life
helps us become more like our LORD and Savior Yeshua. (2)

Prayer is not to be abandoned or neglected. Through prayer, by recognizing the source of our blessings, we bring ourselves to a higher spiritual level and, in so doing, become more fitting to receive those things we prayed so hard for. (3)

Both in the Christian and in the Jewish circles, prayer is at the end of the day considered as any form of communication we direct at Abba. Every conversation we direct at our Father is considered a prayer; every concern expressed, every cry, plea, all the gratitude, and petition. And not only words, but every sigh, every groan counts. Our silence can be a silent petition too. (4)

TEFILLAH - PRAYER

The Hebrew word for prayer is tefillah. It comes from the Hebrew root l’hitpalel, which stands for the process of accounting or contemplation, as well as “to judge oneself”. (3, 4)

Tefillah is more than simply expressing a wish. It is our entreaty to the Most High. It points us to the truth by inviting us to take account of the truth of ourselves, of our hearts, and the world around us. (4)

OTHER WORDS FOR PRAYER

There are other words used in the bible for prayer, among them atirah, sechina (supplication, begging), and siach (conversation). (5)

There is another name for prayer commonly used within Jewish Ashkenazi communities - “davening,”. It is a derivation of the Yiddish word for “prayer” – davennen.

CONCLUSION

Prayer is an essential part of every believer's life. Through our prayers, we remain rooted in God and further develop our relationship with Him. We receive answers, directions, and the strength to avoid temptation. It helps us become more like Yeshua with each day, and empowers us to be obedient. It also helps us understand God’s loving nature and will for our lives. It can work miracles in our lives and invites the Holy spirit into our lives.

The Hebrew word for prayer is tefillah and means much more than simple wishing. It speaks of the process of contemplation, the process of “judging oneself”. At the end of the day, all conversation, whether verbal or non-verbal, erected at Abba is considered as prayer.