An invocation prayer is a type of prayer that invokes or calls upon God’s presence, blessing, guidance, and help. The word “invoke” means to appeal to or call upon for aid. Therefore, an invocation prayer is one that asks for God’s direct intervention and help.
Invocation prayers have been a part of Christian tradition since biblical times. Many examples can be found throughout the Bible of invocation prayers, where prophets, kings, disciples, and others call upon the name of the Lord for help and deliverance.
Here are some key things the Bible teaches about invocation prayers:
1. God invites us to call upon Him
The Bible encourages believers to call upon God in prayer. Psalms 50:15 says, “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” God wants His people to come to Him in prayer, calling upon His name for help and deliverance.
Isaiah 55:6 also says, “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.” This indicates we should readily call on the Lord while He is available to hear and answer our prayers.
2. Examples of invocation prayers
Many characters in the Bible lift up invocation prayers to God, giving us examples to follow. Moses cries out to the Lord for deliverance from the pursuing Egyptian army in Exodus 14:10-13. King David calls upon God for help and deliverance in many of his Psalms, such as Psalm 18:6 and Psalm 116:1-2.
The prophets frequently invoke God’s name and presence, such as when Elijah calls down fire from heaven in 1 Kings 18:36-37. We also see invocation prayers from Daniel, Jonah, Hezekiah, and many others throughout the Old Testament.
In the New Testament, the disciples cry out in an invocation prayer, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them…” in Acts 4:24. The Scriptures give us many examples to follow in calling upon the name of the Lord in prayer.
3. God answers invocation prayers
One key aspect of invocation prayers is that God promises to hear and answer them. Psalm 55:16-17 says, “But I call to God, and the LORD will save me. Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice.”
Likewise, Psalm 86:5 says, “For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.” God abounds in love towards those who call upon His name in prayer.
In Jeremiah 33:3, God says, “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” When we call to the Lord through invocation prayers, He hears us and responds.
4. We invoke God’s presence and power
Invocation prayers are meant to call upon the real presence and power of God into a situation. King Solomon prays an invocation prayer to dedicate the temple in 1 Kings 8, asking God to hear prayers directed toward the temple. Solomon asks God to literally inhabit the temple, so His presence will dwell there among the people of Israel as they pray toward it (1 Kings 8:28-30).
Likewise, when believers today offer invocation prayers, they are asking God to make His presence and power manifest in some tangible way in a situation, meeting, gathering, or even a physical place.
5. Prayer offered in Jesus’ name
For Christians today, invocation prayers are to be offered in the name of Jesus. John 14:13-14 records Jesus saying, “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”
Hebrews 4:16 also encourages us to “approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” We can boldly approach God’s throne in prayer because we come in the authority of Jesus’ name.
So modern Christian invocation prayers should be addressed to God the Father, asking for help and intervention in Jesus’ name.
6. God is invoked in corporate prayer
Invocation prayers are especially important for corporate gatherings of Christians. Found in Ephesians 3:14-21, Paul prays an invocation for the Ephesian church, asking for God’s power and presence to fill the believers. Corporate invocation prayers ask God to act among His people during the meeting, service, or gathering.
In 2 Chronicles 7, Solomon leads all Israel in an invocation prayer to dedicate the temple to the Lord. 1 Timothy 2:1 encourages prayer and petitions on behalf of all people. Believers today can call upon God’s presence and aid for the church, ministries, and outreach through corporate invocation prayers.
7. Part of a life lived in God’s presence
While invocation prayers specifically call upon God’s aid, they should be part of a lifestyle of walking with God daily. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 instructs believers to “pray without ceasing.” This doesn’t mean constantly mumbling prayers, but maintaining an attitude of prayer throughout our days and lives.
As Psalm 16:8 says, “I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” Keeping the Lord always before us and staying aware of His presence enables us to readily cry out to Him for help when needed.
8. God is omnipresent, but prayed to particularly
It’s important to understand that God is omnipresent, meaning He is everywhere at all times and cannot be contained in any location. As Solomon acknowledged at the temple dedication, “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!” (1 Kings 8:27).
Yet there is biblical precedent for invoking God’s presence and blessing into particular places, gatherings, and events. When believers in Christ today offer invocation prayers, they are respectfully asking for God’s help, presence, and blessing based on His promise to hear and answer prayer offered in Jesus’ name.
9. Examples of modern invocation prayers
Here are some examples of how invocation prayers could be worded for different Christian gatherings today:
– Lord, we call upon Your presence now as we gather to worship and praise You. Be exalted among us and fill our praise with Your power.
– Heavenly Father, we ask You to guide our church leadership meeting today with Your wisdom. Help us discern Your will. Lead us by Your Spirit.
– Lord Jesus, inhabit our worship space with Your glorious presence as we dedicate this place to You today. We consecrate it to Your service and praise.
– God of all grace, send Your Spirit over our missionary conference now. Empower these servants for Kingdom work. Give them vision, faith, and boldness as they carry the gospel abroad.
– Lord, we invoke Your aid upon the hurting and sick right now. Provide Your comfort, peace, and healing according to Your good purposes.
These examples demonstrate how believers can call upon God’s manifest presence and help for their specific situation, while respecting His omnipresence.
10. God responds sovereignly
While God promises to hear invocation prayers offered in faith, He responds sovereignly according to His perfect will. 1 John 5:14 says, “if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.” So believers should offer invocation prayers while submitting to God’s ultimate purposes.
Moses cried out to God to let him enter the Promised Land, but God refused, for His reasons (Deuteronomy 3:23-26). Invocation prayers are not ceremonial formulas that obligate God. He hears them and responds out of His infinite grace and according to His will.
So Christians can boldly make invocation prayers while trusting the loving purposes of our sovereign God, who always does what is right.
In summary, invocation prayers specifically call upon God’s presence and help in time of need. Biblical examples give us patterns to follow in offering invocation prayers for ourselves, the church, and the world around us. As believers in Christ, we have the privilege of invoking the aid of Almighty God, trusting Him to hear and answer these prayers according to His divine will and timing.