PRAYER BASICS

God has given prayer as a means of grace, to help believers cultivate their relationship with Him. If the Bible is essential as spiritual nourishment, prayer is indispensable as breath. God talks to man through the Bible and man in turn talks to God through prayer. As those created in the image of God, people have the capacity to interact with Him. But because of fall, only those recreated in Christ Jesus have access through prayer.

Prayer is a spiritual exercise which requires a lot of discipline. It is both communing and communicating with God. The Holy Spirit is the enabling agent. Proper understanding of the Word of God is essential to pray effectively. The Bible teaches a lot about prayer and has many model prayers.

HOW NOT TO PRAY:

It is important to note that in Matthew 6:5-8, Christ teaches, how not to pray.  Prayer is not to be offered in order to receive men’s approval. Thoughtless words and repetitions are to be avoided. In the prayer that Jesus taught, He addresses God as Father. There is no repetition of Father, Lord, God or Master. No one posture is advocated.    

WHEN PRAYER IS INEFFECTIVE:

Sin in life: Psalm 66:18, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”  King Saul was full of jealousy, hatred and malice toward David. Yet he prayed to God but was not heard. (I Samuel 28:6)

Disobedience to God’s Word: Jeremiah 37:2 says, Zedekiah, his servants and the people did not obey the words of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah the prophet. Yet, in the next verse, Zedekiah asks Jeremiah, “Please pray to the Lord our God on our behalf.” Such prayer was absolutely useless.

Wrong motives: James 4:3, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.”

Absence of faith: Mark 11:24, “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.”

WHAT IS PRAYER?

Prayer is humble opening of one's whole being to God and communing with Him. Prayer is communicating in silence or through spoken words. Prayer is expression of love for God, praise for His glory/greatness, appreciation for His goodness/grace, thanksgiving for blessings received and presenting ones needs and the needs of others to God in faith.  

HOW SHOULD ONE PRAY?

Prayer should be offered in an attitude of humility, with God as the ultimate object of all focus and trust.

Prayer should be offered to God the Father, even as taught by the Lord Jesus Christ. This is a privilege for those enjoy this grace relationship.   

Prayer should be offered through Christ the mediator. I Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

Prayer should always include worship. “Through Him then, let us constantly offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.”  (Hebrews 13:15.) Praise and thanksgiving together form worship.

Prayer should include confession of known sins in life, as they hinder fellowship with God and effectiveness in praying. (Isaiah 59:2)

ANSWERS TO PRAYER:

God always answers prayers, in one of three ways. There are direct answers, denied answers and delayed answers. Prayer should be offered in full submission to God’s will. The Lord Jesus Christ prayed in the garden of Gethsemane in total submission. He prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup to pass from me, yet not as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 26:39) God, the all knowing Father, knows what is best for His children. In great wisdom, He withholds what is not according to His will and so is not good for His own. His will only is desirable and His timing always perfect.  

There are promises such as, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done to you.” They need to be balanced with verses like, “If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” God delights in answering prayers which are offered in total submission to His will.   

GOAL OF PRAYER: 

The first three requests of the Lord’s Prayer should be the goal of every prayer. God’s name be hallowed. His kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Any prayer should focus on God’s will, purpose and glory being accomplished.  

APPLICATION:

We need to be disciplined and grow in the spiritual exercise of prayer.

Humble trust and desire for God’s glory are most important.

Prayer should be offered in total submission to God will.

God’s Word should govern the content of prayer.