Is prayer an essential part of your relationship with God? If not, it should be. It must be! How do I know this? Because prayer was such an important part of Jesus’ life on earth. He prayed alone. He prayed around others. He prayed on the cross. Jesus wants you to pray. In fact, He cares so much about your prayer life that He specifically taught us how to pray.
Jesus taught the multitudes how to pray.
- Matthew 6:9-13 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On 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 do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
- During the Sermon on the Mount, without any prompting to do so, Jesus taught a great crowd the fundamentals of prayer. He did this because communion with God is such an important aspect of relationship with and obedience to Him.
Jesus taught His disciples how to pray.
- Luke 11:1-4 Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” 2 So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.”
- After His own personal prayer time, in response to a request from one of His disciples, Jesus taught the same fundamentals of prayer to His close followers. There is no hierarchy when it comes to prayer – the same fundamentals apply to everyone.
Jesus’ lesson on prayer was very clear. We must:
- Acknowledge God – He is Jehovah God, the only true God.
- Praise/Worship God – He alone is worthy of our adoration and reverence.
- Seek God's Will – We must put aside our personal motives and desires and seek what He wants.
- Depend on God – For sustenance and forgiveness.
- Emulate God – In response to His grace and mercy, we are to be gracious and merciful to others.
- Trust God – To guide us on the path of righteousness and protect us from evil.
- Bow to God – He is the sovereign ruler over all things. He has all the power and He alone is to be glorified by His creation. We are to surrender all we are to Him.
Here are four specific ways Christians learn to pray.
Circumstances
Extremely difficult situations can lead us to desperately honest prayers.
- Psalm 25:16 Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me, For I am desolate and afflicted.
- In the midst of tragedy, we begin to see more clearly how hopeless and helpless we are without God’s grace, mercy, protection, blessings, etc. God may use difficult times to draw your heart close to Him in prayer.
Connection
Ongoing intimate relationship with Jesus Christ will enhance our prayers.
- John 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
- Abiding (remaining) in close relationship with Jesus leads us to pray in faith and in accordance with what He desires, and all that He died for. Walking with Jesus daily will transform your prayer life.
Conviction
The indwelling presence of God’s Holy Spirit guides us in our prayers.
- Ephesians 6:18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-
- As we seek and surrender to the leading and filling of God’s Holy Spirit, our prayers are aligned with His plans and purposes. His Spirit is our comforter, teacher and guide – Spirit led prayer is powerful prayer.
Communication
God’s Holy Word provides a great number of examples of God-honoring prayer.
- Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.
- The Word of God informs and instructs us as we live out our faith. Many of the prayers included in scripture provide a model of how to pray and what to pray for. And some prayers in scripture show us how we shouldn’t pray. Study the prayers found in the Bible and apply what you learn to your own prayers.
Just as we mature in our faith, in our understanding of God, in our obedience to God, in the use of spiritual gifts, etc., we will mature in our prayers. Be a good and faithful student.
Never stop learning.
Never stop growing.
Never stop praying.
Prayer
Teach us to pray Father. Teach us to be open, honest, unselfish and trusting in our prayers. Teach us to pray for what You want, when You want it. Help us to see and appreciate Your responses to our prayers. Help us apply the teachings about prayer from Jesus, and all of scripture, to our relationship with You. May our prayers represent a heart and life fully surrendered to You. I praise You and pray to You in the name of my Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
