How to Pray
What is prayer?
- Think about the time that you spend with a friend over coffee or a meal, and just talk and share your thoughts? Prayer is like that.
- Prayer is talking to the God you love so you can get to know Him and share your thoughts.
- As God’s children we call on Him like we would our earthly father. “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” Romans 8: 15-16. The term “Abba” is the Aramaic for “Father”. This is the term that belonged to the familiar, daily conversation of little children talking to their father. It is an Aramaic “nursery word”, the equivalent of “papa” or “daddy”. It was such an intimate word that the Jews of Jesus’ day hesitated to use it in reference to God. This expression could be translated, “Father, dear Father”.
Jesus taught His disciples how to pray. “This, then, is how you should pray:
‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Matt 6: 9-13
- Praise God for who He is.
- Pray that the will of God will be done in your life just like it is in heaven.
- Pray for your needs this day and thank Him for them.
- Confess your sins
- Pray for a Christ-like heart of forgiveness.
- Pray for help for yourselves and others. Jesus did in John 17.
Prayer is an important part of our Christian life.
- Jesus prayed regularly. “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Mark 1: 35
- Jesus prayed before making major decisions. “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray (possibly Mt Arbel), and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:” Luke 6: 12-13
- “Pray for each other so that you may be healed.” James 5: 16
- “Pray for those who persecute you,” Matthew 5:44
- Pray for wisdom. “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God…” James 1: 5
- Pray as a church. “My house will be called a house of prayer.” Matthew 21: 13
Pray in the name of Jesus. “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.” John 14: 13
- We come before the Father because the Son sent us.
- We represent Jesus when we pray.
- It means that you come to the Father with the knowledge that your only right in approaching Him is that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and that He Himself has sent you to the Father. It means that you know that you are totally unworthy of receiving anything from God and that the only reason God should grant your requests is that you come in Jesus’ name. It is not a magic formula, but a heart attitude.
Pray with faith. “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything form the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.” James 1: 6-8
Pray as the Holy Spirit leads you. “…because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” Romans 8: 14
Pray continually. Be in a mind of prayer at all times. “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18
God wants to hear from us. “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20. God wants us to talk with Him.
God is honored by our prayers. “Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” Revelation 5: 8
