Prayer is one of the most important aspects of your personal walk with God. Like any relationship, communication is key.
Depending on where you are on your journey, you may not feel comfortable making requests from God yet (even though he does encourage it (Matthew 7:11)!), but just know that praying (talking to God) AT ALL is a good start. Even if it’s just asking for forgiveness. Even if it’s just giving an account of your day. The more you pray the more the Holy Spirit will guide you on how to pray and what to pray for and your own unique personal relationship with your Father in heaven will form.
The following section is a quick guide on some do’s and don’ts when it comes to prayer, but I want to emphasize that this is one of the most personal aspects of your walk with God and each person will do it differently. However, there are some biblical guidelines to take in to consideration when praying, as well as some examples based on great men of the bible that we should seek to be like.
So, what is prayer? Simply put, prayer is just talking to God.
We are commanded to pray several times in the new testament:
(8) I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands,
without wrath and doubting.
1 Timothy 2:8
(16) Rejoice evermore.
(17) Pray without ceasing.
(18) In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
concerning you.
1 Thess. 5:6-8
We should also prey with a repentant heart (giving thanks and then asking forgiveness is usually how I start my prayers before I start making requests):
(18) If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
Psalms 66:18
I’m sure most of you have heard the famous “Christian” prayer:
(9) After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
(10) Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in 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 lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Matthew 6:9-13
You may be shocked when I tell you that this is NOT a Christian prayer (try telling that to a Catholic)! We need only look at the context of who Jesus is talking to.
Unsaved Jews.
There is no Christian present at this sermon (the sermon on the mount).
We don’t need to start our prayers with “OUR” Father.
We are of the body of Christ.
We can say, “Abba, Father.”
(14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
(15) For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye
have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
(16) The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the
children of God:
Romans 8:14
Notice also that the prayer Jesus gives to the Jews on the sermon on the mount doesn’t end with “In the name of Jesus Christ,” as we are commanded to do in John 14:13:
(13) And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the
Father may be glorified in the Son.
John 14:13
There are three key guidelines for prayer that we NEED to practice:
1) We pray TO God the father (Acts 12:5)
2) We pray IN the name of Jesus Christ (John 14:13)
3) We pray THOUGH the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 6:18)
After those three things, and coming to God with a repentant heart, Prayer becomes a little more subjective. A little more personal.
The bible does lay out some things to pray for, such as:
1) The 2nd advent of Christ (Rev. 22:20)
2) Healing for the sick (James 5:13)
3) Wisdom (James 1:5)
4) Salvation of souls (1 Cor. 19-20)
5) For our enemies (Matt. 5:14)
And the list goes on (see the video sermon linked at the bottom of this page for more information on this).
The following are some guidelines to prayer based on the actions of old and new testament saints:
1) Bowing the knees (Phillipeans 2:10)
2) Face on the earth (Gen 17:3)
3) Lifting up hands (1 Tim. 2:8)
4) Bowing the head (Gen 24:48)
5) Saying, “Amen” [“Let it be so”] (1 Cor. 14:16)
6) With eyes closed (Luke 18:13)
7) With eyes open (John 17:1)
8) With fasting (1 Cor. 7:5)
9) In passing / on the spot (Nehemiah 2:3-5)
The bible also lays out some guidelines on how NOT to pray:
1) With vain repetition [mantras/Our Father and Hail Mary’s] (Matt 6:7)
2) With materials like statues or prayer rugs (Nehemiah 2:3-5)
3) Yoga/Emptying the mind (Matt. 12:43)
4) To the Saints (1 Tim 2:5)
For a more in depth study on prayer, including what to pray for and conditions to prayer, please listen to the following sermon: