Prayer is such a HUGE topic. There is so much that could be addressed when approaching this subject. People often have many questions when it comes to praying. In the end, though, I'm afraid our ongoing habit is this: we talk about prayer, but we don't actually pray.
So, that's my goal in this blog: I want to challenge you to pray more.
Now, I'm not saying that you have to pray for ________ minutes. You should take as much time as you need to pray. If you can pray about all that matters to God and you in 5 minutes... by all means, just pray for five minutes. However, I highly doubt five minutes will always be enough. If five minutes is always enough time--well, you likely don't know what you should be praying about (or what you can be praying about). But don't become a legalist. If five minutes is all you need-- FINE!
I not only want to challenge you to pray more, I also want to challenge you to use the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) as a model for your own prayers. Let's not forget that Jesus was asked by His disciples: "Lord, teach us to pray." And He did--He did teach them HOW to pray. So the Lord's Prayer isn't just for memorization (though it's good to memorize those verses), nor is it intended for recitation (though, I don't think anything is wrong or bad about repeating the Lord's prayer as a prayer). However, Jesus wants us to pray in a manner consistent with what He said in Matthew 6:9-13.
We should think about God as our "heavenly Father". What does that mean? What does that truth mean to you? Have you pondered lately the truth that you are God's adopted son or daughter? Have you pondered what it cost God to supply that privilege to you?
Do you regard (or treat) God as holy? That's what Jesus meant when He prayed: "Hallowed by Thy name". He is wanting us to pray that God be treated as holy in this earth... and in case you haven't noticed, most people (even in the church) don't see God in the beauty of His holiness.
Do you want Jesus to be the King and Lord of your life? Do you want God's will accomplished on this earth? Do you seek to obey the King of Kings? Do you want others to obey the King? Do you long for the day when Jesus will return and establish His eternal Kingdom forever? If so, get praying: "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
What do you have need of? Do you need money for your rent? Do you have food to eat? Do you have enough money to share with those who are in need? Do the missionaries you care about have all of their needs met? Is someone you love ill and in need of healing? Do you need more patience? Are you lacking self-control in some area? Does your pastor need God's anointing for his preaching (he does!)? Then pray: "Give us this day our daily bread." NOTICE: we pray for today's grace, not tomorrow's or next week's.
Have you sinned lately? Trust me, I already know the answer to that. Confess, repent, lay out your transgressions before the Lord and He will be faithful to forgive and cleanse you (1 John 1:9). What a blessing--Jesus paid for our sin debt in full. We are forgiven by His grace (Ephesians 1:7). Still, God calls us to confess in prayer: "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors."
Any besetting sins in your life (Hebrews 12:1)? Are there one or two sins that you just can't seem to defeat? Ask for help. Ask the Spirit to give you the spiritual power to kill the sin in your life (Romans 8:13). Depend on Christ--who lives in you and who was sinless in His earthly life--to empower you to say NO to sin and YES to righteousness. Pray: "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."
Will you do it? Will you devote yourself to prayer? Will you commit to obeying the Apostle Paul today (and every day)?? He said, "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). That doesn't mean pray instead of go to work. It means pray while you are at work. It doesn't mean pray instead of driving your car, it means pray while driving your car. Ultimately, God wants you to stay in ongoing, continual contact with Him all day. In other words, never "hang up the phone" when it comes to talking to God--keep the line open and speak to Him regularly. He delights to spend time with you.
"Lord Jesus, teach us TO pray." Amen.
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