How Do You Pray?

Have you ever paid attention to how you pray? It is important. And it will reveal a lot about you. The scripture gives us many examples of the importance of the way we should pray, not in length of time, or posture, but in heart and purpose.

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Teach us to pray...." (Luke 11:1, NIV) The disciples, raised in Jewish homes, familiar with prayer and its importance in their lives, witnessed the power, dedication and commitment of Jesus in prayer. They were moved to seek such a connection with God. They came to Him with the plea, Lord, teach us to pray. Do you desire such a prayer life?

After a long battle with his heart and attitude that surfaced during his trials in life, Job took a turn in his prayer life: he prayed for his friends. His focus changed from questions regarding his own predicament and focused on the "messed up thoughts" of his so-called friends. After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10, NIV) No doubt, the purpose of praying for his friends was for their sake, not for "his" gain. God knows our heart, and motive. Do you pray for others solely for their sake and not for your gain?

James said that many of our prayers are given for selfish reasons. Do you pray with the right motive? Do you seek a "right heart" before God? When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motive, that you might spend what you get on your own pleasures. (James 4:3, NIV) God will guide us to a right motive when we pray.

Jesus prayed for God to be glorified. ...Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify You.... (John 17:2, NIV) Are all of your prayers for this purpose? Do you pray that all answers would be for God's glory? Every thought, every word, and every deed of Jesus was for this purpose. It should be for ours as well.

There are many things to consider when we pray. But sometimes we need to ask a more basic question: "Do you pray?" James also said, You have not because you ask not. (James 4:2)

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Who Will Pray For Us? (Part 1)

Christian have you noticed, rising up from deep inside you, an occasional longing for a real person of prayer to come into your life? Perhaps that longing comes as an intense interest in true prayer grows inside you. Or maybe you have appreciated the stories of great pray-ers like George Mueller, or "Praying" John Hyde, or E. M. Bounds. Maybe you have longed to relate with God in such a powerful way. Such desires come from the Holy Spirit. If you have had such longings, He has been talking to you.

God's great pray-ers are a unique group from todays average believer. These followers have learned the "work of waiting." They have learned to patiently seek the Father in heaven. They have learned to seek diligently through the scripture, waiting for it to release its truths that point the way. They have learned the discipline of carefully considering the presence of the Holy Spirit as they speak to the God of the throne.

Considering the number of professed believers today, very few have learned to pray in this "school of prayer." It isn't an easy school. It may be the most difficult endeavor you have ever undertaken. But a life without prayer is far more difficult.

Jesus promised, "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." (John 14:13-14, NIV)

Jesus invites you to know Him in such a way. It is here that life finds it's true purpose. In a day when true pray-ers seem so few and far between, and our own prayers seem to never leave the room, where is our hope? Who will pray for us? Jesus invites you to take the journey. He says, "When you pray, pray like this..." (Matthew 6:9ff).

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