The What, Why & How of Prayer
Blog | Pastor Duane
Most statistical studies report that anywhere from 75-95% of people regularly “pray.” Yet prayer in this sense is pretty broad. Nothing is said of who people are praying to, what they are praying for, why or their methods of prayer. In fact, few have thought deeply about prayer.
In Luke 11 the story is told of Jesus’ disciples who were listening to Jesus pray. After he finished they realized that they really had never understood prayer. Something about the way Jesus communicated to God the Father struck them and they realized what they had assumed counted as “prayer” had very little semblance to the real thing. Thus, when he finished they said to Jesus “Lord, teach us to pray (Lk 11:1).” In response, Jesus gave them the now famous “Lord’s Prayer” not necessarily meant to be a mimic-ed mantra but to teach the heart, attitude and reasons for prayer.
The Why of Prayer
Here are some good quotes on prayer by Godly theologians and pastors of old who have gone before us. They help to answer questions like why we pray if God already knows and ordains everything and how God intends to use prayer as a means to accomplish his purposes.
“God has decreed that certain events shall come to pass, but He has also decreed that these events shall come to pass through the means He has appointed for their accomplishment. Prayer is not intended to change God’s purpose, nor is it to move Him to form fresh purposes…the design of prayer is that God’s will be accomplished in a good time and way.”
~ A.W. Pink
“Prayer is not designed to inform God, but to give man a sight of his misery; to humble his heart, to excite his desire, to inflame his faith, to animate his hope, to raise his soul from earth to heaven.”
~ Adam Clarke
“Prayer is not merely expressing our present desires. Its purpose is to exercise and train our desires, so that we want what he is getting ready to give us. His gift is very great, and we are small vessels for receiving it. So prayer involves widening our hearts to God.”
~ St. Augustine
“There is no way that Christians, in a private capacity, can do so much to promote the work of God and advance the Kingdom of Christ as by prayer…When God has something very great to accomplish for his church it is his will that prayer should precede it, the extraordinary prayers of his people. When God is about to accomplish great things for his church, he begins with a remarkable outpouring of his spirit of grace and a desire to pray.”
~ Jonathan Edwards
The What of Prayer
Perhaps the best way to learn what God expects of prayer is to study the prayers in the Bible. Many are recorded. In my own personal prayer life and when I pray for others, often my words are stolen right out of the pages of Scripture.
Moses |
Hannah |
Hezekiah |
Nehemiah |
Job |
David |
Solomon |
Jeremiah |
Daniel |
Habbakkuk |
Mary |
Jesus |
The Early Church |
Stephen |
Paul |
Jude |
John |
The How of Prayer
When it comes to the how of prayer, there are many means through which God has made the exercise of prayer possible. There are several different kinds of prayers and ways of praying.
Us to God
(1) Simple prayers – Short, sweet and to the point. Sometimes repeated and called “breath prayers.”
(2) Suffering prayers – Verbalizing physical or emotional pain to God.
(3) Searching prayers – Seeking wisdom or counsel regarding something or someone.
(4) Releasing prayer – Confessing sin and/or offering up one’s self in surrender to God.
(5) Building prayers – Asking God for spiritual growth and fruit.
(6) Covenanting prayers – Committing to God and promising obedience.
(7) Declarative prayers – Reciting and recounting the attributes and promises of God.
(8) Thanking prayers – Expressing gratitude to God for his great works.
God to Us
(1) Resting – Waiting on God and being still before him.
(2) Unceasing – Jesus is ever interceding at the throne on our behalf.
(3) Meditating – God filling our minds with his word (not emptying like eastern forms of meditation).
Us for Others
(1) Family – For immeditate family members and then extended relatives.
(2) Friends – Those in our inner circle of relationship.
(3) Church – The brothers and sisters in Christ we are living life with.
(4) Needy – The financially, physically, spiritually, or emotionally downtrodden.
(5) Lost – Those who are not yet Christians.
(6) Authorities – Pastors and political leaders of the land.
The Five Senses of Prayer
(1) Mouth – Out loud with words, closed mouth with silent prayers from your mind, or tongues.
(2) Ears – Tuning out sounds of the world to focus on the Word of God.
(3) Eyes – Open to see the realities of God’s creation, closed to be freed from distractions, or tears.
(4) Feel – Various postures: kneeling, prostrate, open/closed/joined hands, head bowed or looking up.
(5) Nose – Calmed breathing or focus on the design of God’s world.
