Prayer

How do I pray?
Adapted from a sermon given by David Bennett on February 16, 2003.
All Scripture verses are from the New Living Translation, unless otherwise noted.

This is most often the concern of the average person. Countless times I have heard people say... "I don't know how to pray" or "I'm not a good prayer." How can that be?

Your prayers may not be as eloquent as another person’s...yet you can still carry on a conversation. It’s really not that hard. So let me give you some pointers from Matthew 6 and Jesus’ teaching on prayer.

First... Pray with an Audience of One.

"And now about prayer. When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I assure you, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly. Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you." Matthew 6:5-6

Where is your focus when you pray?
Who is the center of your prayers?

Jesus speaks of a group of religious leaders and gives a warning to us...

"Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear extra long tassels on their robes." Matthew 23:5

We need to pray with an audience of one. Don't worry about what others think. Don't allow distractions to interfere. Only be concerned with God as you pray.

Second...Pray with a Child’s Eyes.

In other words... keep it simple.

"When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered only by repeating their words again and again. Don't be like them, because your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!" Matthew 6:7-8

Sometimes we feel as though we need to pray in a "religious" way.
We use words which we don't normally use.
We speak in a voice that is unnatural.
We feel that if we pray longer... God has to eventually hear!

Actually... we just need to be ourselves. If it is helpful to speak to God with religious words you don't normally use... that’s great. But for most of us... we just need to talk to God. And when we don't know what to say we have the promise that the Holy Spirit will speak on our behalf. Keep this passage in mind.

"And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words." Romans 8:26

So... Pray with an audience of one.
Pray with a child’s eyes.

Third...Pray with a Model in Mind.

We often pray the Lord’s prayer. It is a wonderful prayer that we sometimes memorize at a very young age. These words are so dear to us... but often they can be just words. Read them anew... from "The Message."

Our Father in heaven, reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what’s best-as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You're in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You're ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.

This is a wonderful model for us. There is another practical model which can offer you a structure for prayer. It is the simple acronym, ACTS.

Adoration... adoring God for who God is!
Confession... confessing your sins to God.
Thanksgiving... thanking God for His gifts and goodness.
Supplication... asking God to meet your needs.

Pray with an audience of one.
Pray with a child’s eyes.
Pray with a model in mind.

Finally...Pray with a Sincere Heart.

"If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins." Matthew 6:14-15

It is so important that we come before God with the right heart... because if we don't, God can see right through us. We can fool each other... we can't fool God!

So you see... prayer is that simple.
Pray with an audience of one.
Pray with a child’s eyes.
Pray with a model in mind.
Pray with a Sincere Heart.

Above all else... pray!