What is Prayer?
Recently, I asked a fellow to come to prayer meeting and he said, “No”. I asked, “Why brother?” and he said, “Cause, it’s jut not for me. I don’t know how to pray”.
Today, I want us all go back to the foundation. (Mr. Miyagi: Wash off, wash on) So, you can teach others, and learn and bring others here with us and pray!
“Does God really listen to us when we pray? If he doesn’t, then what’s the point in praying? If he does hear us, he already knew what we were going to pray about, so, again, why pray? Can you tell me why there are so many unanswered prayers.”
That is one of the greatest question that you can ask! Don’t think you are any less spiritual because you are honestly wrestling with these questions!
Disciples: They’ve never asked, “Jesus, how can we cast out demons? How can we walk on water? How can we share the gospel?” No, but the only question we see asked is the question, “How can we pray?”
So, what is prayer?
The New City Catechism helps children learn the core doctrines of the Christian faith via 52 questions and answers. Question 38 says this, “What is Prayer? Prayer is pouring out our hearts to God in praise, petition, confession of sin, and thanksgiving.”
Prayer is about connecting to God and learning to love him. It is about being God-centered and about learning to look at life from God’s perspective. It is about finding out what God wants.
“My secret is quite simple. I pray.” Mother Teresa
How Do We Pray?
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” (Rom 8:26).
“The best prayers have more often groans that words. When you pray, rather let your heart be without words than your words be without heart.” – John Bunyan
God always answers prayers but his answer isn’t always “Yes”. Sometimes his answer may be “No”, or “Wait”. God even said “No” to Paul. He prayed not once but three times for God to remove an ailment, his “thorn in the flesh”. But it was not taken away.
“To keep me from being conceited because of these surprisingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ ” (2 Cor 12:7–9).
Hour of prayer, hour of power! “Prayer does not fit us for the greater work, prayer is the greater work!” Oswald Chamber