Prayer is the conversation of the believing heart with God. [Ps. 19:14+] It is as necessary for the life of the soul, as breathing is for that of the body. As children of God we must live in communion with Him; and we cannot be Christians without prayer. For this reason God has given us His name to use in prayer, and the Saviour has taught us how to pray in the Lord's Prayer.
To WHOM WE SHOULD PRAY. Our prayers should be addressed to God alone, [Matt. 4:10.] and not to the Virgin Mary, the saints, the angels, or any other creatures.
WHY WE SHOULD PRAY. We should pray, 1. Because we constantly need God's mercy in temporal and spiritual things. 2. Because we owe God our thanks for his many benefits. [Ps. 103, Jas. 1:17] 3. Because God has commanded us to pray. [Matt. 6:9, Matt. 26:41] 4. Because God has promised to hear us. [Matt. 7:7, 8+, Ps. 50:15]
WHEN WE SHOULD PRAY. 1. Always; [Luke 21:36+] that is, our soul should live in constant communion with God, and always be open toward Him. 2. Whenever we feel special need of prayer: in danger, [Matt. 8:25] distress, anxiety, [Matt. 8:25] sickness, [Jas. 5:14, 15] bereavement, sorrow, [Ps. 25:16, 17] temptation, [Matt. 26:41] or when we are burdened with the sense of our guilt. [Luke 18:13.] 3. At fixed times: [Dan. 6:10] every morning and evening, at meal-times; in family worship; [Josh. 24:15+] in church. [Matt. 18:20+]
FOR WHOM WE SHOULD PRAY. 1. For ourselves. 2. For our fellow-Christians. [Eph. 6:18+] 3. For all men: [I Tim. 2:1+] for friends and foes, [Matt. 5:44+] the poor and the rich, the afflicted and the tempted. 4. For the Church. 5. For the State.
OUR PRAYERS SHOULD CONTAIN: 1. Adoration, 2. Thanksgiving. 3. Confession, 4. Petition. 5. Intercession.
THE MANNER. Our prayers should be the sincere utterance of our hearts; otherwise they will be a mere mockery. [Matt. 6:5] They may be in our own words or those of another. It will often be profitable to use the prayers found in good prayer-books or in the Liturgy, and to draw largely from the Psalms, which are a treasury of good and beautiful prayers. We should not lengthen our prayers by vain repetitions, nor repeat the Lord's Prayer or any other prayer a certain number of times as if that were a merit. [Matt. 6:7] Nor should we shorten our prayers through laziness, indifference, and the like. The Lord's Prayer should generally be added to our own prayers as a summary of those things for which we should pray.
THE POSTURE which we assume should indicate reverence to God. We should kneel or stand with folded hands. If we are unable to assume either of these postures, we may pray in any position. We stand in church on Sunday, because it is the day of the Lord's resurrection and a day of joy. We should not sit still in church while others stand, unless we are too weak or ill to stand. Kneeling is an attitude of humiliation, particularly appropriate for the confession of sins.
IN CHRIST'S NAME. We should always pray in Christ's name, and never omit His name to please men or avoid offence; for our prayers are only heard for Christ's sake. We have the promise that whatever we ask in His name will be given to us. [John 16:23] To pray in Christ's name means to pray, 1. As one who trusts in Christ and asks to be heard for His sake. [Eph. 2:18+, Rom. 5:2] 2. As one who prays in Christ's spirit, submitting all things to God's will, and saying with Christ, "Not my will, but Thine, be done." [Matt. 26:29, Matt 6:10]
IN FAITH. We should pray in faith, believing that God will answer our prayer for Jesus' sake. [Jas. 5:16+] If we do not pray in faith, we shall not be heard. [Jas. 1:6, 7]
THE ANSWER TO PRAYER. God always answers the prayer of the believer. Those who ask and receive not, have either asked amiss, [Jas. 4:3] or have not asked in faith. If we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us. [John 5:14+] He answers our prayer, 1. By granting us what we ask, though perhaps after a long delay, by which He tries our faith and patience. 2. He grants us good things instead of the hurtful things for which we ignorantly ask. 3. He gives us strength to bear the burden which we pray to have removed, [II Cor. 12:9] and thus confers a greater blessing than the removal of the burden would be.
QUESTIONS.—1. What is prayer? 2. To whom alone should we pray? 3. Why should we pray? 4. When should we pray? 5. For whom should we pray? 6. What should our prayers contain? 7. What is to be said about the manner of our praying? 8. What is to be said about the posture in prayer? 9. Why must we pray in Christ's name? 10. What is meant by praying in Christ's name? 11. What is to be said about the importance of praying in faith? 12. Does God always answer prayer? 13. In what ways does He answer?
SCRIPTURE VERSES.—Ps. 19:14. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.
Matt. 7:7, 8. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Luke 21:36. Watch ye, therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Josh. 24:15. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Matt. 18:20. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Eph. 6:18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.
I Tim. 2:1, 2. I exhort, therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
Matt. 5:44. Pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.
Eph. 2:18. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Jas. 5:16. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
I John 5:14. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us.
II Cor. 12:9. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
READING.—The Pharisee and the Publican in the Temple, Luke 18:10-14.
ILLUSTRATIONS.—Prayer for Self: The Lepers, Luke 17:12, 13; The Blind Beggar, Luke 18:35-43; The Publican, Luke 18:13; For Others: Jesus, John 17, Luke 23:32; Abraham, Gen. 18:23-33; Moses, Exod. 32:11; Stephen, Acts 7:60. Answer to Prayer: Israel in Bondage, Exod. 2:23, 24; Hannah, I Sam. 1:9-20; Elijah, I Kings 17:21, 22; Jas. 5:17; The Early Church, Acts 12:5-17; Paul, Acts 16:25; II Cor. 12:7-9.
All books are sourced from Project Gutenberg