How Should We Pray?

By John Ashley

Luke 18:1  “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”

We spend much time preaching and teaching on the subject of prayer.  How are we to  pray; kneeling, prostrate on the ground, sitting, with our hands folded, with our hands toward heaven?  Should we pray out loud or in silence?  What formula we use in our prayers; follow the example that Christ gave our in the “Lord’s Prayer, follow another outline; Adoration Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication?  Where do we pray; in church, beside the bed, in our prayer closet?   What is real prayer?  The Bible indicates that prayer is asking and answered prayer is receiving.  We get so caught up in the mechanics of prayer that we forget the most important teaching on prayer from the Word of God…..PRAY!!

In Luke 18:1 Jesus said that, “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.”  The most effective prayers are the ones spoken!!!  Whether out loud or from the heart to God.  Paul exhorted the believers in Thessalonica to “Pray without ceasing.”   Prayer is to be a persistent practice in the life of the Christian.  We can’t go through life on our knees, or lifting up our hands, or even in our prayer closet.  The shortest prayer recorded in the Bible got immediate results.  As Peter walked on the water towards Christ, he began to look at the storm, he then began to sink and cried out “Lord, Save me!”  Immediately Jesus reached down and lifted him up.  What, no adoration first?  No, “Our Father which art in heaven?”

Far too often we complicate prayer so much that we make it a difficult thing.  Prayer is asking for the Lord to work in our lives, but it is so much more.  It is a time to commune with the Lord of glory.  It is a conversation with our Heavenly Father.  Yes, we need to worship and confess our sin.  As a matter of fact the Bible teaches; that if we harbor sin in our hearts the Lord won’t hear our prayers.  That to me is the only real hinderance to the Lord hearing our prayers.

Luke 11:1  “And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” 

Jesus disciples wanted to learn to pray as Jesus prayed.  The Lord goes on to teach them a form of prayer in the “Lord’s prayer.”  However, He goes on to teach them to be persistent in their praying.  Jesus prayed often, so it makes sense that if we are to pray like him we need to have a consistent attitude of prayer.   We need to learn to continue in prayer and not to faint.  Don’t give up in our prayer life.  We are a very busy people today, but we should never be too busy for prayer.  Are there people or problems we have quit praying for?  Do we feel as though the Lord is not interested in our prayers?  Are we making prayer something that is more difficult than it should be?

If we say we love the Lord, then it makes sense that we would want to spend more time with Him.  Let’s adopt a life style of prayer that is effective for us.  Sit, stand lay down, in the closet or in the car….. Just PRAY!!!