How should a Christian pray to God?

Prayer is essential to a Bible believer because we are constantly engaged in a spiritual battle. To not pray, is to have an unfruitful Christian life and a hindered spiritual journey. A Christian is to start and end their day with prayer. And yet, very few put this into practice. In this Discipleship study, we examine:

– What is prayer?

– How to pray to God?

– Where to pray?

– When to pray? (Times for prayer)

– Conditions to prayer

– Wrong ways to pray

 

What is Prayer?

Definition: In the Bible, prayer meant talking to God about these 5 things: adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication, and blessing.

1. Adoration
   

   Psalm 95:6: “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.”

2. Confession
   

   Psalm 32:5: “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.”

3. Thanksgiving
   

   Philippians 4:6: “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

4. Supplication (asking for needs)
   

   1 Timothy 2:1: “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;”

5. Blessing
   

   2 Samuel 7:29: “Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.”

The Webster 1828 defines prayer as “In worship, a solemn address to the Supreme Being, consisting of adoration, or an expression of our sense of God’s glorious perfections, confession of our sins, supplication for mercy and forgiveness, intercession for blessings on others, and thanksgiving, or an expression of gratitude to God for his mercies and benefits. A prayer however may consist of a single petition, and it may be extemporaneous, written or printed.”

How to Pray

1. It should be directed to God the Father, done in the name of Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
   Unto God; one is not praying to Jesus.

   Acts 12:5: “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.”

   Close the prayer in the name of Jesus.

   John 14:13: “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

   Pray in the spirit, not in the flesh.

   Ephesians 6:18: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

2. Prayer position: Bow on one’s knees
   

   Philippians 2:10: “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;”

3. Face on the earth
   

   Genesis 17:3: “And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,”

4. Lift up the hands
   

   1 Timothy 2:8: “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”

5. Bow the head
   

   Genesis 24:48: “And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master’s brother’s daughter unto his son.”

6. Say ‘Amen’ (which means ‘Let it be so’)
   

   1 Corinthians 14:16: “Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?”

7. Close the eyes
   

   Luke 18:13: “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”

8. Lift the eyes toward heaven.
   All focus is on God.

   John 17:1: “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:”

9. Fast
   This helps to crucify the flesh, to resist temptation.

   1 Corinthians 7:5: “Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.”

10. At times, formalities are not required. It is sufficient to make simple prayers from the heart.
    

    Nehemiah 2:3-5: “And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire? Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it.”

Where to Pray

Even when waiting for a traffic light, one can pray! Our prayer life should be everywhere. However, make it a practice to have dedicated quiet time.

1. Pray in the closet.
   Meaning, to be done in secret between the person and God and not to gain attention.

   Matthew 6:6: “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”

2. Pray in the house of God.
   

   Luke 18:10: “Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.”

3. Pray in front of the congregation. This refers to communal prayer.
   

   1 Kings 8:22: “And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven:”

4. Pray everywhere.
   

   1 Timothy 2:8: “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”

When to Pray

The best prayer time is any time, and at all times. There is no wrong time to pray. It is a spiritual discipline to make time for prayer in the daily life.

1. In the morning
   

   Psalm 5:3: “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.”

2. In the evening and at noon
   

   Psalm 55:17: “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.”

3. Daily
   

   Psalm 86:3: “Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.”

4. Day and night
   

   Psalm 88:1: “(A Song or Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite.) O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:”

5. Always
   

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

   Example: Daniel prayed 3 times a day.

   Daniel 6:10: “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.”

Subjects for Prayer

If one doesn’t know what to pray about, the best sample prayers are taken from the Bible!

1. The Second Coming of Christ
   

   Revelation 22:20: “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

2. Healing of the sick
   

   James 5:13-14: “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:”

3. Leaders of the nation
   

   1 Timothy 2:1: “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;”

4. Longer life
   To bear more fruit for God

   Isaiah 38:1: “In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.”

5. Safety of oneself and others – these are prayer requests for others
   

   Daniel 6:18: “Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.”

6. Wisdom
   

   James 1:5: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

7. More missionaries and ministries
   

   Luke 10:2: “Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.”

8. Comfort – at times, we offer anguished prayers
   

   James 5:13: “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.”

9. Christians’ worthiness
   

   2 Thessalonians 1:11: “Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:”

10. Salvation of souls
    

    2 Corinthians 5:19-20: “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

11. Resisting temptations
    Jesus is the victor of temptations.

    Luke 22:40: “And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.”

12. Traveling mercy/prosperous journey
    

    Romans 1:10: “Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.”

13. Leaders in Church/Missionaries/Ministries
    

    1 Timothy 5:7: “And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.”

14. For the enemies
    They are lost souls just like everyone.

    Matthew 5:44: “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”

Conditions to Prayer

1. Faith
When one comes to Him, they have to believe that He exists and that He rewards them for both good and bad.

Hebrews 11:6: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

It is important to believe in Him when praying.

Mark 11:24: “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”

If a person doesn’t have faith when praying, then don’t expect God to answer the prayer. One’s salvation is based on faith itself. It is very important.

James 1:6: “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”

2. Persistence

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.”

3. Humility
Be humble.

2 Corinthians 7:14: “For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.”

4. Repentance of sins
Start the prayer with forgiveness of sins.

2 Corinthians 7:14: “For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.”

When sins are involved, God will not hear that prayer.

Psalm 66:18: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:”

5. Pray according to His will

1 John 5:14: “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:”
Matthew 26:39: “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”

6. A forgiving spirit

Mark 11:25: “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

7. Living well in Christ
Do things that are pleasing in His sight.

1 John 3:22: “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.”
John 15:7: “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”

8. Without lust

James 4:3: “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”

9. Must exclude double-minded/changing mind

James 1:7: “For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.”

10. Magnify His glory and claim the verses in prayer

Numbers 14:17-20: “And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying, The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now. And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word:”

11. Pray

Matthew 7:7: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:”

Wrong Ways to Pray

Despite seeing how important prayer practice is in our lives, there are wrong ways to pray.

1. Pray to saints
   There is only one mediator and that’s Jesus Christ

   1 Timothy 2:5: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”

2. Yoga/meditation/chanting
   Emptying oneself is opening oneself to the devil/demon possession.

   Matthew 12:43-45: “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.”

3. Prayer item
   

   Nehemiah 2:3-5: “And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire? Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it.”

4. Repetition
   

   Matthew 6:7: “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.”

For more reading about effective prayer and how to get answers to prayers, please refer to this article.