This request was made by one of the disciples after Jesus finished his own time of prayer. It was not that the disciples did not know how to pray. As Jews, they had rituals and routines that included prayers. Whoever this disciple was that made the request, there are two things that we can note. Somehow, they knew that John the Baptist offered specific instructions to his followers about prayer. It is obvious that these faithful Jews found that something was missing in their prayer life. This disciple wanted to advance his spiritual standing with God. This was the setting upon which Jesus offered them the example of what we call the Lord’s prayer. The purpose of this blog is not to review the Lord’s prayer. It is to explore how all of us can improve our prayer life.
Before considering what might be a certain guidance for our prayer life, we must explore whether or not we truly want a better prayer life. Many years ago, I heard a sermon illustration about prayer. There was a certain man who found himself saying almost the exact words every night.
The illustration goes further to say that he had those words made into a plaque so that he could hang it over his bed. Then when he knelt down to address the Lord Almighty, who looked up to the plaque, pointed at it, and said, “Lord, them is my sentiments.” He certainly saved time. He was able to go to bed quicker so that he might fall asleep sooner. The answer to the question I’m going to ask you is obvious. Did he really pray?
The disciple that asked this favor of Jesus must’ve realized there was something different about what John taught his disciples and what they may have overheard Jesus praying. Before we can improve our prayer life, and assuming we do want to improve it, we must come to the conclusion that something must be different about how we do it. We cannot stumble over our words. The prayer activity that we are discussing is for when we have daily routine prayer. We know that if there’s an emergency and we pray about it, it will be offered in an entirely different manner.
What we say to God must be in the expression of our own personality. Whether we are good at putting sentences together does not matter. What is important is that when we pray, there should be no ulterior motives of when we do it or how we do it. Paul called this vain glory in Galatians 5:26. Please do not misunderstand me. In our practice of praying, it is likely that most of the topics and most of the people we mention happen regularly in our prayers. That does not mean that we are praying like the man in the illustration above who created a plaque for what was on his mind. Our prayers are not like writing a novel in which everything we say should be new and unique.
Our prayers should be spoken from our heart not our minds. It must be something in depth for what we are saying. As we speak to the only God and Creator, we cannot take that position for granted. Whether a certain prayer request is repetitious is not the point. It is that we have set our hearts to a delivery of words and thoughts to the only one possible who can hear and respond.
It was unlikely in the Jewish thinking to include the concept of father, friend, and brother in prayers. As you pray, develop a type of camaraderie with God. Have the confidence that he is hearing you. You are not echoing wishes to an idol that others worship. Keep in mind that God really wants you to talk to him. He wants a close relationship with you. He really cares about what is happening in your life. Invite him into the very depths of your longings. Avoid miscellaneous or straying thoughts that could interfere with your deepest intentions. Let God know that you truly believe he wants to be your friend. What a marvelous idea!
Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 that we should, “Pray without ceasing.” He certainly did not expect us to be monks who have hidden themselves away from society, living in some location high on a pinnacle. If we are to be pray without ceasing, and if we are to think of God as father, friend, and brother, we will include him in the events of the day. Complement God on something great you have seen such as a peculiar formation of clouds or the beauty of a flower or the answer of a prayer that you did not even ask yet. When it comes time to kneel before him at the end of the day or the beginning of the day, you will already have nurtured such an intimacy with him that makes it easier to improve your prayer life. Always have him on your mind.
Trust God for the provisions he makes in your daily life and use those as another way to be close to him while expressing thanks. Avoid allowing the devil to neutralize what you want to recognize as God’s hand in your life. If you were able to skid through an intersection on a winter day without having a collision, that certainly is a cause for expressing gratitude. The smallest of things throughout each day can build a new closeness with God. Don’t worry or dissect the matter if it is a coincidence or if it is from God. What you have just experienced is in itself a reason to praise him.
God is not your butler to fetch something for you. One who created Jupiter and Mars, and the sun is the one you are soliciting attention from him for a favor. While you try to draw close to him, keep in mind that he really is the Almighty. While you pray, allow room for a meditation in which you can hear God speak to your heart. It may surprise you how many revelations he will teach you for the improvement of your daily life. Speak to him graciously while waiting to hear word from divine direction.
If you are going to have a maturing prayer life, make sure your attitude toward talking and sharing with the Lord cannot be viewed as gambling. It is not a matter he will either make things happen the way you want, or he won’t make things happen the way you want. It is because you are abiding in him just like a limb abides on the tree, your primary goal would be that you are so close to him you are praying in his will and not yours. You are seeing life through his eyes. You are recognizing the ultimate condition, not for your immediate gratification. As Jesus faced the crucifixion, he said, “Nevertheless, your will be done.” Can you submit a prayer request to God that is so confident whatever he says will be acceptable to you?
Keep in your thoughts that your prayers extend into eternity. God’s response may even involve angels for a readjustment to the circumstances you assumed were static. You are investing yourself in God’s eternal plan. You generate an excitement, not for the answer to be the way he want necessarily, but the way God wants it to be. His response may be exactly what you are requesting. Either way, his responses are out of love. Always keep in mind that you are serving the one who loves you intensely whether you feel it or not; your prayers are an investment like capital funds into his divine nature.
If you find it difficult to pray, if situations interfere with your time that you plan for prayer, focus back to your original intentions. Remind yourself that these interferences are likely from the devil. He cannot steal your salvation, but he certainly can steal and affect the depth of your relationship with God. Allowing these interferences to become the norm cannot affect your spiritual strength positively . Always return to the program you have developed for times of prayer.
Allow the Holy Spirit to be a participant in your prayers. It is always possible that you don’t know how to structure a sentence. It could be that you don’t even know how to get in touch with the longing that cannot be named. Romans 8: 26 tells us that the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered. At the very basic desire of your concern, and your spiritual ambition there can be times that you don’t know how to put words together. Even so, the Holy Spirit will help you and speak to the Heavenly Father in your behalf for what is really happening. We have mentioned the love of God already. We must also include the recognition of how much we actually love him. Presumably, when you pray, it is that you are speaking to the person that you love.
Christian Writer 