The word “discipline” generally conjures up negative feelings. However, when we begin to study the scriptures to understand the place prayer occupied in the life of Jesus, we can't avoid seeing the prominence it held. In his life and in his teachings, Jesus consistently points out the significance of prayer for every Christian.

In Luke 18:1–8 we read, “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: ‘In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, “Grant me justice against my adversary.” For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, “Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!” And the Lord said, ‘Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?’ ”
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Journal: For your eyes only!

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1. On the following chart trace your spiritual journey during the past five months: Where I want to be: Month 1 ___ Month 2 ___ Month 3 ___ Month 4 ___ Month 5

___
Could improve: Month 1 ___ Month 2 ___ Month 3 ___ Month 4 ___ Month 5

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Not acceptable: Month 1 ___ Month 2 ___ Month 3 ___ Month 4 ___ Month 5
___

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2. On a scale of one to ten, how does the consistency of your prayer life look?


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3. Mark the squares that most accurately describe your reasons for not praying as you feel you should.
_____ I just don't have time.
_____ I probably watch too much TV.
_____ I have never truly enjoyed prayer.
_____ I don't feel comfortable praying with my spouse.
_____ I do most of my praying silently.

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4. What does this survey tell me about my prayer life?

A Prayer Discipline

Now that you have taken an objective look at your devotional life and thought about its meaning, you might feel you could do much better. With God's help I know you can!

The small 10' x 10' room was filled to capacity with three bunk beds. I came to love mine, as there was a heating vent directly below the foot of the bed. It was incredibly pleasant on cold winter nights to stick my cold feet over it and feel its warmth. This was small compensation for being away from my wife and baby, but it helped some.

Lying on the other beds were fellow students much in the same position as I—living off campus, struggling to work our way through college. We had to eat all our meals outside the home as this house provided sleeping quarters only.

These were the good old days? Evidently there was something good about them or they wouldn't linger with such pleasantness in my memory. However, the positive thoughts center on a great deal more than the warm air circling around my toes. The memories revolve around the fellowship in prayer we had together as that was the last thing we did before going to sleep and the first thing we did when we awoke. Every morning I would awaken to the prayers of these students as each one would kneel at his bedside in prayer immediately after getting out of bed. This was a discipline for each of us and in all sincerity may have been equal to the scholastic training I received at the collegiate level.

The disciplines developed within the first few months after conversion will, in all probability, become long lasting lifestyle patterns—positive or negative. In Godliness Through Discipline, Jay E. Adams highlights the role habits play in our lives. He reminds us that we are creatures of habits—both good and bad. Habits range all the way from the way one buttons his shirt or her blouse to buckling or not buckling a seatbelt when getting into an automobile to going to church.

Positive habits are better described as disciplines because they are thoughtful, proactive, and life-affirming.
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Journal: Disciplines in my life:

Habits carries a more negative sense in that they are normally thoughtless, harmful, and potentially dangerous.
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Journal: Habits in my life that I would change through new discipline in prayer:


Becoming a Christian is a life-changing experience brought about by the power of God; however, whether we live lives of discipline and hope or habit and thoughtlessness is up to us. The disciplines formed as new Christians lie within our control. Neither God nor your pastor can force you to develop the positive disciplines of prayer, Bible study, church attendance, and witnessing. Each of us must make those decisions for ourselves—God will empower, but we must decide!

Persistent Prayer

The focus of this study is prayer. In Luke 18:1–8 Jesus taught the disciples through the parable of the unjust judge, sometimes called the parable of the persistent widow. It's important in interpreting parables that one basic principle be followed—parables nearly always teach one fundamental truth; they are not intended to have many interpretations, although it may have various applications. Even a cursory reading of this parable captures the essence of it. The believer is to be persistent in prayer. Jesus told this parable “to show them that they should always pray and not give up” (v 1). By this Jesus simply meant that we are to pray always.

It is a parable of contrasts: an unjust judge and a helpless widow. Who can be more hard-boiled and unyielding than a judge, especially if he is an unjust judge? Who could be more proverbially weak and defenseless than a widow? So here is a tough, self-centered old skinflint, with a heart as cold as a marble floor glaring down at a seemingly helpless woman.

However, the widow has one powerful trait—she perseveres.
She keeps coming before him day and night; she never leaves his court; she hounds him, harasses him, and plagues him until he finally gives in. She simply wears him down and in order to get rid of her, he grants her request. She finds one key to power, and that key is persistence.

If a judge who “neither feared God nor cared about men” is moved by the sheer persistence of this woman, then surely a compassionate God will not turn aside when we pray. Life for us is often as it was for this widow. It is not unusual that we are victims of forces greater than we can handle and that there appears to be no hope. This marvelous parable tells us otherwise—there is always a way out, a place of power, a certain solution to our problems. It is the answer of persistent prayer and a loving God. Prayer always stirs the heart of God to action in our behalf.

Persistence is perhaps the strongest element in developing a life of effective prayer, for it takes this type of determination to establish positive discipline. If one fails to develop the discipline of prayer, it will not take long for doubts, spiritual inertia, and disinterest to replace the excitement and enthusiasm that mark the life of the new believer.

Prayer puts us in touch with God—a privilege all too many neglect. Many are like Voltaire who was generally regarded as an infidel, but when a religious procession carrying a crucifix passed him, he always tipped his hat. When a friend questioned him about his relationship with God he replied: “We salute, but we do not speak.” [1. Carolyn Shealy Self & William L. Self, Learning to Pray (Waco, Tex: Word Books, 1977), 15.]
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Journal: Does this story of Voltaire characterize my relationship with God?



R. A. Torrey tells the following story:

There was a time when I had wandered far from God, and had definitely decided that I would not accept Jesus Christ; nevertheless, I prayed every night. I had come to a place where I doubted whether the Bible was the Word of God and whether Jesus Christ was the Son of God; nevertheless, I prayed every night. I am glad that I was brought up this way, and that the habit of prayer was so instilled into me that it became habitual, for it was along that line that I came back out of the darkness of agnosticism into the clear light of an intelligent faith in God and his word. [2. Reuben A. Torrey, The Power of Prayer (Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan, 1971), 61.]

Even though prayer for a long time had become rote and habitual, it was this very discipline that brought Torrey into the living presence of Christ. Later, in the same context he wrote,

The day came when I realized that prayer was having an audience with God, actually coming into the presence of God and asking and getting things from him. And the realization of that fact transformed my prayer. Before that, prayer had been a mere … and sometimes … very irksome duty, but from that time on prayer has been not merely a duty, but a privilege, one of the most highly esteemed privileges of life. Before that the thought I had was, “How much time must I spend in prayer?” The thought that now possesses me is, “How much time may I spend in prayer without neglecting the other privileges and duties of life?” [3. Torrey 61.]

Torrey moved into a dynamic relationship with God where he truly understood the nature and joy of prayer. But remember, it was the habit of prayer that he formed earlier in life that enabled him to make this discovery.
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Journal: Write your story.



Cautions

There are three cautions I want to lift up regarding your effort to establish positive habits of prayer.
First, it will not be easy.
Nothing of value is cheaply attained. Many persons glibly state that they would like to become men or women of prayer but when they begin to attempt to develop a life of prayer they falter. It is not easy to change the habits already set in your life. It takes discipline and a planned, careful evaluation of your total life; it takes courage to replace bad habits with good discipline.
Second, don't get discouraged.
It takes at least three months to develop new disciplines from old habits, and the greatest threat during this time is discouragement. There may be days when it seems as though you are getting nowhere in your prayer life, and at times you may doubt if God even hears you or that it is worthwhile. Remember the parable of the persistent widow who kept coming to the judge with her request. It took great effort on her part, but she was determined to make her point, refused to give in to discouragement, and was finally awarded her case.
Third, resist the tendency to pray only in a crisis.
I list this as a caution because I sense it so often in my ministry with others. Certainly the psalmist said, “I call on you, O God, for you will answer me” (Psalm 17:6). Surely God hears our cries for help in those desperate moments but prayer must become more that an exercise in which we participate only in moments of tragedy or crisis. Persons who pray, pray when in trouble, but most persons pray only when in trouble!

A Lifestyle of Prayer
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Journal: My commitment to disciplined prayer:



If you develop the habit of prayer, you find that you are increasingly communicating with God on an increasingly regular basis. Scripture teaches us that we are to “Pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Obviously that doesn't mean one is to be in actual constant prayer, but it does mean that a lifestyle develops in which the presence of God is acknowledged—moment by moment.

Ray Stedman tells the charming story of a dear cleaning woman who was asked what her method of prayer was. She said,

I don't know nothin' about method. I just pray like this: When I wash my clothes I pray, Lord wash my heart clean. When I iron them say, Lord, iron out all those troubles I can't do nothin' about. When I sweep the floor, I say, Lord, sweep all the corners of my life like I'm sweepin' this floor. [4. Ray Stedman, Talking to My Father (Portland, Ore: Multnomah Press, 1985), 40.]

This is real prayer, and for most it comes only through disciplined prayer. If we neglect the regular times of prayer, there is a strong likelihood that we will soon forget—or never learn—to pray as this cleaning lady prayed.

It is much more difficult for the believer in our present society to develop positive prayer disciplines than it was for the people of Jesus' day. The disciples were all devout Jews who had a rich heritage of prayer, both in the teachings of their religious leaders and by the common practice of the Jewish community. Today, however, in a highly secularized culture in which we are distanced from much that reminds us of God, such prayer is easily avoided.

A few years ago I took my first trip to the Middle East and quickly discovered that prayer is still very much a part of the lifestyle of the Jewish as well as the Islamic communities that now occupy the nation of Israel. The sounding of horns announce regular prayer hours. l was especially impressed as I viewed the hundreds of Jews who constantly prayed at the “wailing wall.” In fact I joined in with them and stood in front of that massive wall and offered a prayer to God.

In our culture this simply is not done. We are a “pick' em up and put' em down” society that seems to thrive on a fast paced lifestyle that appears to make a systematic approach to prayer next to impossible. Everyone is in a hurry to get somewhere they don't want to go to do something they don't want to do because they are something they do not want to be.

Yet, even with their rich heritage the Jews of Jesus' day had their problems. Prayer, for the masses, lost its effectiveness, and the religious leaders, the Pharisees, had reduced it to a mere formality and prayed only to be seen and heard of other people The heritage of prayer was positive; the practice of prayer was not. The disciples were aware of this and wanted Jesus to teach them how to pray.
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Journal: What will have to change in my life to make a disciplined prayer time a reality?

Jesus' Prayer Methods

The first method Jesus used in teaching his disciples—and us—to pray was by example. His life was one of constant communication with God, and the disciples saw this and longed for it themselves. They could hardly keep from noticing how sincere, natural, and powerful his prayer life was.

Three of them once saw him transfigured in a high moment of intimacy with God, commonly called The Transfiguration. Luke 9:29–32 records this event. “As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus …. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him” (emphasis added). A few key passages of scripture can highlight the place prayer occupied in the life of Jesus. Please note the highlighted emphases.

Luke 3:21–22 While he was waiting in prayer, he received the Holy Spirit. “When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased’ ” (emphasis added).

Mark 1:35 The practice of rising early and finding a place of solitude marked the whole life and ministry of Jesus. “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (emphasis added).

Luke 5:16 Often surrounded by crowds, Jesus sought out solitude for prayer. “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (emphasis added).

Matthew 26:36–47 and Luke 22:42–44 These record Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. He knew he was facing death and was in great agony. He felt enormous dread and horror as he faced the full impact of dying on the cross for the sins of all humanity.

Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. (Luke 22:42–44)

The mental, emotional, and spiritual agony was more than Jesus could bear—without prayerful conversation with his Father. S. D. Gordon says that Jesus literally died of a broken heart. [5. Self, Learning to Pray, 19.]

Luke 23:46 His last breath was a prayer—“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”

These passages reveal that prayer was more than something Jesus did; it was a necessity, a discipline, a lifestyle, something much more than a habit attitude that provided a constant unbroken communion with God. Jesus knew that God was always with him, and prayer was as normal and natural as breathing itself.

A Personal Prayer Method

After reading these scriptures, this question arises: “How does one at the end of the twentieth century and in a society that seems to be increasingly secular, moving away from God, ever develop a lifestyle of prayer?” Admittedly, not easily; but if a sincere, early disciplined effort is made to develop prayer as a basic part of life, in years to come you will humbly walk in a disciplined lifestyle. But, mark it down, as point one in your newfound faith—only you can develop these positive habits that will determine the quality of your walk with God.
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Journal: Using these examples, develop a personal formula for a disciplined prayer life.


I can still recall my own personal struggles in developing a life of prayer as a new believer. I shared a bedroom with my older brother, and it was extremely difficult for me to find the courage to kneel at my bedside in prayer. I had to find alternative ways to express the deep felt desire to communicate with my heavenly father.

One day I read in the scriptures about Abraham who built an altar to the Lord, and suddenly the thought came to me, “Why can't I do that?” Since we lived on a hillside in Kentucky, it wasn't difficult to find a place where I could build my altar and have a place where I could pray without interruption. Although my creation was rough and crude, it provided me with the perfect place to discover the joy being able to pray in private and not be disturbed.

Be creative in developing your prayer patterns. No two persons seem to have the same schedules. No two persons are the same and God works with each person in a personal way. What works for one may not be feasible or desirable for another. The crucial factor is that each of us sets his or her heart on establishing a life of prayer where we get near to the heart of God.

The late Dr. William E. Reed once wrote,

Prayer, for me, has always been something more than words. True prayer is in the heart before the words are spoken and remains in the heart after the prayer is offered. Helplessness before God is our best prayer, for it induces full dependence on divine help. A troublesome question with which I have lived across the years of my Christian pilgrimage has been, when is prayer truly prayer? We pray more with our lives than with our lips. Many of my public prayers have left me with the realization that I need more practice in private prayers. [6. Contained in an unpublished paper written by W. E. Reed.]
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Journal: What is the best time and where is the best place for me?


The discipline of prayer is central to anyone's growth as a child of God. The prayerfully disciplined life leads to the presence of God. When the crises and the storms of life make their inevitable appearance, God will be there to strengthen and sustain you. Spending quality time with God on a disciplined basis leads to faithful and fearless hearts and a faith that cannot be destroyed.
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Chapter Two

Praying Correctly


Introduction

Not only is it important that we establish prayer as a consistent discipline in our Christian life, but it is also vital that we come to grips with some of the basic principles of effective prayer. In this chapter we will take a close look at one of the great teachings on prayer given by Jesus himself in Matthew 6:5–15.

Bible Study
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NOTE: Please complete the Bible Study before reading the chapter; complete the journal as the opportunity is provided. Always pray before you begin.
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1. Please take a pencil and underline what you consider to be the most significant phrases in the following passage.
“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

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2. What in your opinion does it mean to “pray to be seen of men?”


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3. What did Jesus mean when he said that those who pray to be seen of men “have their reward in full?”


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4. Give a simple definition of the word “babble” Jesus uses in verse 7.


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5. To whom are we to address our prayers, “To God the Father, or to Jesus Christ?” Why do you suppose this is so?


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6. Read John 14:13 and write down in whose name we are to pray:


Why?


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7. Jesus stressed forgiveness a great deal in this chapter. Do you have any hint why a person must forgive in order to pray effectively? It so, write it down:


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8. Matthew 6:8 says, “Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Read Matthew 6:25–34. According to these verses, what attitude should one have when he prays?


Basic Prayer Principles

The basic principles Jesus taught regarding prayer are important to grasp in order to pray correctly, intelligently, and effectively. At the heart of any discussion about prayer must be the centrality it had in the life of Jesus. It was a very personal experience, one he turned to regularly, one he needed, and one he obviously enjoyed.

Prayer puts us in contact with God, the source of all good things. James said, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change shifting shadows” (1:17). In order for us to enjoy prayer to its optimum, we need not only to look at the example Jesus set, but also at some of the principles he gave us regarding prayer. He addresses this in Matthew 6:5–15 and 6:25–34.
First, one must not pray to be seen of others.

When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men (v 5).

One night a little girl was offering her prayers to God and her mother said, “Honey, pray a little louder; I can't hear you.” She responded, “Momma, I wasn't talking to you.”

Second, we are not to babble or use repetition.

When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words (v 7).

Prayer is a great deal more than simply putting pious sounding words together. Jesus lovingly reminds us that, “Father knows what you need before you ask him” (v 8).

Third, we are to address our prayers correctly.

“This, then, is how you should pray:”

It is in this passage that Jesus gave what has been called “The Lord's Prayer.” While this is not an effort to do an expositional study on this significant prayer, it is important to note that Jesus instructed us to pray to “Our Father in heaven.” There are many sincere Christians who address their prayer to Jesus, but they are praying incorrectly; instead they should always address their prayers to God the Father and pray “in Jesus name.” Jesus said in John 14:13, “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” Again in John 16:24, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”
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Journal: I will make it a point to prepare a place of prayer in my home and always seek God there.


To pray in Jesus name means much more than reciting a correct phrase; it is praying in the authority and power of Jesus. In Hebrews 7:23–25 we read, “Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” This is an important verse as it pictures Jesus as our high priest who intervenes and intercedes on our behalf before God.
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Journal: I covenant to pray as directly, openly, and honestly as I know how whenever I approach God.


Fourth, we are to pray with a forgiving spirit.

>“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins (vv 14–15).

It is significant that Jesus closed this section on prayer with great emphasis on forgiveness. One simply cannot approach God with an unforgiving spirit toward others, for he himself is always in need of mercy from God. We must never forget that.

Fifth, we must be sincere.

This fifth principle is not stated in so many words but is one of the most important.

A great Christian of the past broke out all at once into a place of such radiance and victory as to excite wonder among his friends. Someone asked him what had happened to him. He replied simply that his new life of power began one day when he entered the presence of God and took a solemn oath never again to say anything to God in prayer that he did not mean. His transformation began with that vow and continued as he kept it. [*Warren W. Wiersbe. A Treasure of A. W. Tozer. (Grand Rapids, Mich: Baker Book House, 1977).]
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Journal: I will always pray to my “heavenly Parent” and always begin or end my prayer “in Jesus name.”


One of the greatest dangers in prayer is insincerity. A. W. Tozer claims there is no cure for it, yet all too often we go to God with rote prayers and by the time we end, can hardly remember what we said. Underneath all other principles rests this question—Do we actually mean what we say in our conversation with God?

Basic Prayer Principles

The basic principles Jesus taught regarding prayer are important to grasp in order to pray correctly, intelligently, and effectively. At the heart of any discussion about prayer must be the centrality it had in the life of Jesus. It was a very personal experience, one he turned to regularly, one he needed, and one he obviously enjoyed.

Prayer puts us in contact with God, the source of all good things. James said, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change shifting shadows” (1:17). In order for us to enjoy prayer to its optimum, we need not only to look at the example Jesus set, but also at some of the principles he gave us regarding prayer. He addresses this in Matthew 6:5–15 and 6:25–34.

First, one must not pray to be seen of others.

When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men (v 5).

One night a little girl was offering her prayers to God and her mother said, “Honey, pray a little louder; I can't hear you.” She responded, “Momma, I wasn't talking to you.”

Second, we are not to babble or use repetition.

When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words (v 7).

Prayer is a great deal more than simply putting pious sounding words together. Jesus lovingly reminds us that, “Father knows what you need before you ask him” (v 8).

Third, we are to address our prayers correctly.

“This, then, is how you should pray:”

It is in this passage that Jesus gave what has been called “The Lord's Prayer.” While this is not an effort to do an expositional study on this significant prayer, it is important to note that Jesus instructed us to pray to “Our Father in heaven.” There are many sincere Christians who address their prayer to Jesus, but they are praying incorrectly; instead they should always address their prayers to God the Father and pray “in Jesus name.” Jesus said in John 14:13, “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” Again in John 16:24, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”
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Journal: I will make it a point to prepare a place of prayer in my home and always seek God there.

To pray in Jesus name means much more than reciting a correct phrase; it is praying in the authority and power of Jesus. In Hebrews 7:23–25 we read, “Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” This is an important verse as it pictures Jesus as our high priest who intervenes and intercedes on our behalf before God.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Journal: I covenant to pray as directly, openly, and honestly as I know how whenever I approach God.
,br>
Fourth, we are to pray with a forgiving spirit.

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins (vv 14–15).

It is significant that Jesus closed this section on prayer with great emphasis on forgiveness. One simply cannot approach God with an unforgiving spirit toward others, for he himself is always in need of mercy from God. We must never forget that.

Fifth, we must be sincere.

This fifth principle is not stated in so many words but is one of the most important.

A great Christian of the past broke out all at once into a place of such radiance and victory as to excite wonder among his friends. Someone asked him what had happened to him. He replied simply that his new life of power began one day when he entered the presence of God and took a solemn oath never again to say anything to God in prayer that he did not mean. His transformation began with that vow and continued as he kept it. [*Warren W. Wiersbe. A Treasure of A. W. Tozer. (Grand Rapids, Mich: Baker Book House, 1977).]
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Journal: I will always pray to my “heavenly Parent” and always begin or end my prayer “in Jesus name.”


One of the greatest dangers in prayer is insincerity. A. W. Tozer claims there is no cure for it, yet all too often we go to God with rote prayers and by the time we end, can hardly remember what we said. Underneath all other principles rests this question—Do we actually mean what we say in our conversation with God?

Basic Prayer Principles

The basic principles Jesus taught regarding prayer are important to grasp in order to pray correctly, intelligently, and effectively. At the heart of any discussion about prayer must be the centrality it had in the life of Jesus. It was a very personal experience, one he turned to regularly, one he needed, and one he obviously enjoyed.

Prayer puts us in contact with God, the source of all good things. James said, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change shifting shadows” (1:17). In order for us to enjoy prayer to its optimum, we need not only to look at the example Jesus set, but also at some of the principles he gave us regarding prayer. He addresses this in Matthew 6:5–15 and 6:25–34.

First, one must not pray to be seen of others.

When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men (v 5).

One night a little girl was offering her prayers to God and her mother said, “Honey, pray a little louder; I can't hear you.” She responded, “Momma, I wasn't talking to you.”

Second, we are not to babble or use repetition.

When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words (v 7).

Prayer is a great deal more than simply putting pious sounding words together. Jesus lovingly reminds us that, “Father knows what you need before you ask him” (v 8).

Third, we are to address our prayers correctly.

“This, then, is how you should pray:”

It is in this passage that Jesus gave what has been called “The Lord's Prayer.” While this is not an effort to do an expositional study on this significant prayer, it is important to note that Jesus instructed us to pray to “Our Father in heaven.” There are many sincere Christians who address their prayer to Jesus, but they are praying incorrectly; instead they should always address their prayers to God the Father and pray “in Jesus name.” Jesus said in John 14:13, “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” Again in John 16:24, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” --------------------------------------------------------------
Journal: I will make it a point to prepare a place of prayer in my home and always seek God there.


To pray in Jesus name means much more than reciting a correct phrase; it is praying in the authority and power of Jesus. In Hebrews 7:23–25 we read, “Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” This is an important verse as it pictures Jesus as our high priest who intervenes and intercedes on our behalf before God.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Journal: I covenant to pray as directly, openly, and honestly as I know how whenever I approach God.


Fourth, we are to pray with a forgiving spirit.

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins (vv 14–15).

It is significant that Jesus closed this section on prayer with great emphasis on forgiveness. One simply cannot approach God with an unforgiving spirit toward others, for he himself is always in need of mercy from God. We must never forget that.

Fifth, we must be sincere.

This fifth principle is not stated in so many words but is one of the most important.

A great Christian of the past broke out all at once into a place of such radiance and victory as to excite wonder among his friends. Someone asked him what had happened to him. He replied simply that his new life of power began one day when he entered the presence of God and took a solemn oath never again to say anything to God in prayer that he did not mean. His transformation began with that vow and continued as he kept it. [*Warren W. Wiersbe. A Treasure of A. W. Tozer. (Grand Rapids, Mich: Baker Book House, 1977).]
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Journal: I will always pray to my “heavenly Parent” and always begin or end my prayer “in Jesus name.”


One of the greatest dangers in prayer is insincerity. A. W. Tozer claims there is no cure for it, yet all too often we go to God with rote prayers and by the time we end, can hardly remember what we said. Underneath all other principles rests this question—Do we actually mean what we say in our conversation with God?

Basic Prayer Principles

The basic principles Jesus taught regarding prayer are important to grasp in order to pray correctly, intelligently, and effectively. At the heart of any discussion about prayer must be the centrality it had in the life of Jesus. It was a very personal experience, one he turned to regularly, one he needed, and one he obviously enjoyed.

Prayer puts us in contact with God, the source of all good things. James said, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change shifting shadows” (1:17). In order for us to enjoy prayer to its optimum, we need not only to look at the example Jesus set, but also at some of the principles he gave us regarding prayer. He addresses this in Matthew 6:5–15 and 6:25–34.

First, one must not pray to be seen of others.

When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men (v 5).

One night a little girl was offering her prayers to God and her mother said, “Honey, pray a little louder; I can't hear you.” She responded, “Momma, I wasn't talking to you.”

Second, we are not to babble or use repetition.

When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words (v 7).

Prayer is a great deal more than simply putting pious sounding words together. Jesus lovingly reminds us that, “Father knows what you need before you ask him” (v 8).

Third, we are to address our prayers correctly.

“This, then, is how you should pray:”

It is in this passage that Jesus gave what has been called “The Lord's Prayer.” While this is not an effort to do an expositional study on this significant prayer, it is important to note that Jesus instructed us to pray to “Our Father in heaven.” There are many sincere Christians who address their prayer to Jesus, but they are praying incorrectly; instead they should always address their prayers to God the Father and pray “in Jesus name.” Jesus said in John 14:13, “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” Again in John 16:24, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”
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Journal: I will make it a point to prepare a place of prayer in my home and always seek God there.


To pray in Jesus name means much more than reciting a correct phrase; it is praying in the authority and power of Jesus. In Hebrews 7:23–25 we read, “Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” This is an important verse as it pictures Jesus as our high priest who intervenes and intercedes on our behalf before God.
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Journal: I covenant to pray as directly, openly, and honestly as I know how whenever I approach God.


Fourth, we are to pray with a forgiving spirit. “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins (vv 14–15).

It is significant that Jesus closed this section on prayer with great emphasis on forgiveness. One simply cannot approach God with an unforgiving spirit toward others, for he himself is always in need of mercy from God. We must never forget that.

Fifth,we must be sincere.

This fifth principle is not stated in so many words but is one of the most important.

A great Christian of the past broke out all at once into a place of such radiance and victory as to excite wonder among his friends. Someone asked him what had happened to him. He replied simply that his new life of power began one day when he entered the presence of God and took a solemn oath never again to say anything to God in prayer that he did not mean. His transformation began with that vow and continued as he kept it. [*Warren W. Wiersbe. A Treasure of A. W. Tozer. (Grand Rapids, Mich: Baker Book House, 1977).]
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Journal: I will always pray to my “heavenly Parent” and always begin or end my prayer “in Jesus name.”


One of the greatest dangers in prayer is insincerity. A. W. Tozer claims there is no cure for it, yet all too often we go to God with rote prayers and by the time we end, can hardly remember what we said. Underneath all other principles rests this question—Do we actually mean what we say in our conversation with God?
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Chapter Three
Principles of Effective Prayer


Introduction

Why is it that so many prayers seem to go unanswered? Have you ever prayed for something and then forgotten it almost as soon as you asked for it? And have you wondered why Christians don't pray more than they do? Perhaps part of the reason is that too few of us have learned some of the basic principles Jesus gave us on how to pray effectively. In the following pages we are going to look at four important principles of effective prayer and attempt to illustrate how these principles work.

Bible Study
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NOTE: Please complete the Bible Study before reading the chapter; complete the journal as the opportunity is provided. Always pray before you begin.
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In Matthew 7:7–12 we read, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
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1. In reading the above scripture, how many principles of effective prayer can you spot? List them:


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2. Read James 4:1–4. What two reasons does James give for unanswered prayers?


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3. Do you feel comfortable in asking God for the things that you really want? Why is it that most people feel it is wrong to ask for those things they truly desire?


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4. Read Acts 12 and especially note verse 5. Write this verse here (better yet, paraphrase it):


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5. Why was the church so earnestly praying for Peter?


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6. Can you recall a time in your life when you prayed with that type of intensity? Write it down:


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7. Read Matthew 21:22 and complete: If you ____________ you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.


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Chapter Four
Prayer: Discipline or Pleasure?


Introduction

While prayer is a discipline in a believer's life, it should always be regarded as a pleasurable experience. Many persons, however, do not seem to enjoy prayer; therefore, they pray very little. In many ways, prayer is like sowing seed: the more you sow, the greater the crop. How can prayer become more pleasurable for you? This is the subject of this final chapter.

Please read Luke 24:1–32. Here is part of this text:

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.

(vv 13–16)

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

(vv 28–32)
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Journal: What words would I use—pleasure or pain—to characterize my prayer life?


Bible Study
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1. Find a Bible concordance and look up four passages of scripture from the Old and five from the New Testaments. Next to each, write a paraphrase that helps you (and others) to understand what this passage teaches us about prayer.


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2. Read James 2:23: “The scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness’ and he was called ____________.” Why do you think this verse is included in a booklet on prayer?


Types of Prayer
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Journal: There are three different aspects or types of prayer that are important for us to understand—petition, intercession, and communion. Before you read this chapter, define these in your own terms.
Petition: ____________________________________
Intercession: ____________________________________
Communion: ____________________________________

Of the three, which type of prayer do you offer most frequently?


What do your answers tell you about your prayer life?


There are many kinds and aspects of prayer that are important, such as adoration, praise, confession, thanksgiving, supplication, and intercession. Paul's words to Timothy state, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone” (1 Timothy 2:1). At the most basic level, however, there are three different types of prayer: petition, intercession, and communion.
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Journal: List some of the attributes of God (such as “love”):


Which of these attributes best describes how you view God?


Why?


Petition is asking God for personal needs. “Ask and you will receive” (John 16:24). All are urged to petition God for their needs; in fact scripture states emphatically that if we do not ask, we will not receive, “You do not have, because you do not ask” (James 4:2).
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Journal: How do you view God, a friend or an aloof deity?


Intercession, on the other hand, is the focusing of our prayers on the needs of others. Two great prayers of intercession stand out in the Bible; one is recorded in Exodus and describes Moses pleading for God to forgive Israel for their sins (Exodus 32). The other example is the prayer of Jesus in behalf of the church, sometimes called the high priestly prayer of Jesus (John 17).

The highest form of prayer, however, is communion which focuses not on asking for oneself or others, but rather on God himself.

Jesus claimed oneness with Father, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). Jesus was not required to pray out of a sense of duty; rather he looked forward to those moments of fellowship with his Father in heaven. The most difficult and painful moment in the life of Jesus was when he said, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). These were the words he spoke while hanging on the cross for our sins, not his! The personal pain and anguish of separation from his heavenly Father is contained in those lonely words. Jesus was alone in a way we never have to experience, for, as Paul proclaimed, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
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Journal: It was said in the scripture that Jesus was a friend of sinners (Matthew 11:19). Do you feel he is your friend? Why and why not?


It is especially important for every new believer who is just beginning a walk with God to recognize that God wants each person to come as a friend, even as a child of God. Some may carry this too far and fail to recognize the majesty and greatness of God and reduce him in their terminology to the “man upstairs” or to a kindly old grandfather who winks at sin. It is, however, equally tragic that many people never move into that close relationship with God where they recognize him as their best and dearest friend and their Father.

Some time ago I shared a most difficult and heavy burden with one of the best friends I have. As he listened to me tell about my concerns, not once did he say, “Charles, you shouldn't feel that way.” Instead he literally knelt down right at my feet, put his hand on my shoulder and comforted me with words of encouragement and strength. He said, “I know this is heavy but I know how you feel, and I'm sure God is with you. God won't forsake you!” I'll always love him for that special moment we had together when I could pour out my heart to him and feel his love and acceptance.

Conversational Prayer

The habit of prayer must be established, as I previously stated, but it is equally important that prayer not be viewed only as a discipline but also as a pleasure. One reason people don't enjoy prayer is because they have never made the wonderful discovery that they can talk to God just as they talk to their very best friend. This type of prayer has been coined conversational prayer. The names of E. Stanley Jones, Frank Laubach, and Rosalind Rinker have long been associated with the concept of conversational prayer, which differs a great deal from the traditional type of prayers we hear in church or normally use in private or small group prayers.

Conversational prayer is a tremendous supplement to traditional prayer and allows for everyone in the group to be involved in voicing their praise and their needs. Its strongest feature may be the naturalness of this style of prayer that enables us to enjoy prayer more resulting in our actually praying much more. Conversational prayer has been defined as “a dialogue engaged in by people who are moving in love toward one another. Instead of only a few taking part, everyone is ‘with it all the time.’ ” [1. Rosalind Rinker, Conversational Prayer (Waco, Tex: Word Book Co, 1976), 15.]

Rosalind Rinker lists three ingredients in conversational prayer: One, we become aware of the other person, what he says, what he means, and how he feels. Two, we pursue the same subject by taking turns, agreeing, and giving thanks. Three, we try to keep in tune by not prematurely introducing another subject, but by maintaining interest through participating in the current subject. [2. Rinker 15.]

I'll illustrate how this works in just a moment, but first, there is an important question that must be asked.

Do you suppose you could ever spend one hour in prayer with your spouse—or a very dear friend?

Recently I challenged a group of men by asking how long it had been since they had spent that much time with their wives in prayer and I've been getting one consistent answer, “never.” No one I asked yet has ever spent that block of time in prayer with their spouse.

Betty and I discovered the joy of conversational prayer more than sixteen years ago and have had times when we have spent as long as two or three hours in prayer. Not on our knees (few could stand the physical strain that long) but often while sitting in our lawn chairs on the patio late at night or lying in our bed praying together, conversationally!

Recently we have made a new start that I hope we can continue as long as we are physically able to do so. We both felt a need to begin walking since she has a minor heart problem and my doctor informed me of a high cholesterol count. We decided to drive to a nearby golf course that is bordered by a lovely jogging track exactly two miles in length. The first time around we just enjoyed the scenery, plus the many rabbits, birds, and squirrels. On the second day we decided to pray together, and it has resulted in some of the greatest prayer times we have had together in our thirty-five years of marriage. We quickly discovered one could pray, walk, and greet strangers all at the same time!

There are some who believe that the only proper position of prayer is either kneeling or standing and totally miss the most important aspect of communing with God, regardless of the externals.

Years ago Sam Walter Foss wrote a poem that says it so well. He called it “The Prayer of Cyrus Brown.”

“The proper way for a man to pray,”
Said Deacon Lemuel Keys,
“And the only proper attitude
Is down upon his knees.”

“No, I should say the way to pray,”
Said Reverend Doctor Wise,
“Is standing straight with outstretched arms
And rapt and upturned eyes.”

“No, no, no, no,” said Elder Slow,
“Such posture is too proud.
A man should pray with eyes fast-closed
And head contritely bowed.”

“It seems to me his hands should be
Austerely clasped in front
With both thumbs pointing toward the ground,”
Said Reverend Doctor Blunt.

“Last year I fell in Hidgekin's s well
Headfirst,” said Cyrus Brown,
“With both my heels a-stickin' up
And my head a-pointing down.

“And I made a prayer right then and there
The best prayer I ever said,
The prayingest prayer I ever prayed,
A-standin' on my head.” [3. Ray Stedman, Talking to My Father (Portland, Oreg: Multnomah Press), 27.]

Usually Betty and I begin thanking God for the beauty that surrounds us, the life and vitality we see in the breaking of a new day, and the opportunities and challenges we know it will present. Often we stop and observe a baby rabbit and before we know it we are caught up in the wonder of a God who created all life.

After a time we usually begin praying for various needs in our own life (petition), our family members, and then the needs of the church (intercession). It is exactly one hour of prayer and exercise for us. While it is good for our bodies I know the greatest benefit is to our spiritual and emotional well-being.

How do we pray? Our prayer time this morning went something like this:

(Charles) “I'm concerned about John and George in our youth group. I just received word that they are beginning to experiment with drugs, and I wish you would help them to understand how dangerous this is.”

(Betty) “Yes, and Paul is also having a problem with this, and if he doesn't get some help soon, he may be in deep trouble at school as well as with his folks.”

(Charles) “Lord, I just read on a prayer card yesterday of a new family who admitted their son into a clinic for the chemically dependent. I'm so concerned about him. I don't know this young man well at all, but I do know he needs you. It seems as if this problem is resurfacing again as it was in the late sixties, and we lift our hearts to you that your power would rise up against it.”

(Betty) “You know the International Convention is not far off, and I'm praying that these young men will receive some deep spiritual insights at this convention.” It is hard to describe how this prayer experience grows with us daily. We never have to try to think of things to pray for and also we are not afraid of silence. There are times when we might just squeeze each other's arm and enjoy the goodness of the Lord. But all the time we are in prayer, we are communicating with the God who is with us. This is communion—prayer at its highest level.
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Journal: What I think about conversational prayer—


Who can (or do) I have this kind of prayer with? Why this person?


Summary

You need to know that I pray this way privately also as I talk to God as I would talk to my dearest friend. In these moments there are things I say that are just between me and the Lord, but God already knows about them. When I talk with him and know I'm heard, then I can believe that I will be answered.

The problem is not whether we can pray for an hour at a time without interruption, but whether or not we have the desire to communicate with God and to enjoy God's presence. Those two disciples on the road to Emmaus felt their hearts “burn within them” while Jesus talked with them and opened the scriptures to them. They were walking and talking as friends would. I assure you Jesus wants to communicate with us in this same manner. Conversational prayer may be a new concept, but if you will practice it for a while, you soon will find out for yourself just how real God can be.

Remember, one doesn't have to go to Prayer Mountain in Korea to experience God. It may be that park near your home, the street in front of your house, or even in your automobile while driving to work. One can't find a place where God is not present—God is everywhere! That means God is in your world, too!
[ The End ]