| Back to Home Page | Back to Book Index |

Practice of Prayer

Prayer

Martin Luther prayed: “Dear Lord although I am sure of my position I am unable to sustain it without thee. Help thou me or I am lost.”

Prayer

Lord

I crawled across the barrenness

To you with my empty cup

Uncertain

In asking any small drop of refreshment.

If only I had known you better

I’d have come running with a bucket.—Nancy Spiegelberg

Prayer

Chaplain Richard Halverson of the United States Senate told the story of a time when the subject of prayer in schools came up just before a Senator was to give a speech to several hundred men at a church’s annual men’s dinner. In response to the Senator’s question about how many of the church men believed in prayer in the public schools nearly every man present raised his hand in the affirmative.

Then the Senator asked “How many of you pray daily with your own children in your home?” This time only a few hands were raised.

Prayer

”Prayer pulls the rope down below and the great bell rings above in the ears of God. Some scarcely stir the bell for they pray so languidly; others give only an occasional jerk at the rope. But he who communicates with heaven is the man who grasps the rope boldly and pulls continuously with all his might.”—C.H. Spurgeon

Length of Prayer

A man who prays much in private will make short prayers in public!

Quiet Time

Michael E. DeBakey heart surgeon once observed: “For me the solitude of early morning is the most precious time of day. There is a quiet serenity that disappears a few hours later with the hustle and bustle of the multitude. Early morning hours symbolize for me a rebirth; the anxieties frustrations and woes of the preceding day seem to have been washed away during the night. God has granted another day of life another chance to do something worthwhile for humanity.

Prayer

The story is told of a young girl who said “Lord I am not going to pray for myself today; I am going to pray for others.” But at the end of her prayer she added “And give my mother a handsome son-in-law!” We just can’t seem to end a prayer without asking for something for ourselves!

Prayer

Eight-ninths of the bulk of an iceberg is below the waterline and out of sight. Only one-ninth is visible above the surface. Our prayer life should be like an iceberg with about one-ninth showing in public group prayer and eight-ninth out of sight in our personal prayer time. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical Preaching》

Prayer

Chaplain Richard Halverson of the United States Senate told the story of a time when the subject of prayer in schools came up just before a Senator was to give a speech to several hundred men at a church’s annual men’s dinner. In response to the Senator’s question about how many of the church men believed in prayer in the public schools nearly every man present raised his hand in the affirmative.

Then the Senator asked “How many of you pray daily with your own children in your home?” This time only a few hands were raised. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical Preaching》

Prayer

”Prayer pulls the rope down below and the great bell rings above in the ears of God. Some scarcely stir the bell for they pray so languidly; others give only an occasional jerk at the rope. But he who communicates with heaven is the man who grasps the rope boldly and pulls continuously with all his might.”— C.H. Spurgeon

 
The Practice Of Prayer
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. In our previous lesson
we discussed PRINCIPLES of prayer
such as:
 a. Characteristics of acceptable prayer
 b. Obstacles to prayer
 c. Answers to prayer
 
2. With a desire to encourage disciples of Jesus to more diligent
 praying
this lesson will offer suggestions as to the PRACTICE of
 prayer...
 
I. WHEN SHOULD WE PRAY?
 
 A. HAVING "SET TIMES" TO PRAY CAN HELP TO CREATE THE HABIT OF
 PRAYING...
 1. For example
consider the practice of:
 a. David
whom God described as "a man after My own heart"
 - Ps 55:17
 b. Daniel
whom the angel of God described as "O man greatly
 beloved" - Da 6:10
 2. These great men of God made it a habit to pray at set times
 throughout the day; we would do well to imitate their example
 3. At the very least...
 a. Find some time each day to be alone with God in prayer
 1) Early morning may be best for some
 2) Others might find it easier to be alone late at night
 b. Make it a SPECIAL TIME to be alone with your Heavenly
 Father!
 
 B. YET PRAYERS SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED TO "SET TIMES"...
 1. Special needs call for special times of praying
 2. Consider the examples of:
 a. Jesus
praying on important occasions - Lk 6:12-13
 b. Paul
praying in trying circumstances - Ac 16:25
 c. Nehemiah - praying on the spur of the moment - Neh 2:4-5
 
 C. THE GOAL IS TO "PRAY WITHOUT CEASING" - 1 Th 5:17
 1. Having "set times" will help develop the experience in praying
 2. Praying "spontaneously" as needs arise will develop the
 disposition to pray in every circumstance ("without ceasing")
 
II. WITH WHOM SHOULD WE PRAY?
 
 A. JESUS EXHORTED US TO PRAY "IN SECRET" - Mt 6:5-6
 1. Private prayer should occupy the largest portion of our total
  life of prayer
 2. Consider the value of "secret prayer":
 a. It forms a close union
communion and fellowship with God
 (you two are the only ones there!)
 b. It is a true test of your sincerity and devotion
  1) You certainly are not doing it to please men (they can't
 see you)
 2) You can't be trying to falsely impress God (He will see
 right through you)
 c. Your Father will reward you "openly" - Mt 6:6
  -- THEREFORE
"PRIVATE PRAYER" SHOULD BE A PRIORITY!
 
 B. JESUS ALSO SPOKE OF PRAYING WITH "TWO OR THREE" - Mt 18:19-20
 1. The early Christians prayed together often...
 a. In times of trouble - Ac 4:23-24; 12:5
12; 16:25
 b. In times of departure - Ac 20:36; 21:5
 2. A sweetness of fellowship and sense of strength comes when
 God's people pray together
 -- THEREFORE
"PRAYING WITH OTHERS" SHOULD BE DONE AS OFTEN AS
 WE CAN
 
III. HOW SHOULD WE PRAY?
 
 A. JESUS TAUGHT HOW TO PRAY - Lk 11:1-4
 1. The "Lord's Prayer"
as it is commonly called
is a model
a
 guide for learning how to pray
 2. A careful examination of this prayer reveals that proper
 prayer includes:
 a. To "whom" we should pray ("Our Father in heaven")
 b. Praising God ("Hallowed be Your Name")
 c. Supplication
 1) For God's purposes ("Your kingdom come. Your will be 
 done...")
 2) For our physical needs ("Give us this day our daily 
 bread")
 3) For our spiritual needs ("Forgive us our sins...")
 4) For the spiritual needs of others ("For we also forgive
 everyone who is indebted to us")
 3. He also stressed the importance of simplicity in our prayers
 - Mt 6:7-8
 
 B. A HELPFUL ACROSTIC IN LEARNING TO PRAY IS "A-C-T-S"...
 1. A = ADORATION
 a. I.e.
praising God
 b. A good example of this is found in 1 Chr 29:10-13
  c. Spending time in sincere praise of God's greatness will
 help put us in the proper spirit of humility
 2. C = CONFESSION
 a. I.e.
acknowledging our sins before God
 b. When we understand how sin can break the fellowship we have
 with God
we naturally desire its quick remission
 c. Fortunately
as Christians we can be cleansed by the blood
 of Jesus as we confess our sins - 1 Jn 1:9
 3. T = THANKSGIVING
 a. This is an important part of prayer
even those in which we
 are making requests - Ph 4:6
 b. The benefits of giving thanks are many:
 1) Causes us to acknowledge God's existence
love
and care
 2) Reminds us of His goodness
  3) Helps to shift our focus from what we don't have to what
 we do have
 c. The kind of things to be thankful for:
 1) Things we can see in our lives...
 a) Health
 b) Family and friends
  c) God's guidance
answers to previous prayers
 2) Things we may not be able to see...
 a) Our adoption as His children
 b) The forgiveness of sins
 c) The hope of eternal life
  d) The assurance of His continued presence
 d. God's people have every reason to be thankful
and to be 
 known for "abounding in thanksgiving" - Co 1:12; 2:7;
 3:15; 4:2
 4. S = SUPPLICATION
 a. I.e.
making requests of God - Ph 4:6
 b. If we are faithful in including the first three (adoration

 confession
thanksgiving)
this last will prevent prayer
 from being simply a spiritual "shopping list"
 c. When we broaden our requests to include others
we enter
 into one of the most noble realms of prayer: INTERCESSION
 1) Something which God wants us to do - 1 Ti 2:1
 2) Examples of whom we can pray for are given in the next
 section...
 
IV. FOR WHAT SHOULD WE PRAY?
 
 A. IN THE SCRIPTURES
GOD INDICATES THAT HE WISHES US TO PRAY FOR...
 1. SELF
 a. For physical daily needs - Mt 6:11
 b. For personal growth in Christlikeness and devotion to God
 - Co 1:9-12
 2. FAMILY
 a. For spouse
children
parents
siblings
etc.
 b. For their nurture and growth in the teaching of the Lord 
 - Ep 6:4
 3. COMMUNITY
 a. For peace to prevail
 b. E.g.
Jer 29:7
  4. CHURCH
 a. For love and unity to prevail - Jn 13:35; 17:20-21
 b. For the spiritual growth of each member - Ph 1:9-11
 c. For the gospel to have free course - 2 Th 3:1
 5. NATION
 a. For national repentance and consciousness of who God is 
 - Ps 33:12; Pr 14:34
 b. For leaders to rule wisely - 1 Ti 2:2
 6. NON-BELIEVERS
 a. For their salvation - Ro 10:1
 b. For the effort of those involved in teaching them 
 - Ep 6:18-20
 7. THE SICK
 a. For their restoration to health - Ja 5:14-15
 b. For spiritual strength and peace of mind - Ja 5:16
 8. THE POOR & OPPRESSED
 a. Such as the homeless
fatherless
unborn children 
 - Pr 29:7
 b. Those in other nations oppressed by their own rulers or
 outside influences
 
 B. IT MIGHT HELP TO HAVE A "PRAYER STRATEGY"...
 1. On MONDAY - Family
 a. Pray for both immediate and extended family members
  b. For both their physical and spiritual well-being
 2. On TUESDAY - Church
 a. For members in the local congregation
 b. For Christians and congregations throughout the world
 3. On WEDNESDAY - Community
 a. For community leaders
 b. For your neighbors
 4. On THURSDAY - Nation
 a. For elected officials
 b. For efforts to bring peace and righteousness
 5. On FRIDAY - World
 a. For world peace
 b. For nations that are "closed" to the gospel
 6. On SATURDAY - Afflicted
 a. For the poor
homeless
jobless
 b. For those in prison
 c. For those who are sick
 d. For widows
single mothers
fatherless children
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. These are simply suggestions
to help us see that there is much we
 can be praying for; other suggestions could include:
 a. A "daily prayer strategy" (morning-family; noon-church;
 evening-community)
 b. When praying for the nation and the world
pray about the events
 described in the newspaper
 c. Keeping a "list" or "journal" of those for whom you are praying
 
2. The important thing is to PRAY
and to do so:
 a. "always"
 b. "in everything"
 c. "earnestly"
 d. "being vigilant"
 e. "without ceasing"
 
3. I hope these last two lessons will encourage us to be more diligent
 in utilizing this wonderful privilege of prayer!
 
SOME QUESTIONS TO STIMULATE YOUR THINKING...
 
1. Do you spend time each day in prayer to God?
 
2. Do you find prayer an easy or difficult activity?
 
3. Do you pray with other people at times other than before meals
in
 Bible classes
or in the assembly?
 
4. Do your prayers include the needs of others
or just your own
 concerns?

－－《Executable Outlines》