The
wise man gives us this solemn warning – “Be not rash with thy mouth, and let
not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven and
thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.” (Eccles. 5:2). I would do
nothing to discourage either public or private prayer. Indeed, we ought all to
pray more. But in the act of prayer, we should consider who we are, and to whom
we are speaking. If we would, I am sure that our prayers would be more earnest,
more reverent, more sincere, and more effectual.
Far be
it from me to pretend to be a master of prayer! (Most of you could teach me
much in this matter.) But I do want to share some of my thoughts with you, if
they can be of help. Of this I am sure, the mere repetition of routine prayers,
prayers for the sake of appearance, selfish prayers, and impulsive prayers are
not honored by the God of heaven. As a minister, people frequently ask me to
“say a prayer” for them. I shudder at the thought of just “saying a prayer”!
TRUE
PRAYER IS SEEKING THE WILL OF GOD. A believer does not dictate to God what
he should do in prayer. Rather, he seeks to know the will of God. This
knowledge can be given to us only by the Spirit of God. If we can, at least in
measure, know God’s will in a matter, then we can pray
with confidence about it.
WE
MAKE OUR PETITIONS IN THE NAME OF CHRIST. Prayer in Jesus’ name is much
more than simply tacking the name of Christ on the end of our prayers. It is
praying in the conscious awareness that Christ is our only grounds of
acceptance before God. It is praying in faith in the righteousness and shed
blood of the Son of God. Christ alone merits favor with God. And we pray,
asking our favors upon the ground of his merit.
REAL
PRAYER IS SUBMITTING TO THE WILL OF GOD. Like our Lord, we must learn to
pray, “Thy will be done.” We are all prone to pray that God will heal such and
such a person, or save such and such a person, because of our own relationship
to that person. But what is God’s will in the matter? That is what we must
seek. When we pray, let us submit our personal desires to the will and glory of
God.
PRAYER
IS AN ACT OF THE HEART. God cares nothing for the length or eloquence of
our prayers. He looks upon the heart. If at heart we are humbled, submissive,
reverent, and believing, our words might be fewer, but our prayers would be
more effectual…. “Lord, teach us to pray!”