How to Pray

"One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say: “‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation." - Luke 11:1-4

I think that everyone knows that story and can recite the Lord's prayer or most of it - even some unbelievers can. 

I think the question was asked because the disciples wanted to pray properly. I wrote a BLOG not too long ago about having a clean heart and clean hands when you approach God to pray.  When we pray we are having a conversation with God. It is not a dialogue in the sense of talking with your spouse or a friend - it is a spiritual conversation. One in which God may speak, act or do nothing. That doesn't mean it did hear you. 

I was talking to my wife about this today and we recalled two acrostics (a word where each letter refers to another word) Payer and Acts that are used by some as a way to remember "what or how to pray".

Pray : Praise God - Repent of your sins - Ask - Yield

ACTS : Adoration - Confession - Thanksgiving - Supplication

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

The point is that we should have a constant focus on God. Be intentionally connected to Him. Understand Who He is and WHOSE we are.

Be mindful of our fallibilities and proclivity to sin. Ask God in light of those truths. Be careful how we pray.

"Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures." - James 4:2-3

In other words we pray for the wrong things. 

Come to God in humility and willing to accept His will and not insist on having your own way.

Prayer does not need to be long or flamboyant. Go to the Father with humility and love for Him with a clean heart and clean hands. But I encourage you to pray.

Think about it – Believe it  - Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone