As I write this on Thursday morning, it is the National Day of Prayer. Our nation had a long history of prayer before Harry Truman signed a law in 1952 setting aside the first Thursday in May for this purpose. I know that a setting aside a specific day annually for prayer is not a mandate from scripture, but I enjoy days like this where an increasingly secular culture takes a moment to remember God. It is also a good time to think about what scripture does say about prayer and the important role it plays in our relationship with Him. Jesus teaches us quite a bit about prayer in Matthew 6:5-13.
“And 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 others. Truly I tell you, 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. And 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 yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
What can we learn from the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 6 about how we should pray?
- Don’t pray to be seen. That kind of prayer put the focus in the wrong place and brings result that we do not want.
- Remember that God knows what you need. Prayer is not dependent on profound words or an impressive vocabulary. It is heartfelt communication with our Creator.
- Give glory to God for who He is and what He does.
- Invite God to reign in your life and in the world.
- Acknowledge that God’s will is greater than our own. We do not have all the answers or the perfect plan. He does.
- Ask God about regular, physical needs and acknowledge that the things we have are a blessing from Him. This prayer can also help us overcome worry. (Matthew 6:26)
- Ask forgiveness, and be prepared to forgive others. We should give the same level of forgiveness that we want to receive. (Matthew 18:21-22)
- Temptation is all around us. Pray that we might avoid it entirely or overcome it when we encounter it. (Matthew 26:40-41)
Now that we see a little more about how we should pray, what do we know about why we should pray?
- The kingdom, power and glory are His. He is the only one who has the power to answer and do.
- Prayer works! The answer may not always be what we expect, but God hears and does. “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16)
Let’s make sure that every day is a day of prayer in our lives.
– Brian
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” – Romans 12:12