WHEN WE PRAY

The Lord’s teaching on prayer focuses on (1) the place of prayer, (2) the purpose of prayer, and (3) the procedure of prayer. He clearly assumes we do pray - not ‘if’, but ‘when’ we pray, v. 5. Do we? This may seem a strange question. Nevertheless, we need to ask ourselves the question. For instance, how many of us, privately in our own homes, pray on the Lord’s Day for the gospel meeting? If the extent of the blessing of God at these meetings was commensurate with the extent of our praying, how much blessing would there be?

The place of prayer is the unseen, unnoticed, private one. We are told to shut out the clamorous world, by the door that also shuts in the solitary worshipper and intercessor. Therefore, we need a time when we shall not be disturbed. As we have seen, the Lord prayed in the early morning, Mark 1. 35. We need to be practical: sometimes the telephone and other distractions may prevent us regularly from putting into practice the Lord’s teaching. Our lives need to be ordered if we are to do what our Lord requests. An ordered life, a closed door, an open ear, and an open heart are needed.

The purpose of prayer is to have dealings with our Father, to be ‘seen’ by Him; it is not for public acclaim, to impress others. Very simply, prayer is Godward not manward. We need to remember this in assembly gatherings.

The procedure in prayer is to be simple, direct and brief. We are not to approach God our Father as if He does not know already what we need and are going to ask for, v. 8; as if He is reluctant and grudging in responding to us. The publican’s prayer was readily answered, Luke 18. 13, 14; as was the dying thief’s, Luke 23. 42-43. Many words are not necessary; He reads our hearts in any case. We do, however, need to listen, and there has to be time to listen. Habakkuk gives us a good example, 2. 1.

As our Father is wise, knowledgeable, and perfect, we can pray to Him in confidence and trust. The practice of prayer will open our lives to him, so that His will can be done in and through us; and so the happy Father/child relationship will deepen.