Room With A View: How To Pray!
Two weeks ago, we began a series “A Room with a View: Perspectives on Prayer.” This room has served to assist us in illustrating the various topics during this series – Our need to pray to God, various challenges and distractions that we often face when we pray, And, TODAY . . . it will help me teach you the Basics – How to pray.
We chose a “Room” theme based on a statement Jesus made in the middle of one of his teaching times with His Disciples (and others). In the middle of the Sermon on the Mount , Jesus instructed them about prayer:
Matthew 6:5-8 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
The temptation to use “vain repetitions” goes away because there is no one around to impress.
So, my goal today is to expose you to an idea…a model if you will – though not a rigid model – of how you can practice real, intimate, soul searching prayer. And, there is no ‘one-way’ to pray…as the Bible is full of examples of people praying in various formats and lengths.
II Chronicles 6:12, 14 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands . . . 14 and he said: “LORD God of Israel, there is no God in heaven or on earth like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.
Regardless of the type of prayer, the length of prayer, and even the content of prayer . . . GOD HEARS THEM ALL!!!
There is no ‘one-way’ to pray…as the Bible is full of examples of people praying in various formats and lengths. So, even though one can’t be “prescriptive” in saying “Here’s how the right way to pray is!”. . . I do want to offer some keys that will help you guide a dynamic, personal prayer time.
And it is taken from one of the most familiar portions of God’s Word – The Lord’s Prayer:
Matt. 6:9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Fortunately, Jesus did not leave us adrift on a sea of human opinion as it relates to a pattern for an effective prayer life. Amid life’s rush and among the rut of “how we always did things,” we forget His basic pattern. I want to introduce you to a new way of looking at our Lord’s pattern for your prayer life.
This simple, balanced approach has given many believers the handles they look for to follow a biblical pattern of prayer. It is discussed in the book: the 29/59 plan. It can provide a new enthusiasm for prayer and became a pattern that works for people who struggled previously.
The diagram below is patterned after the “4/4 musical beat.” As a prayer tool it is an effective way by which the Holy Spirit can direct our hearts in a balanced and biblical format of communion with the Lord.
1. The Upward Stroke—Reverence
In the prayer pattern Jesus gave His disciples, He urges us to begin with a focus of worship.
Matthew 6:9 “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”
In the normal course of prayer, effective prayer is worship-based, not need-based. It begins with the character of God as we take time to focus our entire beings on the wonders of who God is. He is the “Father” with whom we have a secure and loving relationship through Christ. Yet, He is “in heaven” as the sovereign and great God, ruling the world by His might and wisdom. His name (and character) is holy and set apart from everything else in this world.
To experience this time of prayer, do not ask God for anything. Instead, give Him the glory and honor due His name in a spirit of biblical and heart-felt worship. To accomplish this, read the Psalms or other portions of Scripture.
Also, try to focus on the attributes of God mentioned in these passages. Some commonly available tools used to guide our focus are the listings of the names of God, attributes of God, and names of Jesus. Praise Him from the heart for who He is, giving His name reverence.
2. The Downward Stroke—Response
Jesus taught a second element of biblical prayer when He said,
Matthew 6:10 “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
“WE WANT TO DISCOVER GOD’S WILL IN HEAVEN SO WE CAN DO IT ON EARTH. WE DO THIS THROUGH THE WORD AND HIS SPIRIT SPEAKING TO US IN PRAYER?” This stroke is our response to God’s character in prayer. During this segment we yield to the control of the Holy Spirit and we recommit to God’s kingdom purposes. Introspection and surrender mark this time of response. Pledge obedience to the will and Word of God, desiring that His perfect will be accomplished in our lives. Confession could be a part of this segment.
The most practical tool for this stroke is an open Bible. The will of God is the Word of God. The best way to talk to God about His purposes is in His own words. Having just reverenced the Lord in worship, respond to His character and plan through His Word.
Psalm 119:35 “Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it.”
Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
The will of God is the Word of God. The best way to talk to God about His purposes is in His own words. In yielding to the Holy Spirit, we read God’s holy Word in our times of prayer so that we might fulfill His holy will.
3. The Inward Stoke—Requests
Matthew 6:11-12 “Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” This is the next element Christ teaches in His model prayer. This involves a period of heartfelt requests with the themes of provision and purity.
Of course, Jesus had just said our Father knows our needs before we ask.
Matthew 6:8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”
This is not a time of informing God of our needs as much as it is a conscious trust in God as the perfect provider of our needs. During this time, you should pray about personal requests and the concerns of others. I would also encourage and teach people to pray prayers for those outside the church—the lost. Those we have such great burdens for who are outside of the will of God.
Also, remember matters that are more corporate in nature, such as congregational challenges or broader issues in the body of Christ. In all this, recognize that Philippians 4:19 says:
“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
A prayer journal or request list is useful during this stroke to keep track of needs and a record of God’s answers. It is important to remember the Request segment follows Reverence and Response.
As Jesus said in John 15:7 “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”
Only after we have truly worshiped and surrendered our wills to God do we have the proper perspective on our needs.
Not only is God’s provision a key concern during this stroke, but so is purity. We commit ourselves to lives of purity and forgiveness, living with a clear conscience before God and man. We pledge to seek and extend forgiveness daily. Purity is the key to harmony and unity in the body of Christ and must not be neglected in our prayer times with the Lord.
4. The Outward Stroke—Readiness
Matthew 6:13a “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil . . .”
While we would love to stay in the posture and pleasure of prayer all day long, we must get off our knees and into the daily battle. The outward stroke reminds us of the spiritual contest before us and, more importantly, reassures us of the spiritual resources within us.
When we pray, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” we recognize our own inability to overcome the temptations and attacks of daily life. We entrust our welfare in the warfare to the delivering power of our Divine Enabler.
This can be a time of meditation and memorization of God’s Word as we gird ourselves with the sword of the Spirit and prepare to counteract personal temptation and spiritual attack. This is exactly what the Savior did. By having the “treasure of truth” stored in our hearts and ready on our lips, we trust in His victory to carry us through the day.
This model of prayer concludes on the same note it began—on a high note of praise. Like the modern version of the Lord’s Prayer that we recite,
Matthew 6:13b “. . . For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.”
After giving our attention to:
reverential worship,
submissive response,
thoughtful requests, and
spiritual readiness,
. . . it is natural to finish with a strong reminder of our awesome God to whom we pray and in whom we trust.
His kingdom is unshakable; His power, unmatched; and His glory, unimaginable. With this balanced approach, we avoid mindless and meaningless prayer times. Try to follow the “4/4 time” pattern of prayer, not rigidly, but as an overall pattern for a variety of prayerful expressions. As the Holy Spirit takes the role of “conductor,” let Him turn your struggle into a symphony of balanced, biblical prayer for your soul’s good and God’s glory.
The Upward Stroke—Reverence
“God, you are an awesome God. And we have seen your mighty hand work in this place. Just as you sustained the children of Israel of old, you have sustained us with your power, might, and love…and we thank you for it. We praise you for who You are and what You’ve done!”
The Downward Stroke—Response
“You tell us that your Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. We will continue to follow your word. You tell me as the pastor of this congregation to ‘Preach the Word, be ready in season and out of season, [to] reprove, rebuke, [and] exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.’ So, help me – help US – stay close to your Word.”
The Inward Stoke—Requests
“You know, Lord, that there are many needs in this place [you can name some] but we want you to know that our trust is in YOU and you alone to sustain us through these trying times.”
The Outward Stroke—Readiness
“Lord, you have commissioned us to ‘Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.’ And, we will do just that! Empower us. Protect us. Give us the courage to preach the Gospel in Your name! We long to see men/women/boys/girls come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.”
The Upward Stroke—Reverence
“. . . For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.”
At the beginning of this sermon, I quoted out of 2 Chronicles 5 where Solomon offered a prayer of dedication for the Temple. In just the previous chapter, we see a perfect picture of what prayer can do in our lives.
2 Chron 5:13 indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever,” that the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.
Coming into the room, experiencing the presence of God in a way that we can’t understand, that is the result of an intimate conversation with God. That is our goal in prayer, that is our hope, that is our reward.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
