Most of us have been taught something about prayer or have observed people praying before. When we are taught how to pray, sometimes well-meaning teachers actually oversimplify prayer.
Many of us have been taught that prayer is just “talking to God”; but that’s not entirely true. Prayer is more than just talking; it is our heart posture toward God. We tune ourselves into the will and presence of God through a focused exercise of speaking and listening.
The methods and modes of prayer we see in the scriptures teach us the heart positioning required to engage in two-way communication with God.
Effective prayer:
- Declares the truth of God to create soul alignment
- Creates space to hear the voice of God
- Ushers us into the presence of God.
When we turn toward God and focus on aligning with his will, the process and declaration of our coming to agreement with God is called, “prayer”.
Prayer in the Old Testament
Prayer was not formally instituted as a ritual at any specific moment in history, but evolved organically as humanity’s response to God. At the onset of the creation of mankind, in the Garden of Eden, Adam communicated with God directly. By the time of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prayer was seen as a natural expression of faith. God’s covenants with His people laid the foundation for prayer, creating a framework where humans could approach Him as part of a divine relationship.
The Torah introduced more structure to prayer, especially with the establishment of the priestly system and the tabernacle, where specific prayers and offerings were made. However, beside these corporate prayer practices, individual prayer remained a vital part of one’s relationship and covenant with God.
How was prayer practiced?
Prayer in the Old Testament was practiced in various ways:
- Private Prayer: People often prayed alone, pouring out their hearts to God. Examples include Hannah’s silent plea for a child (1 Samuel 1:10-13) and Elijah’s prayer for rain (1 Kings 18:36-39).
- Public Prayer: Leaders and priests offered prayers on behalf of the people during communal worship, national crises, or festivals. Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the Temple (1 Kings 8:22-53) is a prime example.
- Rituals and Sacrifices: Prayer was offered with sacrificial rituals, emphasizing repentance, thanksgiving, and dedication.
- Postures of Prayer: The physical expressions of prayer—standing, kneeling, bowing, or lifting hands—reflected focus, reverence, and submission to God.
- Corporate Prayer: Gatherings for prayer were central to Israel’s religious life, such as when the entire nation prayed for deliverance during battles or droughts.
Key Themes in Old Testament Prayer
- Covenant Relationship: Prayer often emphasized God’s faithfulness to His covenant promises.
- Praise and Thanksgiving: Many prayers, especially the Psalms, praised God for His attributes and deeds.
- Repentance: Prayers of confession and repentance (e.g., David in Psalm 51) were necessary for restoring relationship with God after sin.
- Intercession: Leaders like Abraham, Moses, and the prophets prayed on behalf of others, illustrating their roles as mediators.
- Dependence on God: Prayers acknowledged God as the ultimate source of help, provision, and deliverance.
Prayer in the Old Testament set the foundation for understanding a life centered on God, paving the way for the deeper intimacy with Him revealed in the New Testament through Christ.
The Lord’s Prayer
The model prayer taught by Jesus Christ to his disciples is most often referred to as, “The Lord’s Prayer”. On two separate occasions Jesus’ disciples asked him to teach them to pray (Matthew 6:5-13, Luke 11:1-4), and both times he lays out a model for prayer that:
- Establishes Sonship: Address God as “Father,” acknowledging the intimate relationship made possible through Christ.
- Begins with Praise: Hallow God’s name, praising his character, nature, and authority.
- Aligns with His Will: Pray “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,” seeking to establish God’s dominion in your life.
- Then Petitions: After establishing alignment with God, present your requests for provision and forgiveness.
The model prayer that Jesus teaches is necessary for understanding the heart posture of those who would enter into the new covenant in His blood, as sons and daughters of God, the Father. This was a new level of intimacy with God that Israel had not yet known; God was a covenant keeping Creator, but sonship was not a level of relationship that Israel had experienced with God to that point.
Jesus Christ was the only begotten Son of God; his claiming that God was his Father was highly controversial.
Scripture References
Video: Prayer Clinic – The Model Prayer
Prayer in the New Testament
In the New Testament, prayer is the heartbeat of a believer’s relationship with God. It is direct, personal communication with the Father, made possible through Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Building upon the model for personal prayer devotion given to the disciples by Jesus Christ, the apostles teach further on effective prayer, and introduce doctrine on praying in the Spirit, something that was not possible until after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Unlike the structured rituals of the Old Testament, New Testament prayer is characterized by its simplicity, authenticity, and focus on the inner transformation of the believer.
Prayer in the new covenant era is defined by:
- Access to God through Jesus: Jesus acts as the mediator between God and humanity (Hebrews 4:14-16). Through His sacrifice, believers are granted direct access to God, approaching Him with confidence and boldness.
- Reliance on the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit intercedes for believers, guiding and strengthening their prayers, even when words fail (Romans 8:26-27).
- A Call to Constant Prayer: Believers are urged to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), integrating prayer into every aspect of daily life.
How was prayer practiced?
- Private Prayer: Jesus often withdrew to pray alone, demonstrating the importance of solitude and personal communion with God (Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16).
- Corporate Prayer: Early believers gathered to pray together, especially for guidance, boldness, and during times of persecution (Acts 4:23-31, Acts 12:5).
- Intercessory Prayer: The New Testament focuses the believer to pray for others—leaders, fellow believers, and even enemies. Paul’s letters are filled with prayers for the spiritual growth and well-being of the church (Ephesians 1:15-23, Philippians 1:9-11).
- Prayers of Thanksgiving: Gratitude is a hallmark of New Testament prayer, with believers encouraged to give thanks in all circumstances to maintain communion with God (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
- In Jesus’ Name: Prayers are now offered in Jesus’ name, acknowledging His authority and role as the mediator between God and humanity (John 14:13-14).
- Prayers in the Spirit: Born-again believers can now pray “in the Spirit,” aligning their hearts and minds with God’s will by allowing the Holy Spirit to guide their prayers in an angelic language (1 Corinthians 14:14-15, Ephesians 6:18, Jude 1:20).
Key Themes in New Testament Prayer
- Intimacy with the Father: Jesus introduces God as “Father,” emphasizing a familial and loving relationship (Matthew 6:9).
- Faith and Trust: Prayer requires unwavering faith in God’s goodness and sovereignty (Mark 11:24, James 1:6-8).
- Forgiveness and Reconciliation: Prayer often includes seeking forgiveness and extending it to others (Matthew 6:12-15).
- Kingdom Focus: Prayer is centered on the advancement of God’s kingdom and His will being done on earth (Matthew 6:10).
What This Means For Me
Intimacy and constant contact with God are now possible through the Spirit and prayer. We can focus our attention and affection on God as we pray in the name of Jesus, aligning ourselves in agreement with God’s nature, character, wisdom, authority, presence, and power.
We become more like God as we pray, filtering our thoughts and emotions with the word of God and realignment with his will instead of our own. We use prayer to replace our own perspective with the perspective of God.
And once we see things like God sees them, all things are possible!
Key Study References
Matthew 6:5-13
Mark 11:22-26
John 10:31-37
1 John 5:14-15
1 Corinthians 14:14-15
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Matthew 6:5-13
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in 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 lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Mark 11:22-26
22And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. 25And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
John 10: 31-37
31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. 34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; 36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? 37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. 39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,
1 John 5:14-15
14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
1 Corinthians 14:14-15
14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Pray without ceasing.
