Prayer is talking to God: Not going to him with a personal shopping list. Jesus taught his followers how to pray with what we now know as “The Lord’s Prayer” (Matthew 6.9-13). Here’s a summary of those points:
- Acknowledge God as your heavenly father (Our father who art in heaven)
- Worship him (Hallowed be thy name)
- Agree with and accept his will (thy kingdom come, thy will be done)
- Cleanse your soul afresh (forgive us our trespasses)
- Commit to his righteousness (as we forgive those who trespass against us)
- Ask for help being a good Christian (lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil)
- Finish as you started, worshiping and acknowledging God’s place in your life (for thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever)
Notice that in the Lord’s prayer, the first and last parts both stress how we think and are living our lives. Right relationship with God is everything! When we do ask for something in our lives, it’s important that your request agrees with God’s will. “Please give me money for a bike for Johnny” might make sense to you, but “Give me the wisdom to be a better mother to Johnny” may be a better choice (James 1.5).
Reciting the Lord’s prayer is a great way to learn how to pray, but prayer should be a conversation from the heart rather than a playback of words that you don’t really mean. Sometimes I’ll recite it by changing the words “we and our” to “I and me”…. “Forgive ME MY trespasses, as I forgive those who trespass against ME.” Often prayer is more about changing us and our direction than it is about changing God and his direction, but make no mistake about it: If you’re a Christian asking for the right things from a right heart, your heavenly father very much does answer prayers!
Does God answer all prayers?
Does he answer the sincere prayers of unbelievers to accept the gift of salvation through faith in his son Jesus? Absolutely: “... and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6.37
Does he answer selfish and lustful prayers, even from his children? Yes, if you consider “NO” an answer: “ You ask and receive not because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts.” James 4.2-3
Does he answer prayers of true Christians who are abiding in Christ and asking in accord with God’s will? Yes, very much so: “The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5.16