Prayer - What is it to a Christian?

"For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer,..." 1 Peter 3:12

According to the Bible, there was a time when God and Adam walked together in the garden and conversed as friend.

"Then prayer was as natural as conversation with a colleague or a lover" (Front leaf cover of Peter Yancey's book "PRAYER- Does it make any Difference?")

In the back flip cover of the same book, Yancey writes, "If prayer stands as a place where God and Human beings meet, then I must learn about prayer."

All human being pray regardless of their beliefs, men pray and have always prayed. History records prayers long before the time of Moses, and the Bible informs us that men shall pray to the end of time, even if it be only to the rocks and mountains.

Most of these ancient prayers were not, of course, prayers in a Biblical sense. They were generally offered only in times of emergencies, such as an earthquake, an important battle, a pestilence, prolonged drought, or some other great calamity. They were motivated by fear, often the desire for revenge on enemies; for the Christian concepts of love and concern for the welfare of others appear to be completely absent in some primitive peoples. Their prayers were prayers for themselves and for the destruction of their enemies. Utter selfishness lay at the root of such petitions.

Prayer is part of man's nature, whatever his skin. We call attention to this universal practice to stress the fact that prayer is a natural phenomenon common to all mankind. Many non-Christians pray habitually more than do Christians, as witness the Mohammedans and other Eastern religions. Prayer is inborn in man, a part of his nature. Missionaries capitalize on this implanted prayer habit and find it an excellent means to approach to uncivilized people. These people pray already. They need to have their prayers directed to the God of all, the One who made the heavens and the earth.

For the Christian, love of God is the true motive that leads him to pray. Fear, hatred of his enemies, selfishness, love of show, find no place in his thinking. He prays when he is in danger and asks God for protection from harm and accidents; he prays when he is sick or facing serious problems; but he has in mind that these are not the primary motives for prayer. The real ground lies deeper. Therefore, we find Daniel, when faced with the decree that under pain of death no one might pray to the God of heaven, "..., he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime". Daniel 6:10. He did not change his practice because of the decree. This illustrates Christian prayer at its best.

An appeal to God for help in time of crisis is right and proper. The Bible is filled with examples of this kind of prayer. However, we have to keep in mind that this is not to be the prevalent form of prayer, nor is it of the highest kind. Prayer should not be dependent on a crisis.

Some are reluctant to call on God when they face a difficult situation, because they have neglected prayer previously. However, God is always pleased to have us pray; so no one need feel hesitant. It sometimes takes a special event to start the prayer habit and supply the needed incentive; God recognizes this, and there are occasions when God Himself supplies the event. Israel "... wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses." Psalm 107:4-6. When some rebelled against the Lord, " and He humbled their heart with labor; they fell down, and none was helping. Then they cried to Jehovah in their distress, and He saved them out of their troubles." Psalms 107:12-13 "Fools are afflicted because of their rebellion, and because of their iniquities. Their soul hates all kinds of food; and they draw near the gates of death. Then they cry to Jehovah in their distress, and He saves them out of their troubles. "." Psalms 107:17-19 "They who go down to the sea in ships, who do business in great waters; these see the works of Jehovah and His wonders in the deep. For He commands and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up its waves." Psalms 107:23-25 "And they cry to Jehovah in their trouble, and He brings them out of their troubles." Psalms 107:28

These incidents reveal that the Lord uses all manner of means to call men to Him. He did that in older times, and He does this today. God has many ways to incite men to prayer. The profound issues before the world teach men to pray as well as to think, and God uses them to further His aim.

At a time such as this, it is well for the people of God to take stock of themselves. Have they any power in prayer that the world does not have? Are they taking advantage of the power that is at their command? Have they learned to pray? Have they learned to wrestle with god in prayer? And are they finding in prayer their stay and help? "Men ought always to pray." In a special sense, this applies to our present time.

Prayer is the highest spiritual exercise of the soul. In its deeper form it passes into communication and fellowship with God, opens the doors to the throne room of the universe, and converses with God as with a friend. In the earthly temple, the Mosaic priest came nearest to God when morning and evening he offered incense on the altar. Likewise, the Christian comes closest to God in his daily devotions, as his prayers ascend with sweet incense of Christ's righteousness to the throne of the Almighty.

Some Christians consider prayer a duty to be discharged at stated times to please God. When they have performed their devotions, they rest content that they have done what is required of them. They feel that they have reminded God of what He might otherwise forget or neglect, but to which He will now doubtless give attention. God loves these dear souls who daily call upon Him as a matter of duty; and from heaven, He sends the answer to their prayers when it is most needed. He knows the sincere desire of their hearts and overlooks their imperfect approach.

Nevertheless, most Christians pray not as a matter of duty but because they feel the need of communion with their Maker. Some use prayer books and recite the beautifully worded prayers prepared for their use. Others pray extemporaneously, pouring out their soul's desire in their heart language that God understands. They pray for loved ones, for missionaries in far-off fields, for the sick and afflicted, for persecuted ones and those that suffer reproach for the Lord's sake; they humbly petition God for forgiveness for their many shortcomings and for daily strength, and then leave their case with God. God loves to hear them pray.

More Than a Duty

The Bible not only encourages us to pray, but commands it. "... men ought always to pray, and not to faint;..." Luke 18:1 says the Savior. This makes prayer a Christian duty that should on no account be neglected.

Nevertheless, to the true Christian, prayer is more than a duty: it is a high and blessed privilege. Paul speaks of love, as a duty when he says, "So ought men to love their wives..." Ephesians 5:28. There is indeed an "ought" phase to love as there is to prayer. However, in both cases the privilege phase far exceeds the duty aspect. No man truly loves his wife considers it his duty to do so. To him it is not a duty or a task; it is a privilege.

There are some vital questions that come to mind as we consider prayer. Some doubt that prayer accomplishes anything aside from the reflex influence it has on the one who prays. Does prayer ever change the mind of God and make Him alter His intent? Are answers to prayer only wishful thinking? Is prayer effective in the field of bodily infirmities? Is anyone ever healed of organic difficulty? Are souls saved because we pray? Is real communion with God possible? We shall consider these and other questions as we proceed. It is time that we face the subject of prayer realistically. This we shall do.

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