Beloved Kinney,
Prayer is a struggle for many of us. We’re busy. Our minds wander. We pray the same things
over and over. Sometimes we don’t know what to pray. Sometimes we don’t know how to pray.
And yet, the sad reality that we are all too familiar with is that we should pray more. As Michael Reeves said, if Christians “are not enjoying communion with God, they are selling a product they don’t really believe in.” (Reeves, Enjoy Your Prayer Life, 10)
To encourage you to pray more, I want to help you think about what prayer is. Donald Whitney says, “prayer is talking to God” (Pray the Bible, 11), but is that all it is? Satan can talk to God. But I’m not sure we would call that prayer. You can talk to God but say untrue things about him. “Lord, I know that you can’t control all the bad things that happen in this world because you don’t know everything.” Is that prayer? Maybe. But it’s definitely not good prayer.
When we pray, we should say true things to and about God. This is one reason why Daniel
Brendsel says “prayer is…our word of response to the God who initiates the conversation.”
(Answering Speech, 5) God has spoken to us in his Word. He’s revealed who he is, who we are, and what he desires/commands. So prayer is our word response to God’s word initiated.
But still, we can verbally say true things about God in response to his self-revelation. But is that true prayer? A computer or a parrot could repeat true things verbally about God.
This is why Michael Reeves, in his book Enjoy Your Prayer Life, helpfully points out that prayer must be more than simply saying words to God. Remember what Jesus said to the religious leaders of his day, who looked really good on the outside, but had dead hearts? “You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me…” (Matt. 15:7-9)
So prayer is more than (though not less than) talking to God and saying true things to God.
Prayer must include our hearts. Paul Tautges says prayer is “an expression of God-
dependency.” (Pray About Everything, 7) John Calvin said prayer is “the chief exercise of faith.” (Institutes)
So here’s how we might summarize the nature of prayer: Prayer is our word-response to God’s initiating word that expresses our faith-filled dependence on him, as his redeemed children.
In the weeks to come, I want to break down that definition of prayer. And then, give some tips on how to enjoy your prayer life. Until then…pray!
Love,
Pastor Josh
Prayer is a struggle for many of us. We’re busy. Our minds wander. We pray the same things
over and over. Sometimes we don’t know what to pray. Sometimes we don’t know how to pray.
And yet, the sad reality that we are all too familiar with is that we should pray more. As Michael Reeves said, if Christians “are not enjoying communion with God, they are selling a product they don’t really believe in.” (Reeves, Enjoy Your Prayer Life, 10)
To encourage you to pray more, I want to help you think about what prayer is. Donald Whitney says, “prayer is talking to God” (Pray the Bible, 11), but is that all it is? Satan can talk to God. But I’m not sure we would call that prayer. You can talk to God but say untrue things about him. “Lord, I know that you can’t control all the bad things that happen in this world because you don’t know everything.” Is that prayer? Maybe. But it’s definitely not good prayer.
When we pray, we should say true things to and about God. This is one reason why Daniel
Brendsel says “prayer is…our word of response to the God who initiates the conversation.”
(Answering Speech, 5) God has spoken to us in his Word. He’s revealed who he is, who we are, and what he desires/commands. So prayer is our word response to God’s word initiated.
But still, we can verbally say true things about God in response to his self-revelation. But is that true prayer? A computer or a parrot could repeat true things verbally about God.
This is why Michael Reeves, in his book Enjoy Your Prayer Life, helpfully points out that prayer must be more than simply saying words to God. Remember what Jesus said to the religious leaders of his day, who looked really good on the outside, but had dead hearts? “You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me…” (Matt. 15:7-9)
So prayer is more than (though not less than) talking to God and saying true things to God.
Prayer must include our hearts. Paul Tautges says prayer is “an expression of God-
dependency.” (Pray About Everything, 7) John Calvin said prayer is “the chief exercise of faith.” (Institutes)
So here’s how we might summarize the nature of prayer: Prayer is our word-response to God’s initiating word that expresses our faith-filled dependence on him, as his redeemed children.
In the weeks to come, I want to break down that definition of prayer. And then, give some tips on how to enjoy your prayer life. Until then…pray!
Love,
Pastor Josh
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