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More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.
Wherefore, let thy voice rise like a fountain for me night and day.
For what are men better than sheep or goats that nourish a blind life
within the brain,
If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer both for themselves and
those who call them friends?
For so the whole round earth is every way bound by gold chains about
the feet of God.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear
heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath
prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us
by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of
God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man
which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of
God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit
which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of
God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom
teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with
spiritual. (1
Cor 2:9-13)
Prayer
is a force often neglected to the detriment of our spiritual health and
well-being. If reduced to its simplest denominator, a man who does not pray
does not know the salvation of God. Prayer is the purest form of communion with
the Lord. An old military principle of the battlefield goes thusly: Move,
Shoot, and Communicate. This also fairly well summarizes the Christian
life. WE must go where God leads us to go whether into the halls of government,
the rooms of the hospital, or the jungles of a dark land. We must MOVE
according to God’s will and plan for our lives. We must also speak truth to
those who are in darkness. We bear our living testimonies before all observers.
The firepower of a Christian life, well lived, is the artillery of the Spirit.
But above all else, we must COMMUNICATE. The absence of the ability to
communicate with higher headquarters renders an army unit in the field
incapable of knowing the movements of sister units, but also unable to call for
coordinating fires. A Christian who ceases to pray loses the fellowship of the
Holy Ghost to comfort, guide and direct him in his struggle of life.
The
communication of prayer is not unlike an army in the field, or any other
endeavor requiring two-way communication. Though God desires to hear from His
children, He has far less need to know what we are thinking than we have need
to know what HE is thinking! In fact, God knows the burdens of our hearts
before we ask: 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.
(Matt 6:7-8)
But God does want to hear the voices of His children raised in prayer just as a
father desires to hear his son or daughter ask for some plaything, though he
may already have purchased it.31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat?
or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For
after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth
that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;
and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take
therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the
things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
(Matt 6:31-34)
There
are many forms and manners of prayer. In worship, we kneel to pray. Why do we
kneel in a formal worship service? We kneel as a matter of showing reverence to
God. In the worship service of the Reformation Church of England, our prayers
are called ‘communal’ prayers because these are prayers that are included in
the Book of Common Prayer with universal application to every supplicant. When
individuals pray, they may include supplications of a purely personal matter;
but common prayers are those whose supplications are relevant to every single
worshipper. A great example of a communal prayer is the Lord’s Prayer which is
prayed in every service of our church. It does not begin with the pronoun, MY,
but ‘OUR’ Father. We pray this prayer as having application to every worshipper
without exception.
There
are personal prayers of an extemporaneous nature. These may be long or brief.
Personal prayers that are of long duration usually have the effect of
comforting those who pray during times of grave sorrow or pain. Such prayers
may also be very brief and abrupt. An example of that prayer form is given in
Matthew 14:29, 30 and was spoken by the Apostle Peter when the urgency of the
moment did not permit a longer prayer. It consisted of three words only: Lord,
save me! as he began to sink into the depths of the sea.
Most
sincere prayers are not overly loud. God is not deaf to hear. We need not
scream out our supplications to God as an unruly child. The only purpose public
prayers, loudly proclaimed, serve is to allow all in earshot to know of our
affected piety in prayer. A very good example of both kinds is found in the
Gospel of St. Luke:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee,
and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I
thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust,
adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I
possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so
much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God
be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than
the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that
humbleth himself shall be exalted. (Luke 18:10-14) God will prefer the greater
humility in prayer to that pretentious one offered up by the Pharisee.
There
are, too, silent prayers offered in times of personal want and pleading. An
excellent example of the silent prayer is found in I Samuel and was offered by
Hannah in her petition for God to grant her a son: 9 So Hannah rose up after they
had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a
seat by a post of the temple of the LORD. 10 And she was in
bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. 11 And she vowed a vow, and
said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine
handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto
thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of
his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. 12 And it came to pass, as she
continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. 13 Now Hannah, she spake in her
heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought
she had been drunken. 14 And
Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. 15 And Hannah answered and said,
No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither
wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. 16 Count not thine handmaid for
a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I
spoken hitherto. 17 Then
Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy
petition that thou hast asked of him. (1 Sam 1:9-17)
One
of the greatest transgressions in the rule of prayer is to plead our wills
above that of our Lord. It should always be HIS will we seek to be done - for
His will is always better for us then our own. Thy
will be done! Another misconception we may harbor concerning prayer
is the belief that we cannot pray while standing, sitting, or driving an
automobile – or that we must pray aloud! We can utter a prayer when we see that
we may be in grave danger. God can hear the prayer even if we do not utter it
audibly. In fact, our very lives should be a prayer acted out in the will of
God our Father. We are to pray ALWAYS! Watch ye
therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these
things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. (Luke 21:36)
Let
us look briefly at the Lord’s Prayer which He gave us to pray: After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in
heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it
is in heaven. 11 Give us this day
our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 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. (Matt 6:9-13)
Please carefully note the elements
of this prayer. First, observe to whom it is, as a letter, addressed: OUR Father –
not MY Father. It is thus intended to be prayer in communal worship as well as
in the privacy of one’s closet. Next, see the address to whom the prayer is sent:
which art in Heaven. Every letter must
have a salutation, and this prayer is no exception: Hallowed
be thy name. Then comes the body of the letter of our prayer: Thy kingdom come. Many today are fearful of the
signs of the times. It is as if they dread the return of our Lord (and some
with good reason). We must look longingly for the return of our Lord to set all
things right.
Thy
will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. If we have put
on the Mind that is in Christ We should do His will on earth, and convince
others to do the same. This prayer only seeks one material benefit: Give us this day our daily bread. There is no
pretentious petition for fine clothes, jewelry, money, or porsches – just our
daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive
our debtors. We have no right to ask God to forgive the sins that we
do not forgive in our brethren. And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil. God never will tempt us, but
He can watch over those who are prayerful to avoid temptation; and He can
surely deliver us from evil. Though evil may come, God will give us power to
overcome it. For thine is the kingdom, and the
power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Every cordial letter should
include a benediction and a closing. We have these in the final line of the
Lord’s Prayer as seen above.
Prayer
is a subject that may cover many volumes, but the simple cry of the righteous
should suffice.
