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A Christian cannot live (survive and grow) without prayer. Communication and fellowship with God is as important as (or more important than) any other "basic necessity" of life. For the one who has died to himself and who is now alive in Christ, prayer, united with consistent, diligent Bible study, is the basis for all of life. Without these, one cannot know God's will; he cannot know how to live. He cannot know God. Who would ever think of neglecting his body to the extent that many who call themselves "Christians" neglect their souls? Let us encourage each other that we will not be found guilty of such a sin!!
The Bible says much about prayer. And a serious study of this topic will yield many discoveries. Some of the discoveries may be "disturbing" - if they require a change in one's habits or life-style. Yet, for the person who desires to be more like his "Father in heaven," he will be thankful to discover how he needs to change...even though he must come face to face with his weaknesses and failings. He has no need to go on a "guilt trip." Instead of self-pity, he can give thanks to God for what God has already done in his life, and trust Him for the strength to improve in his prayer life in the days and years to come. He can strive toward the goal that the Bible has for God's people.
A few suggestions (or pointers) for your own study of the concept of prayer are as follows:
1) There are many words used to communicate the concept of prayer. A few of these include: prayer, request, ask, supplication, vow, entreaty, thanksgiving, praise, worship, beg, confess, beseech, intercession, and appeal. Each of these words describe various aspects of the diverse topic of prayer. A study of some of these concepts could be very rewarding.
2) Many verses describe the "mechanics" of prayer - that is, how people pray. (There are also some specific commands.) When such verses are found, one should focus not only on the "technique" being described (such as whether or not the individual kneeled, or stood with his hands uplifted), but also on the reason he prayed that way. Focus on attitudes. Also focus on the person's motivations for praying. What did prayer mean to him?
3) It would be very helpful to study the types of things people prayed about: the content of their prayers. Perhaps a good place to begin would be "the Lord's prayer" (or "example") given in Matthew 6. (Some have suggested that, if viewed as a broad outline, this prayer covers nearly everything that can be a part of prayer!) As an alternative, maybe you could begin with Jesus' prayer in John 17 or with the prayers of Paul in the epistles. It might be helpful to compare your emphasis - the types of things you pray about - with theirs. (As you examine these things, don't forget to consider the context in which the prayers occur. This could also be very instructive.)
4) Another thing to consider would be the results of prayer. Were there immediate results? (What were they?) Were there long-term results? ..."unexpected" results? Were prayers ever left "unanswered" or did the "wrong" answer ever occur? Why?
5) Finally, perhaps you could study the promises and warnings associated with prayer. What was the responsibility on the people's part? ...conditions that needed to be met before God answered? Are there times when a person should not pray? What is the relationship of prayer to other areas of one's life? ...to one's relationship with God? ...and with other people? How does prayer fit into the supreme command to love God with all one's heart, soul, strength and mind, and to love one's neighbor as one's own self?
It is our hope that these thoughts will encourage you to examine the concept of prayer, as it is portrayed in the Bible. But do not stop there!! Learning facts about prayer (though important) does not turn one into a "prayer warrior." Learn to practice prayer! Make prayer an increasing part of your life!!
Do not for a moment expect praying to be easy. Expect to need plenty of "self denial," if you want to learn to pray. Don't be surprised if you frequently need to confess to God attitudes of disinterest, a wandering mind, or a desire to do anything but pray. Do you think that Satan is going to let you pray without a fight? (The same would hold true when you try to study the Bible.)
You will be forced to make value judgments. There will be other things that scream out "Urgent, urgent!!!" whereas prayer quietly whispers "This is more important." Remember: there are only 168 hours in a week...and you already have 10,000 hours worth of things you would like to accomplish. You cannot do everything. You will have to make choices...and your choices will be a reflection of your values. (If you have difficulty in the area of priorities, you might wish to study the life and teachings of Jesus, as recorded in the gospels.)
As you grow in your prayer life (and in your study of the Bible), you will see changes in your life. Such changes may be slow; you may at times (it may seem quite often) experience "defeat." But you must learn to keep your eyes on the goal. When you "fall," you must get up again and continue to follow Christ. You must keep a focus on what he wants you to be, rather than on your failures.
As you grow in your prayer life, you will also grow in your trust in God. You will learn how he works, experiencing it in your own life. You will see how he controls all the things in your life (both good and bad) so that, in the end (not always now), they will all accomplish good. (See Romans 8:28 and the verses surrounding it.) You will better recognize the display of his mighty power, accomplishing things that you could never do on your own. You will learn to rely more and more on his promises, for you will see that he does not fail. You will increasingly view God as a Friend and Father, rather than an impersonal "supreme being"...someone you know, rather than merely know about.
Yet it must be restated: it will not be without struggle. There will be "victories," but there will also be times of anguish. Learn this at the start, and you will not be as distressed and bewildered when it happens. God uses all these things to accomplish his goals in our lives, to develop within us the qualities of the godly life that he desires. And surely, isn't this what we sincerely desire, also?
Dennis Hinks © 1992