Lesson 5: Why and How Do I Pray?
Key scripture: “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” (1 John 5:14)
Prayer is mainly the process of understanding God’s heart and asking according to His will. Through this, believers can gradually transition from depending on human rewards and punishments to seeking God’s affirmation. Knowing God’s desires enables believers to receive heavenly joy. Conversely, those who constantly expect human affirmation or rewards will often fall into anxiety or nervousness, making it difficult to trust in Jesus wholeheartedly. Here are several essential points in Christian prayer.
1) Pray to the Lord Jesus Christ with the hope that He can help or save you (Romans 10:12). Conversely, if a person does not seek Jesus’ help in times of trouble, it is difficult for him or her to be saved. “For ‘whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.'” (Romans 10:13 NKJV; Acts 2:21)
2) Hand over all your worries to Jesus, praying with gratitude. Pour out your heart to Him, and He will change your heart and grant you peace. Conversely, not asking our Father God is evil for believers (James 4:2).
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
3) Pray to Jesus at any time, asking for practical help in times of need. “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
4) Prayer must be sincere (Matthew 6:7-8) and not long-winded (Matthew 23:14). Do not lose heart in prayer but pray according to God’s righteousness (Luke 18:1-8). Conversely, unconfessed sin (Isaiah 59:2), unforgiveness (Matthew 6:14-15), rebellion, hardness of heart (Isaiah 63:10), or asking for selfish pleasures (James 4:3) will hinder prayers from being answered. Furthermore, if God were to grant wrong requests, people’s souls would be weakened (Psalm 106:15).
5) Pray with the Lord’s Prayer. Believers share the same Heavenly Father with Jesus Christ (Matthew 6:9). We must hallow His name (Numbers 20:12; Isaiah 8:13), following His guidance strictly, allow God’s power to work within us, and ask for His kingdom and sovereignty to come upon earth, that His will may be realized in us and through us (Matthew 6:10 ff).
6) Those who pray with a pure heart (Matthew 5:8) and in faith will receive His rewards. When necessary, find a quiet place to pray (Mark 1:35), wait on God, and listen to the voice of Jesus and become His sheep (John 10:27).
“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
7) Most importantly, pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, which means seeking and following the heart, guidance, and leading of the Lord (1 John 5:14). In corporate prayers, if two or three people agree according to the Lord’s will or desire, our requests will be granted (Matthew 18:19).
Discussion questions:
1. When you encounter trouble, who do you usually turn to for help? Do you need to build a habit of turning to Jesus first? If so, how will you establish this habit?
2. Practice an attitude of thanksgiving while praying to God. Observe how your mood changes and what the outcome is.
3. There is a reward for praying to God. When you receive a reward, you should testify to (share it with) others. Will you do this?
4. When there is a clear conflict between your own desires and God’s will, how do you usually choose? Why?