The Privilege of Prayer

Everyone engages in prayer at one time or another. Even that person who says “I don’t believe in God,” cries out when the crisis looms, “O God, help me!” We are all acquainted with prayer to some extent or another.

Prayer is one of the greatest privileges God has given to man. It amazes me that I can come into the presence of God, the Creator of this universe, and talk with Him. And what’s more—He always listens to me!

I’m also amazed that God has given me the privilege of talking with Him at any time. I don’t have to make an appointment or call in advance. I can come at any hour, for any need, and open my heart before Him. And God not only listens, He’s also promised to help me! He’s promised to guide me and to provide for my every need.

I imagine one of the great mysteries among the angels in heaven is that man has been given this glorious privilege of prayer, yet he takes such little advantage of it and treats it in such a peculiar way.

Many people treat prayer as a religious work that they must do. After they have prayed for a time, they expect a merit badge for their work. “After all, I prayed a whole hour.” As if one should be rewarded for talking to God!

Many people determine to pray an hour a day because it seems like an honorable thing to do. They start the hour of prayer by lifting up every request imaginable. Then, when ten minutes has gone by and they’ve run out of things to say, they start over again. They go through the list a few more times. Finally, the hour is over and they feel good. “Praise the Lord! I’ve spent a whole hour praying.” They go their way convinced that they’ve done their duty and fulfilled their obligation.

Prayer should never be done by the clock. It should never be looked upon as an obligation, a required work, or a duty.

Remember, the length of your prayer isn’t important at all. Often, there just isn’t enough time for lengthy prayers. For instance, suppose that your car is stalled on the railroad tracks and the train is heading your way. If it takes a long prayer to do the job—you’ve had it!

Jesus warned us, “When ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking” (Matthew 6:7). Many people criticize the Catholics for their repetitious use of Hail Mary’s and Our Fathers. But continually repeating, “Jesus! Jesus!” or “Glory! Glory!” or any other phrase is also using vain repetition. When you pray you’re actually talking to the Father. You should talk to Him intelligently. Don’t repeat the same words over and over again like a mantra. It will get you nowhere.

Scope of Prayer

The Christian has one source of power in his life: the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you” (Acts 1:8). He is the source of power in your life.

However, your greatest outlet of spiritual power is prayer. I can do more for God through prayer than I can through any other means, including service. Prayer binds the strong man of the house, whereas service is going in and taking the spoil. I can do more than pray after I have prayed, but I really can’t do more than pray until I have prayed. My service to God, though important, is limited to one place. Prayer, however, is limitless in its scope. It can reach around the world.

Through prayer I can spend one-half hour of my life in South America, doing work for the kingdom of God by strengthening the hands of the missionaries. Then I can go to Mexico and spend some time with my friends who are ministering there. I can help them in their ministry by praying for the effectiveness of the tracts they distribute and the words they speak. Then I can move into China and pray for the church there. I can touch a world for God through prayer right from my own closet.

Rewards

Jesus said, “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites” (Matthew 6:5). The word hypocrite in Greek is hupokrites. The actors in classical Greek drama would wear character masks. These actors were called hupokrites.

In other words, Jesus said, “When you pray, don’t be as one who merely puts on an act for the benefit of other people. Don’t be as the hupokrites who like to pray standing in the synagogues and on street corners to be seen by men.”

From this Scripture many people have assumed that public prayer is wrong. That’s certainly not what Jesus said. Jesus himself prayed in public. The early Church also gathered together for public prayer. The Bible says the believers continued daily in the apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers (Acts 2:42). Prayer is an essential part of our gathering together.

But be careful that you’re not praying to impress men rather than to communicate to God. This is an especially real danger for ministers, because we pray publicly so often. The real temptation comes at the close of a sermon, when I subtly repeat the major points of my message in the closing prayer to make sure the people understood it. I’m supposedly talking to God, but I’m actually trying to bring my point home to the people one more time.

In my early ministry I was almost ruined by public prayer. One day a lady said to me, “You pray the most beautiful prayers.” So I thought, “I’ll sharpen up on that. I’ll make my prayers even more beautiful!” I became so interested in impressing people with the beauty of my prayers that I forgot I was actually talking to the Father.

There’s a real danger in praying to impress people with how righteous, godly, and spiritually deep you think you are.

Jesus spoke of two rewards. The first one is given by men. It is given to the person who prays in public with the motivation of impressing people with how spiritual he is. He will be rewarded by someone saying, “Oh, he’s so spiritual!”

The motivation of the Pharisees was just that—to make a display of their spirituality. On their way to the synagogue they acted as though they were consumed with spiritual zeal. They had to stop on the street corner and say their prayers right there! They were actually saying, “I’m so holy, I can’t wait till I get to the synagogue to pray!” They received their reward – the praise of man (Matthew 6:5).

On the other hand, Jesus said to go into your closet, shut the door and pray to your Father who sees in secret. Then your Father will reward you openly (Matthew 6:6).

Prayer is rewarding. Even false prayers spoken for man’s acclamation are rewarding. But from which source do you want your reward—man or God?

Habits

Oftentimes we fall into peculiar prayer habits. If we’re impressed by a certain way a person prays, we’ll incorporate their idiosyncrasies into our own prayers.

For instance, I may acquire a particular “prayer voice” by expressing my words with a little vibrato and sustain. “Oohh, God.” Of course, I wouldn’t dare talk to another person that way because he’d think I was weird. I wonder what I’d do if my kids would come to me and say, “Oohhh, dear Father!” Also, praying in Old English vocabulary sounds so much more spiritual. So, I revert to King James English instead of the Revised Standard for my prayers.

Jesus said that your Father knows what you need before you even ask Him (Matthew 6:8). So, just ask! God doesn’t need to be sold a bill of goods. He’s going to answer either yes or no, regardless of how you say it.

Jesus said, “Ask [please ask], and ye shall receive” (John 16:24). By asking, you open the door for God to do what He’s wanted to do and to bless you like He’s wanted to bless you all along.

Form for Prayer

Jesus gave us a basic form for prayer. “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father…” (Matthew 6:9). This prayer form immediately reveals that which is vital for effective prayer, a close personal relationship between the petitioner and God.

Your relationship to God is often manifested in how you address Him.

Some people begin their prayers with “Almighty God.” If that’s your relationship, then that’s the way you should talk to Him. If you don’t really know Him as your Father, then you should address Him as “Almighty God” or “Eternal God.”

But, thank God, through Jesus Christ I can have a beautiful Father/son relationship. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God” (1 John 3:1). Think of it! We’ve been called sons of God. I can now come to Him and say, “Father!”

But only through Jesus Christ can we be sons. Those outside of Jesus Christ have a distant relationship to the almighty, eternal God. But you, through Jesus Christ, have come into an intimate relationship. You may say, “Our Father, which art in heaven.”

John said, “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12). God has given each of us “the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God” (Romans 8:15,16). Because I’m His child, I naturally call Him “Father.” Relationship is of vital importance in prayer.

Jesus continues His model prayer with praise and worship. “Hallowed be thy name” (Matthew 6:9). Worship is an important part of prayer. “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise” (Psalm 100:4). Too often we just rush right in and blurt out our requests. To enrich your prayer life, just praise Him for awhile. Then present your petitions.

The first two petitions in Jesus’ model prayer are in the form of intercession. “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done” (Matthew 6:10). Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these [other] things [that you’re so often praying about] shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart” (Psalm 37:4).

So many times men seek happiness by direct pursuit. But happiness can never be discovered by direct pursuit. Happiness is the by-product of a personal relationship with God. If you have a right relationship with God, you will be filled with happiness.

In prayer, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you. They’ll be the by-product of a proper perspective of life. “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done.” Put those at the top of your list, and you’ll find that God will take care of all the other things you’ve struggled with and have failed to accomplish.

You can come to God and make your needs and your requests known to Him. You can open your heart to Him and lay bear the innermost secrets of your soul. You can have such a blessed time by talking with the Father and finding His help, strength, and guidance.

What a privilege it is to pray! May God help you to discover the full, beautiful experience of prayer—not as a work, not as a task, not as a duty, not as a burden, not as an obligation—but the most joyous privilege in the world!