A reader recently sent in this question using the “Submit a Question” section in the sidebar:
What is a prayer?
Now that is a concise question! Ha! Of course, it cannot be answered so concisely…but I will try.
What is prayer?
Why do we think this is what prayer looks like?
We can always begin by defining prayer according to the standard
English, Greek, and Hebrew dictionaries, but I think that the person who
asks “What is prayer?” is not so much looking for the dictionary
definition of prayer, but rather, how to pray, and how to see answers to
prayer.
So in trying to answer the question, “What is prayer?” I think the simplest and most practical answer is best.
You see, most people learn about prayer by listening to others pray,
and this often leads to some very bad prayer habits and practices. Most
people, when they pray, seem to think that prayer requires a spiritual
tone of voice, a new set of words, a sing-songy cadence and rhythm, and
maybe even the repetition of certain words or phrases.
So it is not uncommon to hear people pray this way::
Father God in heaven, holy art thou above all things, and
thy name, Father God, is worthy to be praised, Father God. Hallelujah!
Praise Jeeeezus! Can I hear an Amen?
Oh, Father God, Lord God, Holy Jesus, we come before you today, as
your children, Father God, to beseech you with our many needs, Father
God. But before we do so, oh Holy Father in Heaven, we ask thee to
forgive us for our many sins. We have failed thee in so many ways,
Father God, so that as the prophet Isaiah says, all our righteous works
are as filthy rags before thee, Father God! And so we thank thee for
sending thy holy Son, Jesus Christ, the Lord of the universe and the
master of all, the Lamb who was slain before the foundation of the
world, to die for our sins on that wretched cross, oh holy Father God, –
Hallalejujah! – praise Jesus – so that we might be forgiven of our many
trespasses against you, Father God…
And the prayer goes on this way for many minutes. What is prayer? Not
this. The person doing the praying will often work himself up into a
bit of a frenzy, until he is shouting and shaking, and people who are
listening are nodding their heads, shouting “AMEN!” “HALLELUJAH!”
“PRAISE JESUS!” and so on.
This may not be your practice in praying, but it is a common practice
and illustrates that when it comes to the question of “What is prayer?”
we often learn what prayer is not by thinking about prayer or learning
from Scripture what prayer is, but rather learning by watching and
listening to others pray, and frankly, we learn some very bad practices
this way.
Even if you do not pray the way I have written above,
listen to yourself pray sometime,
and ask yourself, “Where did I learn how to pray this way?” Why am I
saying these certain words? Why am I changing my voice? Why am I bowing
my head and folding my hands? Why am I closing my eyes? Why do I pray to
Jesus, or to the Holy Spirit? Why do I repeat this certain phrase over
and over, or use those certain words?
So when it comes to asking, “What is prayer?” I like to tell people
that prayer is nothing more than talking to God as you would talk to a
spouse or a friend. Of course, although I have said it is “nothing more”
than that, prayer is certainly nothing less! Think about it! The fact
that we can talk to God as a man would talk to a friend! There is no
idea more shocking, more amazing!
People are often jealous that Moses spoke to God as a man speaks to a
friend, but the fact of the matter is that Jesus has enabled all people
to speak to God in this way! We do not need a priestly mediator, or
special words, or a holy language, or a spiritual frenzy in order for
God to pay attention to us. All of that is religious prayer, which is
not the kind of prayer God wants.
I think sometimes God sighs at our religious prayers. He rolls his eyes as we go on and on and on.
I think sometimes God sighs at our religious prayers. He rolls his eyes as we go on and on and on.
He is always paying attention to us, and is with us throughout the
day, going where we go, doing what we do, and hanging out with us as we
eat, as we work, as we drive. This means that we can talk to him as a
man speaks to a friend.
What is prayer? it is simply telling God what is going on and keeping
him the in the loop on your life. Are you angry? Tell God. Are you sad?
Let him know! Did you just sin? Yeah, he saw it, and he is not mad
about it, but he does want to talk to you about it. Did you see
something beautiful or experience something joyful? Thanks him! Are
there needs and concerns? Ask him for advice or help.
What is prayer? It is simply talking to God in a normal way, just as we talk to anybody else.
What is prayer? It is simply talking to God in a normal way, just as we talk to anybody else.
What this means it that if you are asking “What is prayer?” you don’t
really need to read books on prayer. You don’t need to be taught how to
pray. You don’t need to attend prayer training seminars. You don’t need
to learn a prayer language. You don’t need to memorize lots of
Scripture in order to pray. If you know how to talk, you can pray! Just
imagine God sitting next to you, and talk to him as you would talk to
anyone else!
