How Do You Pray in 2010

It’s the new year and many of us have had time to reflect on our lives both naturally but more importantly spiritually. Many have determined to read the bible through and even pray more. The desire to do these things must be commended and I will begin by doing just that: I commend all who have begun the year by putting increased emphasis on their spiritual well being.

Prayer is one of the foundational practices of almost all religions. People everywhere pray to “god”. This , however may be the only similarity because a true examination of theses prayers reveals that everything else is different; One begins with the very being being prayed to and continue to the manner in which the prayer is being prayed and see there is a world of a difference between the true Christian and the heathen. (Or is there?)

During my time in and around church I have heard much preaching and teaching on this subject. Many a man of God will quote the words of Paul “First of all PRAYER” or even the words of Jesus “Men ought always to pray and not faint” I have heard that we should rise early and devote time to seeking God because David said “Early will I seek You”. Beloved these word are right and must be headed.

I must say with sadness however, that in all the preaching and teaching on prayer, it is rarely that you would hear one expound Jesus’ teaching on the subject. Jesus says some words that put shocks on any Pentecostals prayer life. They are words that after reading and considering them, I have changed the way I prayed because I realized my prayer had become no different from the bushmen in Africa.

Matt 6:7-9 ESV
7 "And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Matt 6:7-8 KJV
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.

I will be honest, allot of my fiery Pentecostal prayers have been just that – Vain repetitions & empty phrases. “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, JESUS, LOOOOOOORD, God touch, Touch Lord, With Your mighty power Lord, With Your mighty power Lord, With Your mighty power Lord, With Your mighty power LORD, In Jesus Name, In Jesus Name, In Jesus Name, In Jesus Name” Sound familiar? That’s just what Jesus said don’t do.

Some would question that these verses speak of this and suggest Jesus is speaking of reciting prayers like many denominations do. This however is not what the Gentiles did, they were known for reciting mantras in their idol worship.

A casual reader of the scripture will observe that many biblical prayers are actually recorded. Their language is clear and sometimes even poetic. The pray-ers of these prayers used their brains as well as their hearts. The words were well thought out. They expressed to God the desires of their hearts, the seriousness and desperation of their situation and what they wanted God to do for them. At the end of one such prayer in Acts 4, the building shook by the power of God and the disciples were re-filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.

One reason why repetitious prayer may be so common is that it is so easy to do. We can (as my father would say) go into auto-pilot and still feel excitement. It does not take much really to this. In truth, we have not expressed everything to God. We do sound spiritual though, because our repeated words are spoken in crescendo and we very often do feel God’s spirit in them.

I urge anyone trying to move up in their prayer life to move pass the repetition of religious words and start really talking to God. This of course will be difficult and strange at first but you will find it well worth it in the end.