Jesus gathered a rag-tag group of disciples. They weren’t the best and brightest, though that’s who we’d choose. Remember the selection of David as king? The Lord told Samuel nope, nope, nope…until the runt of Jesse’s litter came in from the fields. God looks at the heart, while we consider resumes and outward appearances. His redeemed tax collectors, fisherman, and tradesman followed Jesus throughout his ministry and through their own sufferings and deaths. Probably accustomed to apprenticeships, they followed the Master until they reached journeyman status at Pentecost. The church would be built upon their foundation with Christ as the cornerstone (Psalm 118; Ephesians 5). Two thousand years later, the house of God still rises, stone by stone as Christians continue to build until the topmost stone is laid. It is prayer that makes the church succeed.
According to Covenant Presbyterian Church, prayer is a direct conversation with God where believers declare dependence, give thanks, confess sins, and make their needs known. Christians are commanded to pray at all times and in all places, following the example of saints like Enoch, Abraham, Jacob, and Daniel. The Lord's Prayer, detailed in Luke 11 and Matthew 6, provides a foundational structure for this practice. Covenant Presbyterian Church emphasizes that prayer is crucial for the church's success.
Observing the prayer life of John the Baptist and their own Teacher, they request, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” You can find the Lord’s Prayer in Luke 11 and Matthew 6. The church has added an adaptation that ends with “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” Over the next several weeks, we will look at the parts and petitions of this prayer. I hope you can use these studies to beef up your prayer life.
What is prayer? We talk to God, declaring our dependence, naming His glory, giving thanks, confessing sins, and making our needs for all sorts of things known. Yes, he already knows but we are commanded to pray. When do we pray? At all times, when we are prompted by the Spirit, before meals, in public worship, when we rise, as we retire, and at all sorts of occasions. Where do we pray? Anywhere! God hears us in our cars, on a walk, as we go about our routines, and when we are with others in worship or fellowship.
When we pray, we join a long line of saints who called on the name of the Lord, as did Enoch and Abraham. Sometimes we wrestle with God, as did Jacob, saying, “I won’t let you go until you bless me.” Perhaps, like Daniel, we make our petitions three times daily. Or, like Jesus, we go off by ourselves for fellowship with the Father. Paul’s prayers reflect a deep faith, a rich knowledge of the Scriptures, and an urgent desire to see God’s kingdom come and will be done. Ask, seek, knock. Pray!