Pray Relationally

As Christians, we know we should pray. How many of you—being honest—would say, “I pray too much”? Anybody got that problem? Ok. How many would say, “I don’t pray enough”?

(No show of hands) — Do you get frustrated with your prayer life? Maybe you’d say “I don’t know how to pray.” Maybe you’d say that you don’t feel like you’re getting anywhere.

Maybe you hear people talk about having a “prayer life” and you would say “I wouldn’t call what I’ve got a ‘prayer life.’ It’s just kind of a random smattering of things I say to God throughout the day.

Donald Whitney has written a phenomenal book—I would highly recommend it—“Praying the Psalms.” In that book, he says that many Christians get frustrated with their prayer life because they just find themselves saying the same old things about the same old things.

In Luke 11, Jesus’ disciples say to him, “Lord, teach us to pray.” That should be our heart/our posture. “Lord, I don’t know what I’m doing and I’m frustrated. I know I should pray. I want to pray. Teach me to pray.”

We’re going to take the next several weeks and walk through what Jesus taught his disciples. We’re going to be looking at the “extended version” in Matthew’s Gospel—chapter 6.

Matthew 6:5–8 ““And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “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. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

Here, Jesus gives us two things that prayer is NOT:

A performance (Do not be like the hypocrites—pretender. Word used to describe an actor…one who wears a mask and puts on a performance).

Give Examples/Illustrations

A ritual (Heaping up empty phrases as the Gentiles…the word “heap up” means to babble on and on…empty phrases. The pagans, when praying to their idols and false gods, would just go through routine “scripts.”)

Prayer is not a ritual…saying the same old things.

Story about Fairhaven deacon

But, there are a couple of things that he says prayer IS: 

Expected (“when you pray…” THREE TIMES!)

A discipline 

Prayer should be part of the daily rhythms of a believer’s life.

Don’t want to get into legalism.

The habit of prayer is good, but the spirit of prayer is better.

Charles Spurgeon

The goal of prayer is the ear of God.

Charles Spurgeon

Jesus continues…

Matthew 6:9 “Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”

Bottom Line:

Prayer is primarily a private conversation between you and your Heavenly Father.

The foundation of prayer is a personal relationship with God. This is the heart of prayer.

“This is the heart of prayer—not getting things from God, but getting God.” (David Mathis)

We’re going to take a closer look at just how personal this relationship is in just a few moments but, first, we need to understand the fact that the very fact that we can talk to God…the very fact that we can pray is only because we’ve been brought into a personal relationship with God through Jesus. We’ve GOT to emphasize the last part of what I just said…“THROUGH JESUS” we’ve been brought into a personal relationship with God.

We’re given access to God through Jesus. Pay attention to what Jesus says…he teaches his disciples to pray, “OUR Father.” Jesus is giving us access to God the Father through Him. Doesn’t he say this in John 14:6? “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life…no one comes to the Father except through me.”

Jesus is lifting us up to his level of relationship with the Father. He brings us into the life and love of the Trinity. Do we understand what a privilege this is? That we have access to the God of the universe…that we can, as Hebrews 4:16 says, “draw near to the throne of grace with BOLDNESS/CONFIDENCE.”

You have an audience with the King any time/any where/for any amount of time.

MY WIFE AND KIDS DON’T NEED AN APPOINTMENT WITH ME.

The posture of prayer is both childlike and reverent.

The “posture” of prayer…notice, again, that Jesus calls out the hypocrites for their love of “standing and praying in the synagogues and at the street corners…”

Standing was the traditional Jewish physical posture of prayer. They would stand with their feet together, eyes lowered, hands over the heart, and a sense of awe, with specific bows…symbolizing their humility before a king. But, here, Jesus says their posture is hypocritical. Their posture is PRIDE.

The issue that Jesus is getting at is how does our heart approach the Father?

We’ve got to start with who it is that we are addressing—“Father.” The Aramaic word is “Abba.” (NOT the 70’s Swedish disco group).

This is very intentional because, again, think of the Jewish understanding of prayer. Yes, God is King. Yes, God is holy. Yes, God is in heaven and we are on earth…and we’re going to talk about that in a second, but Jesus goes directly for the heart of who God is to us—Father. Abba was a term of endearment. It’s actually the equivalent of a child, in today’s culture, calling their father, “daddy.”

Imagine this for a second. These are first century Jews who have never—ever—imagined calling God “Abba.” This would have been sacrilegious! You don’t address YHWH like that! There is no example of “Abba” being used of God in any other Jewish prayer in history before or since.

These are also grown men! They’re pretty roughneck men, too! And, Jesus is telling them that the posture of prayer is childlike. When little kids get scared, they cry out for daddy. They run to daddy when they’re hurt. This is the kind of personal relationship God invites us into!

The second part of this first line teaches us a second aspect of our posture. Not only are we to approach God in childlike closeness.“In heaven” — He is God. We are not. He is in heaven above.

Ecclesiastes 5:2 “Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.”

The heart of prayer is dependence.

There’s another implication of praying to our Father who is “In heaven…” In the Bible, to say that someone—specifically God—is “in heaven” means that they rule and reign in supremacy. You cannot go higher than heaven. Heaven is where God dwells and where He sits on His throne. And, according to Jesus, God does not just sit on His throne as judge. He does not just sit on His throne as king/ruler. He who sits on the throne is all of these but He is also Abba.

Abba provides for His children. And, the Abba/Father we are invited into relationship with is “in heaven.” He rules and reigns over all. He is Creator and He is sovereign over the entirety of His creation.

Psalm 50:10–11 “For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine.”

Parents—I know this probably isn’t true of any of y’all but I know at times, Kristy and I can be overwhelmed as parents. I think another word for that is “overstimulated.” You’ve got all three kids needing something and needing something at the same exact time. And they’re all calling your name at the same exact time. And they’re all standing in front of you pleading their case at the same exact time. And…if that’s happened to you…maybe even this week…I know you handled it so well. I know you weren’t tempted, like we’ve been…and often done…to just scream at the top of your lungs and go lock yourself in your bedroom. I know none of y’all have ever done that like we have. Y’all are all perfect parents.

Here’s the thing—God not only knows what we need before we ask Him…he knows we’re going to ask Him before we even ask!

Daniel 9:20–23 “While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea before the Lord my God for the holy hill of my God, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice. He made me understand, speaking with me and saying, “O Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding. At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved.”

Matthew 7:11 “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”

CONCLUSION

**DO YOU HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THROUGH JESUS?**

If prayer is primarily a private conversation between you and your heavenly Father…how much time are you spending with him?

Intentionally set time aside this week…move out distractions and stuff to make room for time alone with your heavenly Father.

Is anything preventing you from drawing near to God in childlike faith?

What are you worried or anxious about that you aren’t trusting God with?