What is Prayer?

One of my absolute favorite quotes about prayer comes from CS Lewis. in his book “How to Pray” he says that prayer is more than words. “Simply to say [words] is not to pray; otherwise a team of properly trained parrots would serve as well as men”

What is prayer? Sure, we can start to answer that question with a statement like “talking to God” but that is really just scratching the surface. To say that prayer is talking to God would be like someone asking you how to bake a cake and you answer “Put it in the oven” Sure, that is a big part, and an important part of baking a cake, but there is much more too it. You cannot put anything in the oven and it come out a cake; otherwise I could load up our oven at home with our plethora of barbie dolls and legos and be rolling in cake ALL DAY! To bake a cake takes flour, and eggs, and sugar, and mixing and beating- in the same way, prayer takes more than just saying words to God.

So, what is prayer, then? If our goal for 2021 is to bolster our prayer ministry as a church, it would make sense that we need to consider this question and have a common foundation to build from. So, today let’s think through what prayer is- let’s expand upon the idea that prayer is words we say and look at some of the other things that prayer is today.

Prayer is Connection

When you sit down and talk with someone who is very special to you- a spouse, a grandparent, a long lost friend- the conversation is about so much more than the words, isn’t it? It’s not just the conversation, not just the stories or the retelling- it is the connection. It is share the space, the time, the connection. Prayer is the same way. It is about the time, the space, the connection with God.

This is the idea that Jesus portrays in John 15. When Jesus teaches about prayer in John 15 it is rooted in abiding- connection. Listen to his words:

English Standard Version Chapter 15

5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love

We don’t pray to impress God. We’re not heard for our “much-speaking.” You don’t have to use poetic language or be an amateur Shakespeare. If an earthly child can speak to an earthly father, you can speak to your Heavenly Father. We’re told to cry out to Him as our Abba—literally translated “Daddy”—Father (Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:6). We’re not praying to impress Him.We don’t pray to inform God. You can’t tell God anything He doesn’t already know!

So if we don’t pray to impress or inform God, why do we pray? We pray to invite God. It’s very important to understand this: when we pray, we are inviting God into our lives.

Prayer is Cooperation

Imagine for a moment that you are working on a home improvement project- isn’t it easier when your entire family, or at least your spouse, comes alongside of you to accomplish it? Instead of everyone else sitting on the couch, eating Cheetos, critiquing your work? Make no mistake, friends, God’s will is going to be done. The question is whether or not we are going to be a part of that will, or merely those along for the ride offering commentary and critique of what God is doing.

Some think that prayer is manipulation- that somehow we can make God do or behave in certain ways by our actions or words. Many people have put an over emphasis on the “name it and claim it” doctrine- saying that all we need to do is name and claim the answers in prayer and God will answer. Others hone in on the teaching that anything we ask in the name of Jesus will be given to us- no matter what. Still others place their emphasis on praise, worship, or fasting- saying that these things will compel God to do what we want him to. But here is the reality, if we could bend God by our will- he really wouldn’t be much of a God, would he? Instead, listen to what the Scriptures do tell us about our God;

Psl 18:30 This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

Mal 3:6 “For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.

Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

When we pray we are joining in cooperation with God to accomplish HIS will; not asking God to join us in accomplishing our will.

In 1 Corinthians 3:9 Paul says that we are God’s fellow workers. This is the image of prayer, that we are invited to work WITH God; not merely for him. God is not the cosmic business owner in the sky; barking out orders and commands for his lowly servants on Earth. No, God is in the field, working for the harvest and he invites us to join him.

When we pray we should sense a kind of cooperation in the mission of God; more than just asking God to do certain things on our behalf, we should be connecting and asking God what we can do on HIS behalf for his will and glory.

Behind every work of God you will always find some kneeling form.

Prayer is Discernment

This week Jess and I took on a cool project. We have been wanting to add an island to our kitchen instead of a table for a few years, but we could never find one that we liked. Meanwhile, we have had my grandmother’s china press in storage since moving to our house because we really have no space for it, but we did not want to get rid of it since it was my grandmothers. So this week we decided to refurbish my grandma’s china press into a kitchen island. This included removing some old parts that were worn and broken; raising the china cabinet 6 inches to get it to counter height, adding trim and some detail work, and refinishing it. We had a goal in mind and we knew what we brought to the table. But there was a whole lot that needed to happen in between; so before the first step was taken there was a 2 day conversation of “how do we do this the best way?” Where we talked it out, examined our options, and worked through the situation.

That leaves me to wonder- isn’t that what our prayer lives should be? Instead of me rushing to God to tell him what I think I want, need, or am going to do; shouldn’t it be a time of conversation and discernment between my Father in Heaven and I?

In Philippians 1:9-11 Paul shared one of the prayers that he prayed for the believers in Philippi “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

Here’s what I want vs Show me what I need