Prayer

Prayer is something that can often be overly complicated and intimidating. Which method do I use? What words do I say? What if I forget something? If God already knows it all, what’s the point in praying? 
But “Jesus prayed constantly - if He felt the need to pray, how much more must we?” 
Matt Chandler explains in a sermon that there are 3 ways to pray. Through praise, acknowledging who God is and all that He has done. Then, petition, asking God to do things in your life and the lives of those around you. And as you go back and forth between those, you cannot help but come to the third way which is confession because “when you see God for who he is, you see more clearly who you are”. 
An important thing to remember, though, is that while there are many methods used to help people pray, God does not require a certain amount of words. He doesn’t demand a specific order. He doesn’t insist on pretty words or the amount of time a prayer lasts. What God values and desires is the affections of the heart. In Scripture, the heart refers to the center of one's being: It includes one’s thinking, feeling, and choosing. Jeremiah 17:10 says “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds”. I, then, could say the most immaculate words, spend hours on my knees, and use all of the methods for prayer in one sitting but if my heart is not focused on the Lord, His goodness, and His will, then all of those “lofty” deeds fall flat.


What if, instead, I spent time speaking God’s written word back to Him. When I pray the Word of God, I can be more confident that I am praying the will of God. Hebrews 4:12 reads “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” As I pray the Words of God, reflecting on the will of God, I can then begin to discern the gap between God’s will and desire versus my own. I will begin to transformed by the renewal of my mind as Romans 12:2 says and be able to better test and approve what God’s perfect will is ; and therefore will become more equipped to spend honest, intimate time in prayer with the Lord. 

In Luke 11, the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, perhaps I should seek His guidance and help also:

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer” Psalm 19:14

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” Psalm 51:10

“With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments” Psalm 119:10

“Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind” Psalm 26:2