How to Pray

If you are a believer, you understand that prayer is essential. Jesus taught His disciples how not to pray (Matt 6:5-7) followed by how to pray (Matt 6:9-13) because they saw that He was a pray-er Himself (Luke 11:1-4). Jesus taught that we "ought always to pray and not lose heart" (Luke 18:1-14). Paul echoed that with, "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thess 5:17). We know that prayer, among other things, includes "supplication" (e.g., Eph 6:18), "thanksgiving" (e.g., 1 Thess 5:18), "intercession" (1 Tim 2:1), and more. Despite all of this, we still aren't clear on prayer. And that, dear reader, isn't opinion.

The Bible says and I quote -- "we do not know how to pray as we should" (Rom 8:26). Did you know that was in there? Did you know God's Word made that assertion? It doesn't say, "Sometimes we don't get it." It doesn't suggest that sometimes we do know how to pray. The text says that not knowing how to pray is a natural human weakness. If this is true (read "if the Bible is true"), then we must recognize that 1) we are supposed to pray and 2) we have a problem with prayer. Fortunately for us, God's Word offers a clear solution. Look at that whole sentence.

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Rom 8:26-27)

"In the same way," he says. In what same way? The prior text -- the context -- is about creation being subjected to futility (Rom 8:20-22). We ourselves "groan" for the time when we are finally adopted in our experience, finally redeemed bodily (Rom 8:23-25). In that way -- being currently unable to reach the perfection that is reserved for us -- we cannot reach perfection in prayer. We don't know perfectly how to pray as we ought. But we know we must pray and we long to pray correctly. God's solution? "The Spirit Himself intercedes for us." We have a sort of translator. The One who knows God's heart (Rom 8:27) intercedes for us in ways we don't grasp, "according to the will of God" (Rom 8:27). Now, remember, John wrote, "This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him" (1 John 5:14-15). So everything that the Holy Spirit intercedes according to the will of God for us is given to us.

Prayer can be a sticky subject. "Why pray if God is sovereign?" First answer ... because He said to. Secondly, because it's good for us and our relationship with Him. Thirdly, because He promises to use our prayers in His work. All good reasons. But a reasonable question. "Really? Pray without ceasing"? Yes, indeed, the concept of unceasing prayer is hard for us to even grasp, but it is the aim. We suffer from distraction and inconsistency, from a feeling of disconnection and from dull faith. We feel like God isn't listening because God doesn't jump right on our requests. Lots of problems. But the fact is we are commanded to pray, to pray without ceasing, to pray without losing heart. Prayer is not limited to our narrow understanding or our limited experience. Ultimately prayer is powered by and translated by the Holy Spirit, and He can't fail. So, pray on. Perfect understanding is not the requirement or even aim. An entirely satisfactory experience is not the point. Let God be God and you just do your part. Talk to God. Remember, "You do not have because you do not ask" (James 4:2). Don't be your own limitation in prayer.