Week 20: Prayer

• Key verses: Matthew 6:9-13; 7:7-8
• My fight against prescriptive prayer
• The best times were conversations
• Completing the conversation with the Bible and the Spirit
• May the Lord smile on you
• Parting thoughts

Key verses

Matthew 6:9-13 (NLT)

Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need, 
and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. 

Matthew 7:7-8 (NLT)

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for.
Keep on seeking, and you will find.
Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 
For everyone who asks, receives.
Everyone who seeks, finds.
And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

My fight against prescriptive prayer

What do I mean by prescriptive? Patterns and formulas. I know this will be controversial. So much has been taught about the right way to pray. For example, your prayers need to include praise, confession, and then requests. Jesus gives us an example of prayer, but I don’t think it’s a required pattern. I challenge you to create a pattern for talking to your parents. Now, try to only talk to them without deviating from that pattern. Awkward, isn’t it?

I think Jesus was emphasizing the varied nature of our conversation with our Father. We should not get stuck just asking for stuff. Right after this, he emphasizes the importance of forgiving others because he has forgiven us. Then a little later he tells us to ask, seek, and knock. I also think it is important to look at the many times Jesus himself pray. Prayer is a conversation with the Creator of the Universe and our Dad.

The best times are conversations

When I think of the times I felt closest to God in prayer, I was alone. There were hours in the chapel at Family Camp, a long hike while camping, and a weekend at a hermit prayer cabin to name a few. They always include prayer and Bible reading. These are those deep conversations that don’t happen every day.

I find myself talking to God throughout the day, just like any other person. He is my father and is always there for me. I don’t try to say the right thing. Sometimes I cry for pain relief because he’s the great physician. Other times, I thank him for being so good and blessing me in so many ways. Is this what it means to pray without ceasing?

May the Lord smile on you

Now to make it personal. The last few weeks I have been struggling with borderline depression. It is easy to get depressed when dealing with ALS. I have many friends and family praying for them. One of the Bible passages we read was Numbers 6:24-26. I meditated on it throughout the day. It was the encouragement I needed. I talked to God throughout the day. I totally believe he was smiling about me. Trusting God is so worth it.

May the Lord bless you and protect you.
May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.

Parting thoughts

If you use a pattern to pray, that’s okay. I encourage you to talk to God as your Dad. Make prayer as personal and conversational as possible. He created us to walk and talk with him in the garden.