The message of our salvation is simple and pure. Jesus died on Calvary for my sins. He took upon Himself my guilt. He gave to me His righteousness. This changes everything. All is new. In fact, we ourselves are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). This message of grace, given in Word and Sacrament, is the power that creates, builds, and strengthens faith in Christ. Next to these means of grace, prayer may be the most precious implement in the Christian’s toolbox. Prayer is our direct line of communication with our Creator, Redeemer, and Comforter God.
God invites us to use this tool of prayer, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden.” (Matthew 11:28) He encourages us, “Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer.” (Psalm 32:6) He even commands us, “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Although we have designated times of organized prayer—mealtimes, church services, and so on—our private use of prayer is often neglected, or worse, used inappropriately.
In Matthew 6:8, Jesus says, “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” This may raise the question, “Then why do we have to ask? Can’t God just give us what we need?” Answer: we ask because God asks us to! He wants His children to come to Him with their wants, needs, and desires. “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8) Do you recall looking at your offspring or another individual and asking with exasperation, “Why didn’t you just ask?” Imagine God’s frustration as we fumble about for solutions and answers without coming to him in prayer! He is waiting to shower you with his blessings—ask! “You do not have, because you do not ask.” (James 4:2)
Then again, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” (James 4:3) This passage brings us to the misuse of prayer. We are flesh and blood creatures living in a very material world. As earthbound individuals, it is difficult for us to focus on the intangible and spiritual. Food, clothing, home, job, and family are things we can easily wrap our minds around, and frequently our prayers will focus on these aspects of our life. The trouble is these prayers are usually self-centered and feed into our passions for this life. When Jesus gave his disciples the Lord’s Prayer as an example, He set priorities for the things for which we are to ask (Matthew 6:9-13). Out of the seven petitions given to us, six deal with our spiritual relationships with God and our fellow man. Only the Fourth Petition asks God to give us our daily bread (earthly needs). In fact, just after the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus reemphasized this priority by stating, “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ . . . Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:31-33)
We are often desperately in need. We need forgiveness and spiritual blessings, and we need the necessities of this life. God has given us the great blessing of prayer. Better still, He has given us a prayer Helper. “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26)
Once you are well-prayed, don’t forget to look for God’s answer. He will answer you in His time every time, but He has also given you insight into His divine will for you in His Word. Search the Scriptures. In them He shows the solution to our most important need—forgiveness and salvation. He will surely show us the answers to our prayer needs as well.
is a retired teacher. He lives in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.