“But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions,”… “…for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him.” Matthew 6:7,8
Each day on the face of this earth, there are countless prayers offered by both Christians and non-Christians alike. There are also various kinds of prayers offered to God. Even in the Christian faith, there are different kinds of prayers, which respond to various needs, stretching out over people, things, and circumstances. These prayers cover a vast expanse of needs, some are measured in size like mountains. Others are designed to deal with the small, individual needs of heart, soul, or body. In all of them, for the believer in Christ, there is but one God to be addressed, in the name of Jesus Christ, trusting wholly in the powerful blood of Christ, and the strengthening by the Spirit, to approach the throne of God, His throne of Grace. Every need is in essence, the call of God to the believer, to seek His face for its solution and answer. It is as O. Hallesby wrote in his classic on prayer, Christ knocks at the door of one’s heart desiring entrance, so that He can meet the need in the present moment, and in times to come. Prayer is going to that door, to give Him access, knowing that one is accepted before God by the sacrifice of Christ. This is the believer’s assurance in prayer, accepted in the Beloved, and equipped by the Spirit of truth, to pray, howbeit ever so simply. What then are the great priorities of prayer which give us direction in prayer, when Christ comes to the door?
In Matthew’s gospel, when Jesus deals with the matter of prayer, laying the basis for prayer by unveiling His model prayer, He begins with the absolute first thing, the Father. Prayer is first and foremost a coming to God, to God the Father. It is the acknowledgement that this Father is in heaven, and yet He too has come to dwell in the heart of the believer. In other words, though we pray to Him in heaven, where He sits upon His throne, He is present in the heart by the Spirit. This Jesus affirmed in John’s gospel when He said, “…we (the Father and the Son) will come unto him and make our abode with him.” (Jn. 14:23) So with feet of clay, we approach the Eternal God of heaven by faith. In that drawing near to Him, the believer is called upon first of all to not only acknowledge that He is God Almighty, and Holy, separate from all that is of this creation, but that He is worthy to be worshipped, adored, blessed, and praised. There is none so good, so great, and glorious as the eternal Father upon His throne, His Son at His right hand, waiting to minister to the believer by His Spirit, and bring that believer into a deepening fellowship with Him.
That which follows the worship of God in prayer, is the alignment of all that the believer is with Christ. The believer does this by praying that Christ’s kingdom would come, in the present and future, in the hearts of men. Where Christ reigns as King, there is Life and the blessing of God. Jesus goes on to teach that the specific element to seeking the kingdom of God in word and deed, is the prayer for Christ’s, God’s will, to be done in or on this earth, in the same manner, and to the same extent as it is in heaven. Christ’s call in prayer is to conformity to His will, His way, for His glory. Why? It is there, in that place of certain good, where God will bless men, save and sanctify them, and will bring them into a knowledge of Himself, even the experience of His great love, peace, and joy.
Worship and service to God, born out of true fellowship with Christ, is the key to prayer. This blessed expression of faith is wonderfully possible as one depends wholly upon the Spirit.
Dear Father, Teach us to pray. In Jesus’ name, Amen.