Redundant

I would suggest you NOT do a search on the words pray or prayer on this site. There would be too many blogs to look through. Prayer is one of the most used blessings a Christian has been given – or, it should be.

We were on Chapter Eight of Paul Chappell’s “First Steps for New Christians” last night, “Learning How to Pray.” Sounds odd, doesn’t, for an active church’s Sunday evening service talking about “learning” to pray. If we’re Christians (and who else attends Sunday evening services!!), we’ve already prayed that God would accept us and we’ve confessed to Him that we know we’re sinners. I would suggest that prayer should never stop there, though that’s the very best place to begin.

Chappell begins this chapter with a huge stumbling block for some people:

Christianity is not just a set of beliefs, but a personal relationship with God.

Too many people, some professing Christians, don’t move past this point. They do not see that we are that 100th Lamb (it’s a parable in the New Testament – look it up) and the shepherd knows us by name.

Prayer is a significant benefit of being a Christian. We do not need a priest to speak to God for us. Hebrews tells us this in 4:14-15 and 8:1. The best example, however, was given by Jesus in Matthew 6:9-13.

The chapter quotes “Chadwick, the Path of Prayer”

Though a man shall have all knowledge about prayer, and though he understands all mysteries about prayer, unless he prays, he will never learn to pray.

Forget that it sounds like a tongue twister and realize that prayer is an action. It must be done, not simply studied nor discussed. It is directed to God, not to a church, a statue or a vague heavenly direction. Jesus began his prayers with “Father.”

And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. (Matthew 26:39)

Even on the cross:

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; (Luke 23:34a)

Chappell added a memory aid:

Adoration
Confession
Thanksgiving
Supplication

An orderly progression to remember the subject matter of our prayers. When are we supposed to pray?

Give us this day our daily bread. (Matthew 6:11)

And, at what time during each day?

As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. (Psalms 55:16-17)

We should give thanks for our meals, as Christ did with those on the Road to Emmaus:

And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. (Luke 24:30)

That ought to cover it, although Paul had a slightly different idea:

Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Yes, we can always be prepared to ACT, even when we don’t have a specific Supplication – but, if you are like me, there’s always something to ask of God.