Jesus told His disciples, “When you pray.” It was not if you pray but when. Would you describe yourself as a person of prayer? Prayer is at the very heart of our walk with Christ and is how we communicate with Him. In Matthew 6, Jesus provides clarity in three areas where He does not say, “if” you do these things, but rather “when” — when you give, when you pray and when you fast (more on “when you fast” in a moment). The message in all three of these actions is obvious. It is not to be showy, to be seen by others or done to be noticed by others. The lesson is crystal clear — you are never to do these things to be recognized by others.
When giving, do not blow a trumpet or do anything else to draw attention to yourself. There is no reward in being generous for the applause of man, and your giving is to be done in secret. Jesus uses very poignant language, telling us not to be like the hypocrites. When you pray, you are not to cry out in front of others, once again emphasizing that it is not to be done to be seen by others. The trifecta ends with instructions on fasting that you should never try to appear as emaciated, weak or suffering because of your fasting. “Oh, look at me because I am so spiritual. Don’t you see how I am suffering for Jesus?”
The temptation and tendency to make giving, prayer and fasting a show about us prompted Jesus to address it in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is essentially making it clear, “Keep all the drama out.” The real question is, “Is prayer the normal practice and pattern of your daily life and ministry?” In A Praying Church, Paul E. Miller stated, “Prayer isn’t just another ministry; it is the ministry that sparks the rule of the Spirit of Jesus in all ministries. Only as we wait in prayer does the captain direct us.” Prayer is where our hope is born in the presence and power of almighty God, as we cry out to Him.
How are we instructed to pray? Matthew 6:6 says, “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Paul E. Miller stated, “If you pray better in public than you do in your closet, it might be wise to pray less in public and more in your closet.” Perhaps this is why many churches seem to relegate prayer to the understood, yet often unpracticed and underpromoted, rule that is not observed when we gather corporately as a body of believers. How important is prayer to us?
As you study the Scriptures and the life of Christ, a truth becomes increasingly clear: prayer is the birthplace of everything that truly advances the kingdom of God. Spiritual leaders are called to practice and implement prayer in their individual lives, homes, churches and workplaces. This calling emerges from your core convictions and becomes practical by demonstrating this spiritual discipline, showing others how they can get involved. Honestly, it is burdensome and bothersome how prayer often seems to be a side note in discipleship and church health materials, relegated to a side room.
The best classroom for prayer is in your closet, where you can cry out and speak to your heavenly Father. The Model Prayer is given to us to follow, and it only takes 15-30 seconds to pray. It is the gold standard for us in learning how to pray without drama in simplicity and faith. Maintaining and nurturing our relationship with Christ requires prayer, the Word, fellowship and worship. This is not a step-by-step process where you just go through the motions and check it off your list, expecting God to show up and do great things. There must be a passion and commitment that moves and inspires you.
At a recent association meeting, Dr. Phillip Attebery addressed the men’s group on the topic of passion in prayer. He compared four passages that use the same Greek word. The first is the story of an individual with a horrible disease (Luke 5:12). The second speaks of demons becoming concerned about being sentenced to unending torment (Luke 8:26-28). Then Luke 9:37-42 tells us of the prayers of one whose loved one needed Christ’s healing touch. Luke 10:2 is a very familiar passage that you might never consider in connection with the other three because the word used does not make it as obvious.
The word that connects them all is translated a little differently (besought, cried out, beseech), but it is the same word meaning “begged” or “implored.” Can you not imagine the intensity and passion of prayers when asking God to heal you from a terminal disease, deliver you from eternal damnation or heal your loved one from demonic oppression? This is the same word translated “pray” in Luke 10:2, “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.” Are you praying with the same intensity and passion for laborers that you pray with in the other three challenges?
There is good news on discipling others in this crucial discipline of prayer. DiscipleWay offers an entire discipleship track on prayer, comprising seven interactive lessons based on inductive Bible study. It is not just one lesson on how you need to pray, but seven that include “Prayer Defined,” “Jesus Prayed,” “Mechanics of Prayer”and more. This is a great resource and tool from Baptist Publishing House: DiscipleWay: 7 Disciplines for Maturing in Christ. The seven are Bible Study, Praying, Worshipping, Giving, Witnessing, Serving and Leading.
If you are interested in more details, please reach out to us or contact the Baptist Publishing House directly at baptistpublishinghouse.com/discipleway or call them at 1-888-727-8715. These materials are also available in Spanish.
