How Should I Pray?

In our prayers, God is not as much concerned with our techniques or the specific words we use as He is with the attitudes of our hearts. So what should our attitude be in prayer?

We should be humble in prayer. Prayer is not a matter of telling God what to do, as if He were our child or obedient pet. Prayer is open and honest communication with God, and it should be characterized by profound and heartfelt humility on our part as we come into the presence of the Almighty.

"He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble" (Proverbs 3:34, NIV).

"But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6, NIV).

"You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty" (Psalm 18:27, NIV)

We should praise God in prayer. Not only should we humble ourselves, but we should also exalt God. That is, we should fully acknowledge the great position that God holds as King of the Universe. Acknowledging who God is and praising Him for His perfections are essential aspects of prayer.

"For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy in his dwelling place" (I Chronicles 16: 25-27, NIV).

"Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts" (Psalm 145:2-5, NIV).

We should confess and repent in prayer. Because we are sinners and God is holy, we need to be cleansed of our guilt before we can enter His presence. Thankfully, Jesus has provided for our cleansing by shedding His shed blood on the cross. As we come before God in prayer, we need to confess our sins and repent of them, trusting in God’s grace and the blood of Jesus to cleanse us.

"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:8-9, NIV).

"When they sin against you--for there is no one who does not sin--and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to his own land, far away or near; and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their conquerors and say, `We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly'; and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and pray to you toward the land you gave their fathers, toward the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name; then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause. And forgive your people, who have sinned against you; forgive all the offenses they have committed against you, and cause their conquerors to show them mercy; for they are your people and your inheritance" (I Kings 8:46-51, NIV).

We should seek God’s will in prayer. Some people view prayer as an exercise in getting God to conform His will to ours—to endorse our agendas, answer our requests. While it is certainly right and proper for us to bring our heart-felt requests before God, the primary purpose of prayer is NOT to conform God’s will to ours, but to conform our will to His. Remember what Jesus prayed in the garden, “Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.”

"Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name" (Psalm 86:11).

"Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I believe in your commands" (Psalm 119:66).

"This, then, is how you should pray: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9-10).

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