“One of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray’ ” (Luke 11:1). That’s my prayer… and probably your earnest desire, too. Few of us, if any, would claim to have mastered it! We want to pray better prayers.
Apparently, the psalmists struggled with prayer. “God, hear my cry; pay attention to my prayer. I call to you from the ends of the earth when my heart is without strength” (Psalm 61:1) “Listen to my words, Lord; consider my sighing. Pay attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for I pray to you” (Psalm 5:1-2). “Lord, hear a just cause; pay attention to my cry; listen to my prayer—from lips free of deceit” (Psalm 17:1). “Be gracious to me, Lord, for I call to you all day long” (Psalm 86:3). “Let my cry reach you, Lord; give me understanding according to your word” (Psalm 119:169). With growing frustration, the psalmist wanted his feeble prayers to be heard. “God, do not keep silent. Do not be deaf, God; do not be quiet” (Psalm 83:1).
Oh, the Lord does hear our prayers, our cries, our pleadings. Indeed, “the Lord is near all who call out to him, all who call out to him with integrity. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry for help and saves them”(Psalm 145:18–19).
So, what should we pray?
The psalmists worshipped the Lord in prayer. “My soul, bless the Lord, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. My soul, bless the Lord, and do not forget all his benefits. He forgives all your iniquity; he heals all your diseases. He redeems your life from the Pit; he crowns you with faithful love and compassion. He satisfies you with good things; your youth is renewed like the eagle” (Psalm 103:1-5). That would be a great way to start praying.
David, the great psalmist, confessed his faults and his failures. “Be gracious to me, God, according to your faithful love; according to your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion. Completely wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin. For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me. Against you—you alone—I have sinned and done this evil in your sight” (Psalm 51:1–4).
The Psalms suggest that our prayers should include worship, confession, and also thanksgiving. “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever” (Psalm 118:1). “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name. For the Lord is good, and his faithful love endures forever; his faithfulness, through all generations” (Psalm 100:4-5).
“Lord, teach us to pray.”
“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).
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