What Is Prayer
There are many instances where we find ourselves in situations where we have to explain something we thought we understood, only to realize that we don’t know as much as we believed. I believe prayer is one of those things.
Prayer, in a nutshell, is talking to God or having a conversation with God. Prayer is not just a religious routine or ritual, but it’s communication and fellowship with the Creator. It is an example of how we build relationship, because communication is the foundation of any relationship.
When we have a conversation with someone, we tend to have intimate conversations and connect with people we know. We don’t really open up or become intimate with strangers. I believe it is the same with God. To have an intimate relationship with God, you have to know Him — and allow yourself to be known by Him.
How Do We Pray
Now that we understand that prayer is communication with God and the way we build relationship with Him, the next question is how we actually do it. How do we approach God in prayer? The Bible gives us a clear pattern through the words and life of Jesus.
We Pray To The Father — Matthew 6:6
“But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, He instructed them to pray to the Father. But which Father is Jesus talking about here? When we read further we see Jesus is talking about God the Father in heaven, not just any father.
Jesus, whom we look up to and follow, always referenced God as His Father. We see examples like when He said, “…you have one Father, who is in heaven,” (Matt 23:9) or when He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will..” (Matt 26:39). Another example is when Jesus was on the cross and said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34).
In almost all instances when Jesus prays, He addresses God as His Father, except for one moment, when He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Matt 27:46). That was the only instance where Jesus addressed God as God and not Father, because in that moment, He bore the sin of the world and was separated from Him.
But we as Christians are no longer distant from God. Through Christ and what He did on the cross, we can come boldly before God. We have a relationship with Him, and thus, we address Him as our Father — for He truly is our Father in heaven.
We Pray In The Name of Jesus — John 16:23–24
“In that day you will not ask me anything. Truly I tell you, anything you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. Until now you have asked for nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.”
Jesus is the name through whom we pray, not because it’s a magical name that we use to get what we want, but because Jesus is the mediator between God and man. He is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him.
Why is that? Because Jesus conquered sin, death, and evil on the cross. When He rose on the third day, He gave us access to the Father. Through believing in Jesus and putting our faith and trust in Him, we act under His authority.
Our name has no power, but the name of Jesus does. Think of a woman who marries a king, she carries the king’s authority wherever she goes, not because of her own name, but because of his. Likewise, through believing in Jesus, we pray and act under His authority. We use His name because our own name carries no power, but His name carries all authority in heaven and on earth.
The phrase “in the name of Jesus” is not just something we throw at the end of our prayers to make them sound good or to validate them. It is much deeper than that. Praying in Jesus’ name is praying in accordance with His will. When we ask, we do not ask in our own authority, but because Jesus said we can, we ask in His name and under His authority, not because we think we can, but because He gave us the right to do so.
In short, to pray in the name of Jesus is to pray under His authority and in the will of God.
We Pray With The Help of The Holy Spirit — Romans 8:26
“In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings.”
The Holy Spirit is our helper. Jesus said that it was better that He goes so that He could send us the Helper —the Holy Spirit — who dwells in us as we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and if we belong to Christ, then His Spirit lives in us.
The Holy Spirit guides us and helps us pray according to God’s will, even when we don’t know what to say or do, He helps us walk in God’s perfect plan as He reminds us of God’s Word. The Spirit leads us to pray in faith, in obedience, and in surrender to the will of God.
The Holy Spirit gives us the strength to continue praying when we feel weak, and He draws our hearts closer to God so that we may commune with Him in truth.
In summary
- We pray to the Father.
- We pray in the name of Jesus, under His authority.
- We pray according to God’s will, with the help of the Holy Spirit
Why This Matters
Some people might feel that it doesn’t matter if we say “Father” or “Jesus” when praying, but this is very important. It strengthens our understanding of who God is and His nature — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — and helps us understand the headship and roles of God in our lives. Although God still hears us, we should be cautious not to use Father, Son, and Holy Spirit interchangeably. Because doing that may distort our own or others’ view and understanding of the Trinity.
When we pray, we are not just performing a spiritual duty; we are engaging with the living God. Just like when you have a meaningful conversation with someone you know, you speak differently than you would with a stranger. The more you know God, the more intimate and genuine your prayers become.
Prayer helps us grow in our relationship with God. It helps us know Him more deeply, recognize His authority as our Father, acknowledge the power of Jesus’ name, and rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Think 180 