How to Pray

by Gene Poore

Knowing what prayer is and why we pray holds no value if we know not how to
pray. This “How” does not mean mechanics of prayer. This “How” tests our inner
condition when reaching out to God.
How do we pray? We pray with our heart! God’s Word says, “Ye shall seek me,
and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” (JER 29:13). Yet,
when do we most often search for God? When calamity strikes. Misfortune draws the
realization we are not in control of our destiny. However, during times of
trouble, we can pray to God without a response from God. Why? Because we have an
unprepared heart to talk to our creator.
How do we prepare our heart? Empty our heart of sin. Repent of previous
wrongs. Ask God to cover those wrongs with the blood of His Son, Jesus. “Then
shalt thou lift up thy face without spot. . . .” (JOB 11:15).
Now, with a heart prepared, how do we pray? Standing? Sitting? Prone?
Bowing? Kneeling? Yes, because posture remains unimportant. Scripture states we
should pray without ceasing. Without ceasing means always and in any posture.
Standing? Solomon stood to pray when dedicating the temple. Solomon spread
his hands toward heaven. Scripture in Mark also implies standing as acceptable
while praying.
Prone? Hezekiah prayed for healing while in bed, turning “His face toward
the wall. . . .” (ISA 38:2).
Bowing and kneeling? “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel
before the Lord our maker.” (Psalm 95:6).
Scripture marks no difference whether we stand, bow, kneel, prostrate before
God, or look up with open or closed eyes when we pray. We are to “Pray everywhere,
lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” (1TI 2:8). However, if our
heart lacks readiness, our prayer will never reach fruition because God “Knoweth
the secrets of the heart.” (PSA 44:21). “The Lord knoweth the thoughts of
[humans]. . . .” (PSA 94:11).
God warned about unprepared, unrepentant hearts before Isaiah warned his
people: “Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins
have hid [God’s] face from you, [and God] will not hear.” (ISA 59:2).
Thus, when we come before God in prayer, we assume an attitude of worship
that reveals heartfelt respect. With a prepared heart, we reach to God with humble
and reverent gestures. Our humility becomes essential to effective prayer.
How do we pray? With a heart cleansed by Christ’s Blood before we approach
God’s throne. Posture makes no difference. God looks on our heart’s condition, not
our physical position. Yet, not knowing how to pray hampers our Christian walk
with God, and we receive limited blessings when God promises so much more.
However, prayer represents no magic formula to give spiritual horns of
plenty to our greedy ego. Scripture warns, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye
ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” (JAM 4:3). Yes, we should pray
for our needs. Yet, scripture states we should pray for others more often.
How do we pray? We pray for answers according to God’s will. “This is the
confidence that we have in [God], that, if we ask anything according to his will,
[God] heareth us; and if we know [God] hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that
we have the petitions that we desired of [God].” (1JO 5:14-15).
We must pray in the name of Jesus. Jesus said, “Whatsoever ye shall ask in
my name, that will I do, that the Father might be glorified in the son. If ye
shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.” (JOH 14:13-14). Therefore, “I say
unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive
them, and ye shall have them.” (MAR 11:24). In other words, we keep faith in God.
How do we pray? We prepare our heart. We offer our petitions to God
according to His Will, not our own. We pray for God to give blessings to others.
We pray to God to bless our needs. We pray without ceasing. We pray with faith in
the name of Jesus.
Scripture says, “Delight thyself also in the Lord; and [the Lord] shall give
thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in [the
Lord]; and [the Lord] shall bring it to pass.” (PSA 37:4-5). Thus, after reading
those scriptures, we strengthen our praying spirit with God’s promise. “The
effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16).