Because we believe in God, we also believe that He hears our prayers. 1 John 5:14 “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
We can have all kinds of prayers; we are not limited to one kind of prayer. There can be short prayers. The tax collector in the story Jesus told in Luke 18 prayed “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” I like to call short prayers “flare prayers” because they are sending a quick flare or request up to God. In the moment of need, we pray to God. Maybe we are in our vehicle waiting for the traffic light to change to green and we send up a prayer. Whenever we see the need or whenever we have the opportunity, we pray. But prayers can also be long. Consider the example of Jesus in Luke 6:12 “Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” Jesus prayed all night long before he chose His apostles. We may spend hours in prayer. Prayer can be spontaneous or we may plan a time for prayer such as right after we get up to start our day or before we end our day at night. Pray whenever the time is right for you. Prayer can be spoken so that others may hear. Before Jesus resurrected Lazarus, He prayed to the Father so that others could hear (John 11:42-43). When someone leads a prayer in the assembly, he speaks the prayer and those who concur with the prayer can say “Amen.” But prayer can also be in our hearts. I am reminded of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:12-14 “And it happened, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth. Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk.” Hannah was not drunk but prayed in her heart and God still heard and answered her prayer.
We are taught to pray in faith. James 1:5-8 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
We are taught to be humble in our prayers. Luke 18:9-14 “Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men — extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” We are praying to the King of the universe and we are His creation. Be humble. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).
When we pray, we should be asking for things that are according to His will. As quoted earlier 1 John 5:14 “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” We should not ask for our pleasures. James 4:3 “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” For example, we could pray for riches, but I doubt if God will answer that prayer.
Who does God listen to? Psalms 34:15-18 “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.” God’s ears are open to the cry of the righteous. If we sin and come to Him with a broken heart and contrite spirit, He will hear and forgive. But if we do evil, God’s face is against us.
Our prayers should not just be requests but should also include giving thanks to God. Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Remember to praise God in your prayers. The Lord’s Prayer includes praise and glorification of God (Matthew 6:9-13). We are also taught in Hebrews 13:15 “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.”
Be persistent in your prayers. Luke 18:1-8 “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: ‘There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’’ Then the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?’” If at first you don’t receive your request, continue to pray and don’t lose heart.
Don’t just pray for yourself; pray also for others. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” Pray for each other. You should even pray for your enemies (Matthew 5:44).
There is much more that could be said about prayer. I encourage you to try praying at different times and in different ways and don’t get stuck in one kind of prayer. It is important that you pray to your Father in Heaven. He cares for you.