I knew as soon as the question was asked that it was a mistake. An accident likely, but still a mistake. You see, John was just a visitor to church that Sunday, and church was not a part of his life on a regular basis. I'm not sure if he ever went to church, maybe when he was a kid. John knew who God was, but he didn't know him.

I knew John because we "turned wrenches" at the same shop. He and I were small engine mechanics. I was working as a mechanic while training to be a pastor, and he was always looking for another injured engine to take home and bring back to life. Our ongoing conversations about life and family and bosses and gasoline and diesel fuel often drifted to the things of God.

One Friday he said, "Yeh, I'll ride along to church with you this Sunday." And so he did. That's where the question happened. All eyes were on my friend and the room became awkwardly silent. The deacon who taught the Sunday School class asked a question he probably asked a 1000 times.

"John," the teacher said, "would you open us up in a word of prayer?" I knew right away we were in trouble. I felt sorry for John. I looked around trying to think of a way to bail out my friend. The question was so familiar to our class, but my mind raced through the potential strangeness of it. I wondered what John thinks "Open us up" means or a "word" of prayer. Is that one word? Did he mean "words" of prayer?

John gave an honest answer. "I'm sorry," he said sheepishly, "I don't know how to pray." Well, at least he was honest.

How do you pray? Do you just say what you've heard other people say when they pray? Do you try to learn the catch phrases and slogans from the good prayers?

Short Answer:

Allow me to suggest two answers- a short answer and a long answer. The short answer is Just talk to God. Forget the lingo, forget the "Christianese," forget who else is listening, forget the clock, forget yourself, and talk to God. Tell God you love him. Tell him where you are weak and ask for help. Tell him that you want to be a better husband, or wife, or son, or daughter, or mother, or father, or worker. Tell him your failures. Tell him that your heart is broken over them and ask him to forgive you. Thank him for freely forgiving you when you sin against him. Tell him that all sin is against him, and you know it. Tell him you could not bear to live without his working and presence in your life.

Communication is the framework of a relationship. A Christian is a person with a relationship with the God of the universe, and prayer is the communication of a Christian to God. Maybe you just need to start talking. Another needs to stop the clichés and start talking from the heart. Another might need to stop praying to the people around them, and start talking to God. Whatever the case, we need to talk to God. That's what prayer is, that is how you do it. Short answer? Talk to God.

Long Answer:

The long answer adds some important aspects to prayer.

1. Pray humbly. Submissiveness to God and before him is the heartbeat of the Christian. Saturate your prayers with humility. Arrogance in any relationship, and especially with God, is ugly and unhealthy.
   2 Chronicles 7:14 [If] my people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. ¹
   Ezra 10:1-2 While Ezra prayed and confessed, weeping and falling facedown before the house of God, an extremely large assembly of Israelite men, women, and children gathered around him. The people also wept bitterly.
   Luke 18:13 "But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, 'God, turn Your wrath from me - a sinner!
2. Pray privately. Our praying does not have to be only private, but it does have to be at least in private. Our dearest friends are close to us because of time alone sharing with each other. Spend time alone with God.
   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.
   Matthew 14:23 He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone.
3. Pray regularly. Relationships need regular communication to stay healthy. Some would argue that they have endured long gaps in communication and the relationship was still strong. This is true especially in extended absences. God, however, is not absent. He is among us. If you encountered someone on a constant basis and had no communication, that relationship would suffer. Communicate often with God.
   Luke 5:16 Yet He often withdrew to deserted places and prayed.
   Luke 5:33 they said to Him, "John's disciples fast often and say prayers"
4. Pray constantly. Have you ever had an exciting thing happen and you just couldn't wait to tell someone? It like a bubble inside of you just waiting to pop! Ever had something terrible happen? The event consumes your thoughts and plants a knot in your stomach that won't go away. Events like this linger with us and drive our thoughts and emotions. We should pray constantly by having our thoughts always driven to the things of God. Countless events should immediately trigger our minds to be thankful to God, or to ask him for grace.
   Ephesians 6:18 Pray at all times in the Spirit, and stay alert in this, with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints
   1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 Rejoice always! Pray constantly. Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
5. Pray publicly. It is good for the God's people to come together and pray. Silently, out loud, in groups, and as individuals. Public prayer is the "life support system" of the body of Christ. Don't pull the plug. You won't be healthy without it.
   Acts 1:14 All these were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers.
   Acts 6:6 They had them stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
   Acts 12:12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many had assembled and were praying
   James 5:14 Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they should pray over him after anointing him with olive oil in the name of the Lord
6. Pray fervently. Do you like it when someone says "I love you?" I sure do. How do you like to hear it? With a yawn and no eye contact? I doubt it. When you tell someone you love them, what if they roll their eyes and say, "Yeah, whatever." NO WAY! You want passion. Passion brings the words alive! Passion says the truth in my heart is overflowing from my words, actions, and attitudes. Fervently means intense, devoted, earnest, and passionate. Jesus prayed fervently because it expressed his heart to the father. If you cannot remember your last fervent conversation with God, check your heart. Where is the passion?
   Acts 6:4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer
   Luke 6:12 He went out to the mountain to pray and spent all night in prayer to God.
   1 Thessalonians 3:10 we pray earnestly night and day to see you
   Romans 15:30 Now I implore you, brothers, through the Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to agonize together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf
   Luke 22:44 Being in anguish, He prayed more fervently, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.
   James 5:16 The intense prayer of the righteous is very powerful

Brothers and sisters in Christ, talk to God!

Copyright © 2005 by Kevin Binkley