One day a brother in the Lord said, “Prayer is magic.” He was trying to encourage Christians to pray for Namibian youth who experienced unemployment and a lack of good education. His concern was genuine, but his understanding was incorrect. Perhaps his thinking had been influenced by the Herero-Mbanderu tribe of Namibia, which sees prayer as the means of appeasing their ancestors by asking them to intercede to God for blessings such as good health, marriage, employment, or protection for their new cars.
So, What is Prayer?
One of the simplest definitions is: “Prayer is talking to God.” We speak to God as if we are children addressing our heavenly Father.
Prayer is talking to God, not demanding our own way.
Some African traditional religions teach that prayer forces a god to obey. If the god fails to answer those who worship him, the god is shamed. Some Christians seem to have the same idea about our God. They believe that prayer is a talisman or a charm that forces God to do what they ask. But asking “in Jesus’ name” is not a set of magic words that forces God to do what we ask (see John 14:13-14).
Does God Always Answer?
We must pray according to God’s will. God promises to answer “anything that pleases him” (1 John 5:14). Even Paul received a “no” in response to his persistent petitions to God (2 Corinthians 12:7-9). Prayer is talking to God, not demanding our own way.
When we pray, we ask expecting a “yes” (faith) while willingly accepting God’s “no” (submission).
When we pray as God’s obedient children, we ask expecting a “yes” (faith) while willingly accepting God’s “no” (submission). This is based on a relationship with our heavenly Father. When God says “No” or “Wait,” our prayer has not failed. We pray to communicate with God, not simply to receive what we ask for.
The main reason to pray is because God tells us to. He tells us to bring “all our worries and cares to him” (1 Peter 5:7) He also tells us to “keep on asking” (Matthew 7:7-8). God created us to have fellowship and communication with him. Prayer brings us closer to him. We may not understand how it works, but we know it changes us.
Who Should Speak to God?
Every believer should pray. Some Christians act as if it is like a charm that gives instant protection or provision when it is used. So they pray only in times of trouble or when they need special help. Instead, we should “never stop” bringing our requests to God (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
We don’t have to use beautiful words in prayer—we simply talk to God.
Some newer believers think that only mature Christians know how to pray and that it requires a special vocabulary. Instead, every believer enjoys the privilege. We do not have to use beautiful words in prayer—we simply talk to God. When we do not know how to pray, the Holy Spirit “helps us in our weakness” (Romans 8:26).
How Should We Pray?
Because prayer is for every believer, we should learn how to do it. When the disciples asked Jesus about this, he provided them with a model (Luke 11:1-4). The “Lord’s Prayer” shows us the spirit of true prayer. We come to God:
- In humble submission to the Father. “Father, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon” (Luke 11:2)
- With faith that God will provide for our needs. “Give us each day the food we need” (Luke 11:3)
- From a repentant heart and from a heart that forgives others. “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation” (Luke 11:4).
We don’t have to rely on our own power.
As Christians, we pray in the Spirit, who intercedes for us (Romans 8:26). We also pray through Christ, who “lives forever to intercede with God on [our] behalf” (Hebrews 7:25). Our prayers are powerful, not because of how much faith we exert or how loudly we ask (common misunderstandings), but because Jesus and the Holy Spirit intercede on our behalf. This is a great encouragement; we do not have to rely on our own power when we pray.
What to Pray
One of the most profound ways to pray is with scripture. Praying the Scriptures can help us store the Word of God in our hearts (Psalms 119:11). The psalms give us language for praise and thanksgiving (see Psalm 8; 145); for lament (Psalm 44; 74); for repentance (Psalm 6; 51); and even for handling anger against those who wrong us (Psalms 10; 109). The Bible speaks from God to us, and it also provides the words for us to speak to God. Sometimes prayer is sitting in quiet, seeking God’s presence and listening for his voice. It is also telling God about our deepest hurts and emotions, like David did in the psalms he wrote.
Christians who’ve had little political power, few economic resources, and no social status have learned to rely fully on God.
One of the great strengths of African Christians is a reliance on prayer as the true solution to all needs. Christians who have had little political power, few economic resources, and no social status have learned to rely fully on God. Speaking to God, we voice our complete submission and dependence on God. He ordained this as the gracious means of communication in which his people respond to him in humility, in earnestness, and with confidence. We are totally dependent upon God—our Creator, Sustainer, and our only hope of glory.
