By the Way, What Is Prayer? Luke 11:1

Prayer is important. Prayer exists for every Christian as they are internally transformed by the Spirit of God to practice a life of prayer. But what is prayer according to Scripture? There are six aspects to prayer according to Luke in today’s text. The text is one of only two prayers of Jesus recorded in Scripture; the other being Matthew 6:9-13. Jesus did not hesitate to teach prayer when anyone asked as prayer is a gift from heaven. 

Prayer is to speak consciously to God with a definite aim. Christians talk and commune with the living God who is able to respond. Prayer’s aim is to worship the living God. Every time the word ‘prayer’ is mentioned in Scripture, it involves worship.

What is prayer?

Prayer is communication. God allows every Christian to approach him in prayer to talk with him. Prayer is a two-way street where both parties must be engaged or there is no true conversation that takes place. In order to have better communication with the Lord, Christians must grow in their knowledge of the Word of God. God does not reveal anything beyond Scripture. God continues to reveal his will and helps the believer to understand. 

Communication cannot occur between the living and the dead. God is not dead but alive. He is eager to communicate with the believers and seeks them to be his worshippers. God is ready to incline his ear to anyone who is also yearning to pray to him.

Prayer is the door to pass into another realm. Jesus showed this during his baptism as the Father and Spirit communicated to him from heaven. Isaiah also experienced this when his spirit entered heaven and saw the vision of God. In prayer, God takes the believer into another realm as it was for the Apostle Paul (2 Cor. 12:2-4). In addition, the Lord gives confidence to the Christian; that is, through faith in order to receive his mercy and find grace for help at the time of need (Heb. 4:16; Ac. 16:25). Without faith, prayer is merely wordplay. 

Prayer is a means to benefit the children of God. Prayer exists because God wants to bless the believer. The children of God know they are sinners, rescued by grace alone, and trust in Jesus Christ alone. So, when a child of God prays to their God, he always listens. Christians have a love for Christ that encourages them to pray more because it increases their communication with the object of their faith and love.

Moreover, the children of God benefit from his blessings as he freely gives them everything they need (Rom. 8:32). God does not withhold the best as he did not even spare his own Son, Jesus Christ. And is through prayer that God gives blessings to those that ask him (Matt. 7:11). Jesus paid the price for believers to receive the privilege to pray and thereby become partakers in the blessings of God. Jesus not only paid the price for every Christian’s salvation, but he continues to intercede on behalf of the believer so that they can freely pray and continue to receive God’s blessings.