How to Pray

God wants us to love and trust Him, as a small child confides in parents. That open-hearted communication with the Father is called prayer. Jesus showed us how to pray.

Matthew 6:9-13:
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Notice that there are some “basics” in this prayer. The word for “pray” is proseuchomai, which comes from pros (toward) and euchomai (to wish or request). Jesus’ prayer opens and closes with thankfulness and praise for God’s authority over His kingdom. The prayer continues with specific requests for the Father to meet our physical needs. Next, it deals with our relations to others regarding forgiveness and overcoming temptation.

The Apostle Paul understood much about prayer, and the Father had him remind believers about it in his letters to them. His letter to Timothy mirrors the same basics that Jesus spoke of.

I Timothy 2:1:
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications [deēsis], prayers [proseuchē], intercessions [enteuxis], and giving of thanks [eucharistia], be made for all men.

Let’s look at each of these Greek words to better understand how to pray.

Supplications (deēsis) is used of specific requests. Prayers (proseuchē) is the same word used for what Jesus taught, meaning to make our wishes known to the Father. Intercessions (enteuxis) includes prayers for others and overcoming the adversary’s attacks. Giving of thanks (eucharistia) literally mean to give grace well, to show the Father our appreciation for His love and help.

These same words or concepts are found in Paul’s letter to the Philippian believers. Like Timothy, they faced many hardships in preaching the good news of Jesus Christ, and greatly needed this encouragement to pray.

Philippians 4:6:
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer [proseuchē] and supplication [deēsis] with thanksgiving [eucharistia] let your requests [aitēma] be made known unto God.

We are to tell our Father what we wish by making specific requests from a thankful heart. These requests (aitēma) make intercession for ourselves and others.

Many Christians have read about being strong in the Lord and putting on God’s “armor” that closes out Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Notice how important prayer is in being strong in the Lord.

Ephesians 6:18:
Praying [proseuchomai] always with all prayer [proseuchē] and supplication [deēsis] in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication [deēsis] for all saints.

When we tell the Father our specific requests, we are to watch with perseverance until they come to pass. And we are to pray “in the spirit.” Paul explained what this meant when writing to the Corinthian church.

I Corinthians 14:14-18:
For if I pray [proseuchomai] in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth [proseuchomai], but my understanding is unfruitful.
What is it then? I will pray [proseuchomai] with [in] the spirit, and I will pray [proseuchomai] with [in] the understanding also: I will sing with [in] the spirit, and I will sing with [in] the understanding also.
Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks [eucharistia], seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all.

When a person is born again by confessing Jesus as the risen Lord (Romans 10:9,10), they are saved and filled with the Holy Spirit, God’s presence within. This allows any Christian to speak in an unknown tongue as a spiritual “manifestation” (see I Corinthians 12:1-11). This is praying in the spirit, just as we can also pray in our understanding. This is one way to pray and make specific requests. Notice that Paul told the Corinthians that speaking in tongues was giving thanks (eucharistia) when they prayed.

The next few verses of I Corinthians 14 show that this praying in the spirit should always be done in private or silently, unless that person interprets for the church to understand a message from God. This is a powerful way to pray. But praying with our understanding also reaches the Father’s heart. The key is our trust and confidence in Him. We can be so thankful to claim the authority that we have in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Colossians 1:3; 3:17:
We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you.
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Let’s tell our loving Father what we need by making specific requests to Him from a thankful heart—as we make intercession for ourselves and others. We are assured of His gracious help as we claim His promises in the name of our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!