Introduction

Is there a right way to pray?

In my opinion, yes, and no.

Max Lucado says in his pamphlet, Prayer, A Heavenly Invitation, " Prayer is a window that God has placed in the walls of our world. Leave it shut and the world is a cold, dark house. Throw back the curtains and see His light. Open the window and hear His voice. Open the window of prayer and invoke the presence of God into your world." Pg.1

For me, it is the way man communicates with God. BUT, It is only one of the ways God communicates with man. It is one of the windows. He may also speak to us through the words of a hymn, or a Bible passage, or the profound common wisdom of a friend, written or spoken. Sometimes through a child!

We hear the swoosh of the curtain, the creak of the sill and see the light piercing in - an answer, a comfort, a truth, or an admonishment that drops us to our knees. But sometimes, if we listen carefully, communication from God comes in the still quiet voice while we are in prayer. Answer put in our brains from what we know has to be an outside source. Maybe, it comes just as a warm, caring feeling that surrounds us in peace - perhaps that is all the answer we seek.

Maybe it would be best to define what prayer is. Google "what is prayer?" and you can get 68,200,000 responses. Don't have time to read them all? Don't worry. I didn't either. But I scanned quite a lot. Here are just a few:

Wordnet Web - the internet equivalent to Webster's Dictionary, states that it is "the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)."

The Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry web site says this - "Prayer is the practice of the presence of God. It is the place where pride is abandoned, hope is lifted, and supplication is made."

The WebBible™ defines prayer this way: "Prayer is conversation with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him."

The Roman Catholic catechism says " Prayer is a form of communication, a way of talking to God or to the saints."

The Greek Orthodox Church Archdiocese in America says " Prayer is the way to renewal and spiritual life. Prayer is aliveness to God. Prayer is strength, refreshment, and joy."

“Prayer makes your heart bigger until it is capable of containing the gift of God himself,” writes Mother Teresa.


Prayer is obviously a conversation with God. But not all conversations are meaningful. Some are gibberish. Some are filled with words and thoughts but have no structure, no meaning Surely you have had conversations with people and not really felt involved. Most likely it was at a social gathering where people mingled and spoke of trivial, surface things. It is as if all night you were listening to people talk mostly about themselves and not really caring a fig about you or your opinions, thoughts or needs. They definitely didn’t want your advice or wisdom. No meaningful insight allowed that would shift their thoughts off themselves, their kids or grandkids, cat, dog, hobbies, job or amusing anecdotes of life. As far as they were concerned, your job was to politely smile, keep looking them in the eye as if they were the most important person in the room at the moment and keep uttering niceties like, "Uh, huh. I see. That's interesting. Really." Words of empty fluff. Courteous responses that fueled their egos and kept them talking while all the time you are thinking about how to make a graceful exit. When you finally do, you look back over your shoulder and they have lit onto some other poor soul, a bee to a flower, depositing their pollen of prose.

Prayer should not be that type of conversation. And thank goodness, God has more patience than we do. Because, I think if we are honest about it, there are times when that is exactly what our prayers are. They are -

All about us. Heal me, fix me, listen to me, love me, convince me I am good.

All about others we care about. Heal him, give her the comeuppance she deserves, make him stop hurting me so much, make them listen, tell me they will be alright, protect her from harm.

All about how unfair life is. Lord, why do I have to be fat when so and so isn't. Why did you make me so dense? Or give me kinky thick hair. Or make me fall in love with a person who abuses me . . .Again. Or take away my child or my parents or my spouse.

All about what we want (that we think we need). Lord, I need $300 to pay the utilities this month. Lord, I need a better job. Lord, tell me if this is the right choice I should make. God, give me a good caring, honest mate. God, tell me it's okay to end my marriage.

You say, but wait - aren’t those prayers valid? Shouldn’t we pray for others? Shouldn’t we pour out our hearts to God? Shouldn’t we come to Him with our needs, the desires of our hearts?

Well, yes. And No.


That is what this booklet is about.


But here is what it is not about —

 It's not a magic formula to invoke the Spirit of the Universe to do our will.

 It is not in itself a way to reach up to a higher plane of existence and commune with the Creator of the Universe, though hopefully, that will happen..

It is not even a guarantee that your wishes will be granted and everything will turn out okay: that you will make it to the other side onto safe ground if you follow this step by step, moving from rock to rock protruding out of the fast flowing stream called life that swirls and gurgles out of control.

Prayer is a relationship. Have you ever had an old friend whom you still hear from occasionally, but as soon as you are together you pick right back up as if you talked every day? Prayer with God should be like that. Except, it is best if you do talk often, hopefully several times together during the day. But even if you lapse, even if it has been years, you can pick right back up where you left off. God never hangs up the phone at His end of the line.

  

I don't pretend to have a special lifeline to God, or any profound insight into how to gain the ear of the Master. I am certainly not the first, or even the hundredth thousandth person to write on the subject of prayer. But it is a subject I have studied and participated in most of my life from the age of reason on. In my heart of hearts I know the truth. He is there, He does influence my life and He does answer every prayer, not matter how it's prayed - it just may not be the answer I thought I wanted. Eventually, I find it was what I needed.

I will also be the first to admit, I still struggle to pray constantly as St. Paul advised. I have known times when I absolutely could not pray, when I was sick and tired of praying, and when I wondered if God was really only a figment of my imagination.

Phillip Yancey, a well known Theologian in his book Prayer: Does It Make a Difference? admits the same thing. But he concludes -

"When doubts creep in and I wonder whether prayer is a sanctified form of talking to myself, I remind myself that the Son of God who had spoken worlds into being and sustains all that exists, felt compelled to pray. He prayed as if it made a difference…"
pg 79

Do you ever feel that way? If so, perhaps this booklet will be of help. The simple principles written here I hope will open your eyes, your mind and your soul to a deeper, richer, more life-changing experience with the One who loves you most, who is waiting patiently in anticipation of having a real heart to heart with you.- Your Heavenly Father. It is a means of taking your prayer life into another realm - raising the stakes, taking it to the next level and beyond. It is entering the very presence of the Almighty by invitation, not just knocking on the door hoping for an answer, or even tapping on the window. It is a sit on the bed, pillow crunched to your chest, Kleenex by your side meaningful chat as He listens to you, and with you listening to Him. Okay. Maybe not the Kleenex — all the time.


But this is not my theory. Oh, Heavens no. Though, in a way, I classify it as a revelation. In one of my prayers God pulled together all I had read and learned and even experienced about conversing with Him. Not that I am special. It is the revelation given to countless others, from ordinary praying folk to modern theologians to Paul and even David in the Psalms, a man after God's own heart. Per Google, over 68 million have had revelations like this, right?

This booklet is a step by step trek to get you from where you are (point A) across the abyss to where He is (point B). An abyss He has already bridged for you.


Here are the steps-

P - Praise
R - Recounting His past blessings

A - Atoning for our sins

Y - Yielding to His will

I - Interceding for others

N - Needs- telling Him of your personal desires (note how far down the list it is)

G - Giving Him the Glory




Ready to begin? Then pray with me, please.

Heavenly Father, Lord of the Universe, Creator of all things, the Rock of our Salvation, Our Refuge, Provider, Redeemer and Comfort, we give you honor and praise. You created us and sent Your Son to die for us so we may have eternal life. We know we are unworthy to come before you. Forgive us for being negative, anxious, doubting and hateful. Forgive us for the hurt we have caused others. Lord, let us open our hearts, minds and souls to Your will in our lives. Right now, my heart is burdened with the needs of (you add the names) and especially my need for (you add your personal need). I believe You answer prayers. I believe Your have my best interest at heart and love me more than I can imagine. To you belongs all the glory. Amen.


We just prayed all the above elements — Praise, Recounting, Atonement, Yielding, Interceding, Needs and Glory.

Let's look at each one, it's significance and why it is an essential part of meaningful prayer. We will also look at why it is important to keep them in the order they are in.

Why it is p-r-a-y-i-n-g

and not g-r-a-p-i-n-y,

or y-i-p-r-a-n-g ,

or just n-i and nothing else