How to Pray
Since Christ is soon coming, we need to put on the seventh part of God’s armor, which is praying always. Ephesians 6:18
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
The call to pray by Jesus to the disciples in Gethsemane was primarily personal and individual prayer.
Luke 22:40, 45
And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,
What did the disciples ask Jesus?
Luke11:1
And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
Lesson #1: Private and personal prayer should be audible, just above a whisper to God.
The disciples had been for a short time absent from their Lord, when on their return they found Him absorbed in communion with God. Seeming unconscious of their presence, He continued praying aloud. {MB 102.1}
The hearts of the listening disciples were deeply moved. They had marked how often He spent long hours in solitude in communion with His Father…It was from hours spent with God that He came forth, morning by morning, to bring the light of heaven to men. The disciples had come to connect His hours of prayer with the power of His words and works. Now, as they listened to His supplication, their hearts were awed and humbled. As He ceased praying, it was with a conviction of their own deep need that they
exclaimed, "Lord, teach us to pray." Luke 11:1. {MB 102.2}
Lesson #2: Have a special place for prayer. One of Jesus’ special places for personal prayer was in the Garden of Gethsemane. See Luke 11:1; John 18:1, 2; Matthew 26:36.
Lesson #3: Have specific intervals of the day for prayer. See Psalm 55:16-18, 22; Daniel 6:10, 11, 21, 22; Mark 1:32, 35; Matthew 14:23; Luke 6:12; Acts 10:9
Lesson #4: Pray the words of Scripture for communing with God. See Luke 11:2. Jesus prayed the words of Scripture in Gethsemane. compare Luke 22:40-44 with Psalm 116:13.
“Every promise in the word of God furnishes us with subject matter for prayer, presenting the pledged word of Jehovah as our assurance.” {MB 133.1}
Many prayers are offered without faith. A set form of words is used, but there is no real importunity. These prayers are doubtful, hesitating; they bring no relief to those who offer them, and no comfort or hope to others. The form of prayer is used, but the spirit is
wanting, showing that the petitioner does not feel his need. . . . {OHC 130.3}
Learn to pray short and right to the point, asking for just what you need. Learn to pray aloud where only God can hear you. Do not offer make-believe prayers, but earnest, feeling petitions, expressing the hunger of the soul for the Bread of Life. If we prayed more in secret, we should be able to pray more intelligently in public. These doubtful, hesitating prayers would cease. {OHC 130.4}
Let us learn to pray intelligently, expressing our requests with clearness and precision. Let us . . . pray as though we meant it. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16. {OHC 130.6}
Lesson #5: Jesus teaches us to pray unselfishly. We must ask for blessings in order to give to others.
Luke 11:5-8
And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;
For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?
And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.
I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
Prayer and supplication are gifts from God to us. Since Jesus gives us the desire to pray and supplicate, then He will answer.
“Ask, then; ask, and ye shall receive. Ask for humility, wisdom, courage, increase of faith. To every sincere prayer an answer will come. It may not come just as you desire, or at the time you look for it; but it will come in the way and at the time that will best meet your need. The prayers you offer in loneliness, in weariness, in trial, God answers, not always according to your expectations, but always for your good.” {GW 258.3}
One reason why Jesus can give us the spirit of prayer and supplication is because He experienced the Himself.
Hebrews 5:7-9
Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Praying and supplicating means to make requests to God with faith; the belief that Jesus will answer.
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
“The darkness of the evil one encloses those who neglect to pray…Why should the sons and daughters of God be reluctant to pray, when prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven's storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence? Without unceasing prayer and diligent watching we are in danger of growing careless and of deviating from the right path. The adversary seeks continually to obstruct the way to the mercy seat, that we may not by earnest supplication and faith
obtain grace and power to resist temptation.” {SC 94.2}
What does the Lord say through James will save and heal us?
James 5:15
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
“Prayer and faith are closely allied, and they need to be studied together. In the prayer of faith there is a divine science; it is a science that everyone who would make his lifework a success must understand. Christ says, "What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." Mark 11:24. He makes it plain that our asking must be according to God's will; we must ask for the things that He has promised, and whatever we receive must be used in doing His will. The conditions met, the promise is unequivocal.” {Ed 257.7}
In a literal sense, where do we obtain faith?
Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
“We may tell the Lord all our trials, tell Him all our weaknesses, and tell Him all our dependence upon His might and His power. This is true prayer. If ever there was a time when the Spirit of grace and supplication was needed to be poured out upon us, God Himself indicting our prayers, it is now. And the promise is to be brought before every church and the simplicity of truth dwelt upon. "Ask and ye shall
receive." John 16:24. It is faith, living faith that we need, continuing instant in prayer.” {1888 487.1}
Since Christ is soon coming, we need to put on the seventh part of God’s armor, which is praying always. Ephesians 6:18
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
The call to pray by Jesus to the disciples in Gethsemane was primarily personal and individual prayer.
Luke 22:40, 45
And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,
What did the disciples ask Jesus?
Luke11:1
And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
Lesson #1: Private and personal prayer should be audible, just above a whisper to God.
The disciples had been for a short time absent from their Lord, when on their return they found Him absorbed in communion with God. Seeming unconscious of their presence, He continued praying aloud. {MB 102.1}
The hearts of the listening disciples were deeply moved. They had marked how often He spent long hours in solitude in communion with His Father…It was from hours spent with God that He came forth, morning by morning, to bring the light of heaven to men. The disciples had come to connect His hours of prayer with the power of His words and works. Now, as they listened to His supplication, their hearts were awed and humbled. As He ceased praying, it was with a conviction of their own deep need that they
exclaimed, "Lord, teach us to pray." Luke 11:1. {MB 102.2}
Lesson #2: Have a special place for prayer. One of Jesus’ special places for personal prayer was in the Garden of Gethsemane. See Luke 11:1; John 18:1, 2; Matthew 26:36.
Lesson #3: Have specific intervals of the day for prayer. See Psalm 55:16-18, 22; Daniel 6:10, 11, 21, 22; Mark 1:32, 35; Matthew 14:23; Luke 6:12; Acts 10:9
Lesson #4: Pray the words of Scripture for communing with God. See Luke 11:2. Jesus prayed the words of Scripture in Gethsemane. compare Luke 22:40-44 with Psalm 116:13.
“Every promise in the word of God furnishes us with subject matter for prayer, presenting the pledged word of Jehovah as our assurance.” {MB 133.1}
Many prayers are offered without faith. A set form of words is used, but there is no real importunity. These prayers are doubtful, hesitating; they bring no relief to those who offer them, and no comfort or hope to others. The form of prayer is used, but the spirit is
wanting, showing that the petitioner does not feel his need. . . . {OHC 130.3}
Learn to pray short and right to the point, asking for just what you need. Learn to pray aloud where only God can hear you. Do not offer make-believe prayers, but earnest, feeling petitions, expressing the hunger of the soul for the Bread of Life. If we prayed more in secret, we should be able to pray more intelligently in public. These doubtful, hesitating prayers would cease. {OHC 130.4}
Let us learn to pray intelligently, expressing our requests with clearness and precision. Let us . . . pray as though we meant it. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16. {OHC 130.6}
Lesson #5: Jesus teaches us to pray unselfishly. We must ask for blessings in order to give to others.
Luke 11:5-8
And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;
For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?
And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.
I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
Prayer and supplication are gifts from God to us. Since Jesus gives us the desire to pray and supplicate, then He will answer.
“Ask, then; ask, and ye shall receive. Ask for humility, wisdom, courage, increase of faith. To every sincere prayer an answer will come. It may not come just as you desire, or at the time you look for it; but it will come in the way and at the time that will best meet your need. The prayers you offer in loneliness, in weariness, in trial, God answers, not always according to your expectations, but always for your good.” {GW 258.3}
One reason why Jesus can give us the spirit of prayer and supplication is because He experienced the Himself.
Hebrews 5:7-9
Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Praying and supplicating means to make requests to God with faith; the belief that Jesus will answer.
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
“The darkness of the evil one encloses those who neglect to pray…Why should the sons and daughters of God be reluctant to pray, when prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven's storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence? Without unceasing prayer and diligent watching we are in danger of growing careless and of deviating from the right path. The adversary seeks continually to obstruct the way to the mercy seat, that we may not by earnest supplication and faith
obtain grace and power to resist temptation.” {SC 94.2}
What does the Lord say through James will save and heal us?
James 5:15
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
“Prayer and faith are closely allied, and they need to be studied together. In the prayer of faith there is a divine science; it is a science that everyone who would make his lifework a success must understand. Christ says, "What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." Mark 11:24. He makes it plain that our asking must be according to God's will; we must ask for the things that He has promised, and whatever we receive must be used in doing His will. The conditions met, the promise is unequivocal.” {Ed 257.7}
In a literal sense, where do we obtain faith?
Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
“We may tell the Lord all our trials, tell Him all our weaknesses, and tell Him all our dependence upon His might and His power. This is true prayer. If ever there was a time when the Spirit of grace and supplication was needed to be poured out upon us, God Himself indicting our prayers, it is now. And the promise is to be brought before every church and the simplicity of truth dwelt upon. "Ask and ye shall
receive." John 16:24. It is faith, living faith that we need, continuing instant in prayer.” {1888 487.1}
