How Should We Pray?

Many people would say that prayer is communicating with God, which many people would also say that communicating with God is prayer. Many of us must have heard teachings about prayer. The moment we were told that there is God, we are told to pray.

Jumping into the context that communicating with God is praying then we must have prayed to God everyday. Regardless of the length of time and place, we must have thought or said something to God at least once or twice a day. But, is it really prayer?

Prayer can be quite complex and simple considering the various types of prayer we were taught of and the diversity of situations a person finds himself. How should we pray?

• “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:6 (New International Version)”
  

• The effort that the apostle Peter made to be alone with God is evident in the scripture of Acts 10.9, where he is seen going up to the rooftop to pray. Even Jesus, distanced himself even away from the people closest to him, the twelve apostles, in order to be alone with his heavenly Father.
  

• And it came to pass in those days, that he (Jesus) went out into a mountain to pray and continued all night in prayer to God (Luke 6.12).
  

• Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." (Mat. 26.36).
  

• "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed (Mark 1:35).
  

• "But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed" (Luke 5:16).
  

Spending time alone with God is also popularly known in the Christian community as quiet time. It refers to our daily appointment with God, when we shut out as much outside interference as possible. During our quiet time, we may sing praise songs, pray, read Scripture or daily devotions, meditate on God's Word, or simply be still and listen.

If prayer can only be done in our quite time as stated in the scriptures above, what about those times when we prayed but not in isolation with people around us?

Quiet time involves an inner state of being, as well as an outward condition. The outer challenge is the noise and distractions around us. The inner challenge is how to keep your emotional and mental distractions in place. Have you ever noticed that when you sit down to read your Bible or pray, your mind begins to wander or you suddenly remember the things that you need to do? Inner "noise" can be just as troublesome as outer noise when it comes to having quiet time with God.

The Value of a Quiet Time

I found a valuable online article regarding the value of quiet time.

1. Change your schedule and you will change your life. From being a mediocre Christian to being a consistent Christian. From a frustrated yo-yo existence to stability.
2. When you get your priority with God established (appointment with God), all your other priorities (family and business) will fall into correct position. The urgent will not longer usurp the important
3. The best evidence of the value of a Quiet Time is remembering the day you skipped it.
4. A consistent Quiet Time eliminates 95% of the temptations.
5. Being an organized person is a direct result, not of personality temperament, but of a person's life being in divine order because of a Quiet Time.
6. Having a Quiet Time removes all guilt later in the day when you relax and do human things.
7. Having a Quiet Time eliminates four things: boredom, a used-to relationship with God, being lukewarm, and a lack of professionalism.
8. Having a Quiet Time gives your words penetrating power so that you are not longer a dull ax.
9. Having a Quiet Time looses the spirit of wisdom, revelation, insight, understanding, knowledge and instruction within you.
10. Having a Quiet Time affects positively all those around you, especially your business associates and your family. You will have an increased kindness, sweetness and they will recognize that you are being led by God. It's easy to flow with someone being led by the Lord.
    

God longs to spend time with us. Consider what He was willing to do for us, in order to reunite us with Him. Is it asking too much that we devote daily time to Him?