2. HOW SHOULD I PRAY? The how of prayer is as important as, if not more important than, the what of prayer. Jesus taught His disciples the Lord's Prayer, Matthew 6 and Luke 11, as a model to follow. Other Biblical examples include Daniel's prayer for the people, Daniel 9 ... David's prayer for forgiveness, Psalms 51 ... Jesus' own prayer, John 17 ... and the prayers of the Pharisee and the Publican, Luke 18. Biblical prayer is open and honest pouring out of the heart to God.

Scriptural guidelines include praying ...

Humbly, 2 Chronicles 7:14, 34:27.
With a thankful heart, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Philippians 4:6.
With sincerity, not by rote, Isaiah 29:13.
Openly and directly, Isaiah 37:14.
With great devotion, Colossians 4:2.
Without ceasing, 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
Persistently, Luke 11:5-10, 18:1-8.
With great striving, Romans 15:30.
With simplicity, Matthew 6:7.
Without wrath or dissension, 1 Timothy 2:8.
In unity with other believers, Matthew 18:19-20.
With great faith, James 1:6-7, Hebrews 11:6.
According to His will, John 15:7, 1 John 5:14-15.

3. WHOM SHOULD I PRAY TO? In all aspects of prayer, we should strive to follow the teaching and examples of Scripture. The Bible makes no mention of prayer addressed to anyone but God Himself. We have no examples or teaching that leads us to pray to angels, saints, or any dead Christians. Prayer requests should be made to the Father, John 15:16, 16:23. We should pray in the Spirit, Ephesians 6:18, Jude 20 ... under His leading and direction. We are instructed to pray "in the name of Jesus," John 14:13, 15:16 ... that is, in His will and by His power. This Biblical pattern assures us that the full resources of the triune God are with us as we pray.

4. SHOULD I PRAY ON MY KNEES? Jesus knelt to pray, Luke 22:41. Daniel knelt and prayed three times a day, Daniel 6:10. Paul, on his departure from Ephesus, knelt and prayed, Acts 20:36. Jehoshaphat bowed his head to pray, 2 Chronicles 20:18. Because of the sins of the people, Ezra tore his clothes and fell to his knees with outstretched hands ... but wouldn't lift his face to God, Ezra 9:5-6. At his martyrdom, Stephen lifted his face and gazed intently into heaven as he prayed, Acts 7:55-60. Bowing down before God in prayer and worship, even to the point of having their faces to the ground, was commonplace in the lives of the men of the Bible. Standing while praying is found in Mark 11:25. Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed, 2 Kings 20:2. The position of the body has no intrinsic value for effective prayer. It is important only as it expresses the posture of the heart.

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Disciplemaking 1, copyright 2003, is available free from www.MyDisciplemaker.org where you can study online or print free copies. You may copy this course, any any part of it, for free or at-cost distribution ... without change to the content ... and with this copyright policy attached. Published by www.ActsOneEight.org. Bible Quotations are from the NASB unless noted.