Last month we examined how the ordinary means of grace – the Word, the sacraments, and
prayer – grow the people of God. In the article we saw how Acts 2 provided us with the pattern
of the early church. These believers submitted to the Apostles’ teaching, partook of the Lord’s
supper together, prayed together, and mutually encouraged one another through fellowship.
Christians grow in grace by hearing the word of God read and preached, receiving the
sacraments, and praying.
Praying is the Biblical demonstration of dependence on God. The opening of the Lord’s prayer
begins with those instructive words, “Our Father…” Every petition of the prayer is born out of a
childlike dependence on God. By asking God for what we need and what He has willed, we
demonstrate our frailty and reliance on His strength.
Over the years I have heard several men express an unbiblical opinion about prayer. One friend
told me that he never prayed for himself. He said he only prayed for other people because he
thought asking God for things was selfish. I supposed there is a kind of praying that is
misguided in what it asks. We see this in the movement known as the prosperity gospel, which
is no gospel at all. Their fixation on financial prosperity is materialism and worldly. In a word it is
sin.
God, however, has commanded us to make our needs known to Him with thanksgiving (Phil.
4:6-7). Bowing our head and bending our knees are acts of submission. They should be
expressions of our heart when we pray. The Shorter Catechism teaches us about these matters
in the section on the Lord’s prayer:
Q. 100. What does the preface of the Lord’s prayer teach us?
A. The preface of the Lord’s prayer, which is, Our Father which art in heaven, teaches us
to draw near to God with all holy reverence and confidence, as children to a father able
and ready to help us; and that we should pray with and for others.
This summary of the duty of prayer emphasizes that we should pray for ourselves and others. It
teaches us to come to God like little children. I have four children and I am grateful that they rely
on me. How much more does our Heavenly Father delight in His children whom He has
redeemed. Thomas Watson, in his commentary on the Lord’s prayer, reminds us that God is the
best Father because He is perfect (Matthew 5:48), He is wise (1 Timothy 1:17), He is love (1
John 4:16), He possesses the riches we need (Ephesians 3:16), and because he knows how to
change us into the image of His son (Acts 9:11).
We should pray for all kinds of needs, as an act of dependence, at all times. We are never
sufficient in ourselves, but God is sufficient in everything.