What is Prayer?

By Wyatt Pruitt

Prayer is repeating back to God what he has said to us and petitioning him, for our daily needs. Prayer can be as simple as praising God for who he is, or asking God to provide for you.

There are two main types of prayer: Written Prayer and Spontaneous Prayer

Written Prayer

Written Prayers are preformed prayers that help and teach us to pray. They also help us to pray together. Some prayers are ancient and connect us to the early Church. Examples of written prayers in the Bible are the Book of Psalms and the Our Father. Extra biblical prayers can be found in Prayer Books, Devotionals, and hymns.

Spontaneous Prayer

Spontaneous Prayer is prayer that is unplanned, and developed in the moment. Our spontaneous prayers should be guided by our reading of scripture and our written prayers. Jesus taught us how to pray in the “Our Father” and our petitions to God should be modeled off of this.

Sometimes life is hard and people get angry with God. A question arises! Can I say whatever I want to God when I am emotional? I think the answer is in the prayer of Job:

“I loathe my life;

“I will give free utterance to my complaint;

I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

I will say to God, Do not condemn me;

let me know why you contend against me.”

Job 10:1-2 ESV

God’s ultimate response to Job at the end of the Book is:

“And the Lord said to Job:

‘Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?

He who argues with God, let him answer it.’”

Job 40:1-2 ESV

Job Responds:

“Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you?

I lay my hand on my mouth.

I have spoken once, and I will not answer;

twice, but I will proceed no further.”

Job 40:4-5 ESV

Job ultimately repents of saying things about the Lord without understanding.

Then Job answered the Lord and said:

“I know that you can do all things,

and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’

Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,

things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

‘Hear, and I will speak;

I will question you, and you make it known to me.’

I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,

but now my eye sees you;

therefore I despise myself,

and repent in dust and ashes.”

Job 42:1-6 ESV

Though we cannot hear or visually see God we have something greater: Holy Scriptures and the witness of the apostolic tradition. Instead of saying things to God out of our ignorance we should model our prayer off of primarily the word Word of God and secondly the saints that came before us.

Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi, Lex Vivendi

the law of what is prayed is what is believed is the law of what is lived

Prayer forms the way that we think and the way that we live. Do not let your prayers be formulated by your feelings but on the sound rock of the Lord Jesus Christ and his Word. Pray with the written prayers of the saints through Liturgy, the Holy Psalter (Psalms) and the rest of the Word of God.

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

 Give us this day our daily bread.

 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever more shall be, world without end. Amen