One of the most amazing gifts that God gave to His children is prayer. It's a means of communicating with Him, of thanking Him, of asking for His guidance and of pouring out our hearts before Him. The right way to pray is not to use a lot of words or to talk a lot. Rather, it is a matter of coming to God in sincerity, humility, faith and obedience. God does not listen to the person's prayer if he doesn't have a right heart.
Matthew 6:9-13 is referred to as the Lord's Prayer, and it is here that the Lord Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray. This prayer taught us that we should first honor God by praying “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” This is a lesson for me in prayer, to start with reverence and respect for God. We should acknowledge His greatness before bringing our requests before Him. Jesus also spoke about not praying to be noticed. In Matthew 6:5, He said that hypocrites love to pray publicly so that others can see them. A sincere heart that prays, but does not seek human acclaim is the hallmark of a true prayer.
Another important aspect of proper prayer is faith. The Bible says in Hebrews 11:6, “For he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” In every prayer I pray, I should always remember that God hearing me and concern for my needs. When answers do not come right away, I must keep going on faith because His timing is always right.
I have a personal experience in mind here that I am passing through a difficult time and feeling discouraged. There was a lot of things going on in my mind and I felt overwhelmed. I chose to pray instead of wallowing in sadness and suffering. I was talking with God like a friend and asked for His guidance and assistance. My situation didn't change overnight, but slowly I felt peace in my heart. My mind was struck with something I read in Philippians 4:6-7 saying, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” This experience helped me to understand that prayer is not just about getting answers but it's also about getting closer to God.
Humility, sincerity, faith, thanksgiving and obedience to God's will are therefore required when one prays. The Bible instructs us to pray continually: 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” That prayer ought to be something that we do on a regular basis. When I pray as God has taught me, I rely on Him more and more and I trust in his love and care more and more. It is indeed a privilege that brings us closer to our Heavenly Father, to pray.