Attitude in Prayer
With what attitude do we approach God in prayer? How did those in the Bible pray when they approached God?
What does the Bible say about our attitude in prayer? -
- Bible Prayers - Psalm 131 & Ephesians 3v14-21
- Loved - Luke 11v11-13
- Confident Approach - John 11v41-44
- Persistence - Luke 11v5-10
Bible Prayers
Psalms 131
O LORD, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don’t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp. Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the LORD— now and always.
Ephesians 3v14-21
When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
Questions for reflection or discussion
- What attitude towards the Father do you see in each of these prayers?
- How does the prayer’s self confidence contrast with their God confidence?
Thoughts to consider
These prayers are offered in humility and they address the hearts of those they are praying for.
Loved
Luke 11v11-13
“You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”
Questions for reflection or discussion
- How does Jesus compare the attitude of parents with that of their Father in heaven?
- How does the fact that God loves us influence the way he will answer our prayers?
- What attitude does Jesus intimate the Father will have on hearing our prayers?
Thoughts to consider
Our Father in heaven loves us deeply. His heart is touched by our prayers. He is not responding mechanically. He looks for us to express what is going on in our hearts and to explore why it is that we are praying. His gifts to us are out of a developing relationship and realisation of need.
Confident Approach
John 11v41-44
Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”
Questions for reflection or discussion
- How confident was Jesus that his Father would hear his prayers?
- Why do you think Jesus was concerned that the people present would be aware of his confidence that God would hear his prayers?
- What influences you towards or away from confidence with God?
Thoughts to consider
We have confidence that the Lord hears us and that his response to our prayer will be the best for our development to becoming the people he desires for us to become.
Persistence
Luke 11v5-10
Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’ But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence. “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
Questions for reflection or discussion
- How does the person in the story respond to this urgent need?
- How can you develop that kind of urgent persistence in prayer?
Thoughts to consider
A persistent and heartfelt prayer shows the extent of our attitude and desire. The apparent lack of success asks how serious we are. As we develop in prayer on a subject, we begin to explore in more detail what is the need.
Overview question for reflection or discussion
- What attitude is appropriate in approaching God in prayer?
- What attitude do you believe God has towards you when you come in prayer?
Thoughts to consider
Our attitude in prayer reflects on whom we consider God to be. There are a range of attitudes in the Bible, but for the most part we see a combination of deep humility before an awesome God and a confident approach to a loving Father.
