Theology & Practice of Prayer
“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life..” Philippians 4:6-7 (The Message)
If you’ve ever thought about God, the man upstairs, or even just a higher power, you’ve likely thought about prayer. It’s the method of communicating with God. The concept is not unique to Christianity, but the evidence in the Bible makes it clear: the God of Christianity is one who desires, listens to, and answers prayer. While there is a component of influence upon God in prayer, one of the key aspects is how God uses the practice of prayer to shape those who follow Jesus.
Prayer aligns your will to God’s, more than God’s will to yours.
Look at the model prayer, which we call the Lord’s Prayer, through which Jesus taught his disciples how to pray. Matthew 6:9-13 – “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’
In this model prayer, we see Jesus begin with worship, adoration, or submission to God. He declares an aligning of his desires with that of the Father. Then he moves to a request for physical needs, like food, and then into an expression of spiritual needs, like forgiving others and avoiding temptation. Lastly, he reiterates his alignment with the power and purpose of God.
Too often, I see folks who are intimidated by prayer and therefore struggle. Some are intimidated by the thought of talking to God, or by the thought of praying with others, or not knowing what to pray. So I want to encourage everyone to pray, and start by being real with God. You can pray to God anything you might think—God already knows what you are thinking. Even, or maybe especially, if you have doubts or hurts or hangups, you can share those with God.
I like to teach a basic form of prayer I call the “J.O.Y.” prayer. J.O.Y. stands for Jesus. Others. Yourself. As you pray, start like the model prayer in your love, admiration, and worship of Jesus. Then move to an expression of petition or request for others—your family or friends, those who are sick or hurt, and, finally, to yourself. For the physical needs you have. For forgiveness when you sin. For guidance on your spiritual journey.
Here’s an example J.O.Y. prayer:
Jesus, you are my savior. I pray you guide my family and church. Will you give me comfort for my hurting neck. AMEN.
A quick note about the word AMEN. It comes from the Hebrew and then Greek words, which are pronounced similarly, and means “so be it.” Amen closes the prayer with confirmation; let it be so!
As you engage in your practice of prayer, know that you are part of a church and movement in the Wesleyan/Methodist tradition that values spiritual disciplines (i.e. ordinances), including prayer. In the “General Rules,” which helped guide the earliest Methodist churches, John Wesley wrote, “Thirdly: By attending upon all the ordinances of God; such are:
The public worship of God.
The ministry of the Word, either read or expounded.
The Supper of the Lord.
Family and private prayer.
Searching the Scriptures.
Fasting or abstinence.
In fulfilling the practice of “Family and private prayer,” I share these examples from the Book of Common Prayer (BCP). The BCP was first utilized in the 16th century by the Church of England. From there it carried into the Methodist Movement, accompanying guides for Sunday and daily worship by the congregation. You may pray extemporaneously (off the cuff), or by reading a prayer. You may use the BCP to give words to your prayers occasionally, or daily. And it may help model words for you to pray.
Example prayers from the Book of Common Prayer, Occasional Prayer *:
3. FOR THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH
Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles, “Peace I give to you; my own peace I leave with you”: Regard not our sins, but the faith of your Church, and give to us the peace and unity of that heavenly city, where with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, now and for ever. Amen.
5. FOR THE SPIRIT OF PRAYER
O Almighty God, you pour out on all who desire it the spirit of grace and of supplication: Deliver us, when we draw near to you, from coldness of heart and wanderings of mind, that with steadfast thoughts and kindled affections we may worship you in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
12. FOR THE LOCAL CONGREGATION
Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear our prayers, and grant that in this Congregation the pure Word of God may be preached and the Sacraments duly administered. Strengthen and confirm the faithful; protect and guide the children; visit and relieve the sick; turn and soften the wicked; arouse the careless; recover the fallen; restore the penitent; remove all hindrances to the advancement of your truth; and bring us all to be of one heart and mind within your holy Church, to the honor and glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
20. FOR A SPIRIT OF EVANGELISM
Almighty God our Savior, you desire that none should perish, and you have taught us through your Son that there is great joy in heaven over every sinner who repents: Grant that our hearts may ache for a lost and broken world. May your Holy Spirit work through our words, deeds, and prayers, that the lost may be found and the dead made alive, and that all your redeemed may rejoice around your throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
61. FOR THE RECOVERY OF A SICK PERSON
Almighty and immortal God, giver of life and health: We implore your mercy for your servant, that by your blessing upon him and upon those who minister to him with your healing gifts, he may be restored to health of body and mind, according to your gracious will, and may give thanks to you in your holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
70. FOR INNER RENEWAL THROUGH THE WORD
Gracious God and most merciful Father, you have granted us the rich and precious jewel of your holy Word: Assist us with your Spirit, that the same Word may be written in our hearts to our everlasting comfort, to reform us, to renew us according to your own image, to build us up and edify us into the perfect dwelling place of your Christ, sanctifying and increasing in us all heavenly virtues; grant this, O heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
89. FOR SEEKING GOD, by Anselm of Canterbury
Teach me to seek you, and as I seek you, show yourself to me; for I cannot seek you unless you show me how, and I will never find you unless you show yourself to me. Let me seek you by desiring you, and desire you by seeking you; let me find you by loving you, and love you in finding you. Amen.
93. A COVENANT PRAYER, by John Wesley
I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.
* Source: https://bcp2019.anglicanchurch.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BCP-2019-MASTER-5th-PRINTING-05022022-3.pdf; accessed May 1, 2023.