Biblical Prayer: A Life of Communing with God

What is Prayer? Prayer is at the heart of the Christian life. It is not merely a religious activity but a living relationship—direct communication with the living God. Through prayer, we express worship, seek guidance, cry out in pain, and align ourselves with the will of God.

1. Prayer is Communication with God

Prayer is how believers speak to and with God. It is a two-way relationship—we speak, and we also listen through His Word and by His Spirit.

Jeremiah 33:3 – “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”

Psalm 145:18 – “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”

2. Prayer Should Be Christ-Centered and Biblically Guided

Prayer is rooted in our relationship with Jesus Christ, who is our mediator and High Priest. We pray in His name, according to God’s revealed will in Scripture. We must also allow the Bible to shape what we pray for and how we pray. When we pray according to God's word, we are sure to pray according to God's will because his word reveals his will.

John 14:13–14 – “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do... that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

1 Timothy 2:5 – “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

1 John 5:14 – “If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”

3. The Bible Teaches Us How to Pray

The Bible is full of prayers by Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus, Paul, and others. Most importantly, Jesus teaches us how to pray in what’s often called The Lord’s Prayer. The Lord's prayer is not meant to simply be repeated (although it's not wrong if you do), but we should look at this teaching on prayer by Jesus as a model or structure of prayer.

Matthew 6:9–13 – “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name...”

This prayer gives a model:

• Worship ("Hallowed be Your name")

• Submission ("Your will be done")

• Dependence ("Give us our daily bread")

• Repentance ("Forgive us our debts")

• Protection ("Deliver us from evil")

  
  

4. Types of Biblical Prayer

There are different forms of prayer, all of which are found throughout Scripture:

A. Thanksgiving

Gratitude for God’s blessings and faithfulness.

Philippians 4:6 – “...with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Psalm 100:4 – “Enter his gates with thanksgiving...”

B. Lament

Lamenting is a common practice throughout the Bible, especially in the book of Lamentations. Lamenting is the expression of crying out to God in sorrow, pain, grief, or confusion. Lamenting is often a neglected form of prayer; studying God's word on lamenting helps us to understand the great value in lamenting prayers.

Psalm 13:1–2 – “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?”

Lamentations 3:22–23 – "Remember my affliction and my homelessness, the wormwood and the poison. I continually remember them and have become depressed. Yet I call this to mind, and therefore I have hope.

C. Supplication

The prayer of supplication is the earnest asking of God for help and or intervention.

Philippians 4:6 – “...by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving...”

Psalm 86:1 – “Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.”

D. Intercession

In its simplest form, intercession is praying on behalf of others.

1 Timothy 2:1 – “I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions... be made for all people.”

Romans 10:1 – "Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God concerning them is for their salvation."

E. Confession

Acknowledging sin and seeking forgiveness.

1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us...”

Psalm 51 - Here you will find David's heartfelt confession

5. Prayer Doesn’t Require Repetition or Performance

God is not moved by fancy language or long-winded prayers, but by hearts that are humble, sincere, and full of faith.

Matthew 6:7 – “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases... for they think that they will be heard for their many words.”

James 5:16 – “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

6. Trust the Holy Spirit to Help You Pray

We don’t always know how to pray, but God has not left us alone. The Holy Spirit intercedes, guides, and empowers our prayers.

Romans 8:26 – “The Spirit helps us in our weakness... the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”

Ephesians 6:18 – “Praying at all times in the Spirit...”

We should be clear that in Ephesians 6:18, praying in the Spirit at all times doesn't speak to speaking in tongues. Praying in the Spirit speaks to allowing the Spirit to guide and align our prayers with God’s will, and doing so keeps us persistent in prayer.

Conclusion: A Life of Prayer

Prayer is the believer’s lifeline to God. It is:

• Christ-centered

• Scripture-informed

• Spirit-empowered

• And always rooted in faith, honesty, and dependence on God.

  
  

As we grow in prayer, we grow in our relationship with God and become more aligned with His heart and His mission.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 – “Pray without ceasing.”