In learning to pray, it can be a great benefit to Christians to examine the prayers of the saints in the Word of God. Prayer can be difficult at times for a number of reasons. The mind of a man can be a restless thing. Often during prayer, someone will get going and will start out on the right foot, but soon he will be off thinking about the events of the day.
Another reason why prayer can be difficult is because oftentimes the believer does not have anything to guide him in his prayers. It is as though he determines to sit down and simply start praying. While his heart may be in a good place, he soon finds that he fizzles out and has little to no motivation to seek God in prayer.
A true and deep, intimate prayer life with God is one in which the heart of a man is engulfed with the Word of God and the presence of God. Prior to prayer, there must be something that shapes the prayer life itself. Sure, there can be times in which someone will be able to turn to God in prayer apart from reading His Word recently and find time of refreshment in prayer with God.
But the question arises, “How do I have an ongoing, vibrant prayer life with the Lord?” It is to this question that this article turns. Simply put, there is no other way to delve into sweet fellowship with God in prayer other than by overwhelming your mind with the truth of His Word beforehand.
As you seek God in His Word and meditate on what is being said, He will begin to impress on your heart topics to pray about, people to pray about, and how to pray, and He will even manifest His presence to you. All of these factors will begin to drive out everything else that has a tendency to cloud your mind during prayer.
Look at what prompted the Apostle Paul’s prayer life in Ephesians 1:15-23, meditate on it, and let it change the way that you pray.
Why was the Apostle Paul inspired to pray?
Scripture says, “Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers” (Eph. 1:15-16). As one looks into the life of the Apostle Paul, he will see a man who is extremely others-focused.
Time and time again in the Bible, Paul is said to suffer for others, to be willing to die for others, to be longing to see others, to be wanting to be with others, etc. He cared a lot about other people. Simply put, Paul loved people.
Unfortunately, this is in stark contrast with the world today. What is often the case is that people are out for themselves and their own wellbeing. It is also unfortunate that this is even true within the church. A selfish man will never have a vibrant prayer life. At the end of the day, there will be only so many things he can pray about. Even the Bible says, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts” (James 4:3). He will have a prayer life that consists of seemingly unanswered or denied prayers. Rather than praying for God to work in his heart and to help him to love others, he will be praying that someone stops being so annoying.
Nevertheless, Paul’s prayer life was shaped by his love for others – out of his love for his neighbor, and out of his love for the children of God. Paul entered into the Holy of Holies and met with a God who shared the same heart as Paul. The Scripture truly found its fulfillment: “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers” (2 Cor. 6:14). As Paul took upon himself the yoke of Christ (Matt. 11:29-30), he found in the process a sweet fellowship and a vibrant prayer life.
When did the Apostle Paul respond to his inspirations?
But the question will arise, “When did Paul respond to his inspirations?” In the primary passage that has been the focus of this article, Paul tells us that, “[I] cease not.” Paul’s prayer life was ongoing with the Lord. One of the ways that he kept himself in the presence of God and established his prayer life is by constantly praying.
The best way that Paul was able to do this is by praying for others. Think about it: If all you ever do is pray for yourself, you will very quickly run out of prayers. However, for a heart that is filled with a love for others, people will be laid on your heart. God will prompt your prayers and even impress on your heart times in which people need prayer.
Paul loved to pray. He was, after all, the very man who wrote the popular verse that informs us to pray without ceasing. This praying without ceasing involves being in constant communion with God. Paul was burdened for the believers in Ephesus and as a result found that he would constantly mention them in his prayers.
Maybe there is a person that God has placed on your heart to be praying for. Allow this burden to shape your prayers and never cease to lift him up to God in prayer.
How did Paul’s inspirations guide his prayers?
Paul’s love for others led Paul to prayer without ceasing. However, the question will then arise, “But what did Paul pray for?” In the rest of Ephesians chapter 1, Paul informs us of the desires of his heart for others. Paul prays for the following to take root in the heart of the Ephesian believers:
• Wisdom – Wisdom is the practical application of knowledge. Paul desired that the people would know how to apply what they have learned to their lives.
• Revelation – Revelation is the opening of the eyes to the blind. It is as though God has revealed something to you that was once hidden. Paul wanted the people to see God clearly.
• Knowledge – Knowledge is truth or facts about Christianity. It is a knowledge that guides wisdom and knowledge of the truth that will begin to shape the mind.
• Heart change – Paul knew that, at the end to the day, the heart of man needs to be transformed. Paul desired the hearts of his people to be radically changed by the truth of God’s Word. This would have involved deeply rooted convictions concerning the Word of God and Christ. These convictions would have then shaped the lives of these believers and set them on the proper course.
• Hope – Hope is an expectation of future events. It is an encouraged, faith-filled expectation. Hope is the driving force behind endurance and perseverance, although it may not be directly stated. It is the man behind the scenes that does not get much attention, but nevertheless it will guide a believer to cross the finish line.
• Future – Paul knew that if these believers were going to think like him and, even more importantly, think like Jesus, they must learn to develop an eternal perspective. They could not just look at all of life horizontally, but rather they had to look at all of life through the lens of eternity. Paul prayed that they would fix their minds on their inheritance in Christ.
• Power – Finally, Paul desired that they would know the power of Christ toward those who believe. It is interesting to note that Paul did not pray that they would have power. They already had power. He prayed that they would know they have power in Christ.
Application
Let the Word of God change the way that you pray. Allow God to mold your mind through His Word. Come to the Bible seeking to learn how to pray. Meditate on what is being said. Develop a love for others, and watch as you too never cease to give thanks and always make mention of those God has brought your way.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for the ways that You have sought to help me to learn how to pray. Please continue to guide me in my prayers and help me to grow. You are worthy of praise and honor and glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen