Good morning. Much of the following text concerning prayer in worship is taken from another source, but one that I cannot recall in order to properly give credit. My own thoughts are here as well, so it is a bit of a mixture.
Prayer plays a key role in our worship of the Lord. What are the worship choruses and hymns that we sing, if not prayers set to music? What are the scriptures that we read and consider on Sunday mornings, if not prayers reflecting God’s truth, if not God speaking to us?
In 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 the apostle Paul places prayer at the heart of Christian discipline, suggesting a continuous spirit of worship. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”. There are several reasons that prayer plays such a critically important role in worship:
Prayer brings us into God’s presence.
The author of Hebrews writes, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” Hebrews 4:16. His point is that because of the gracious sacrifice of Christ Jesus, we have direct access to God. We are therefore urged to make the most of our access by approaching God in prayer with a sense of confidence and boldness, knowing that God hears our prayers and will answer them in accordance with His will.
By the same token, we should not be so bold in our thinking that we forget our surroundings. Prayer ushers us into the throne room of God. If we don’t take a moment to absorb the implications of that, we can’t fully appreciate the magnitude of the event. Prayer grants us a personal audience with the Creator of the universe: He who parted the Red Sea for the Israelites; He who kept Daniel safe in the lions’ den; He who sent the great fish to swallow Jonah; He who sacrificed His only Son; and He who raised Him from the dead. Prayer is an amazing opportunity when you think about it. So, we must think about it. The author of Hebrews recommends that when approaching God in prayer our attitude should be mixed with a deep sense of awe and appreciation.
Prayer directs our focus on God.
Understanding who we’re talking to, and what a privilege it is to talk to Him, helps us keep our priorities in order when we pray. The first fruits of our prayer belong to God. Ideally, then, the bulk of our energy, passion, and creativity will go toward praising God and thanking Him for His work. That means His work in our lives and in the world around us.
The psalmists offer continuing examples of extolling the virtues of God:
“But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head” Psalm 3:3.
“We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks! For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near” Psalm 75:1.
“The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy” Psalm 145:8.
We may draw from their beautiful and poetic words, or we may use our own experiences and creativity to keep God in the center of our hearts and minds when we pray.
Prayer helps us recognize our place—and our purpose.
Often when we turn to God in prayer, it’s in response to difficult and challenging circumstances in our life. The issue may be a medical crisis, a broken relationship, a job loss, a sense of helplessness or hopelessness, or any of an infinite number of crises we feel we are facing. We pray in times of desperation, imploring God to do something on our behalf. More often than not, we have a pretty clear idea of what we want Him to do. In such cases, prayer becomes an “assignment.” We give God a job and wait for Him to complete it. That is not prayer to the Almighty, it is more like an order to an underling, and that is never appropriate.
God is gracious; He does respond to our “emergency requests,” though not necessarily in the ways we want Him to and certainly not according to our time schedule. However, when we pray in such a shortsighted way, we fail to recognize the true role of prayer. We are, in prayer, sharing intimate moments with God in personal communication. At the same time, we are placing our wants and needs in His hands and subjecting our will to His will.
Focusing our attention first on God helps us maintain a sense of humility and obedience. As we extol His virtues and praise Him for His power, His wisdom, His love, and His ability to bring ultimate good from any situation, we can see our own circumstances for what they are (should be)…that is, firmly within His power and His will.
Prayer aligns our heart with God’s
The most profound example of seeking God’s purpose in prayer comes from Jesus. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus felt the full weight of what He was about to endure. He begins His prayer by saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me” Matthew 26:39. This seems reasonable for someone who was about to be pushed to the limits of human endurance. But Jesus isn’t finished with His prayer.
It is how Jesus ends His prayer that resonates with us. He follows His anguished plea with these words: “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will”. Even in this moment of crisis, Jesus’ first priority is to align His will with the will of the Father. Our aim must be to follow His lead in our own prayers. After we pour our hearts out to God, it is essential that we pray, in effect, “No matter how urgent or important these things seem to me, they pale in comparison to the importance of Your will. That is my first priority. Dear Lord, I pray according to my heart, but I yield to your wisdom and mercy.”
Worship well today and pray with confidence as well as humility.
Vern