But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill. – Psalm 3:3-4
It is amazing to me that in every religion of the world, people pray. Even Buddhists, who in reality don’t believe in any god, pray and meditate. In Hinduism, people pray to their house gods. In Catholicism, people pray the rosary and beseech saints. Even atheists, when faced with crisis, cry out “Oh God.” All people pray.
But for the true disciple of Jesus, prayer is so much different.
First, prayer is not a work by which we earn God’s favor. God doesn’t require us to pray to earn salvation or peace with Him. He doesn’t require prayer to keep us saved. Salvation is based on the finished work of Jesus Christ (John 19:30; Hebrews 10:10, 14). God is not demanding that we pray though I believe He does call us to seek His face time and time again in the Scriptures (1 Samuel 12:23; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Isaiah 55:6; Luke 18:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Secondly, through Jesus we have direct access at any time into the very presence of Almighty God. Jesus taught us to pray in His name and that whatever we ask for in His name would be granted to us (John 14:13-14). The balance, of course, is that true disciples will pray for what God wants us to pray for (1 John 5:14-15) which is His will to be done (Matthew 6:10). But through Jesus, we can boldly come before the Father, the maker of heaven and earth, to simply talk to Him as our own Father (Matthew 6:9; Hebrews 4:14-16). Jesus brings not just peace with God (Romans 5:1) but He also brings us into a child-father relationship with God so that we can talk to Him at all times and about all things (Romans 8:26-27).
Thirdly, praying under this new covenant relationship is not based on rituals or offering sacrifices. Since Jesus alone has purchased our eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:14), we can pray simply through His name and by His authority. We need not go through a priest or a religious ritual but we can cry out to Him at all times (Psalm 5:3 NIV). Is it any wonder then that Paul would tell the disciples to devote themselves to prayer (Colossians 4:2) or that the Apostles of our Lord said that their main duty was to pray and teach the Word (Acts 6:4)? Prayer doesn’t require that we be at any set buildings or in temples or offering up incense. Prayer doesn’t require special music or even any music. Prayer doesn’t require beads or crosses or chants or dim lit rooms. Prayer only requires the name of Jesus to be heard (John 15:7).
And yet the wonder of prayer is that a holy, righteous, omnipotent God hears our prayers and He acts on our behalf. My behalf? Me? This sinful, fleshly, nothing? God hears my cries and He longs to meet with me. How do I know this? Because He has given His Son for me that He might have a relationship with me (John 3:15-17). Through faith in His Son, I am redeemed (John 1:12-13) and I am a child of God (Romans 8:15-16; Galatians 4:5-6). As a child, I can now come before the Father and seek His face. I don’t need a clergy member or a priest or an altar. All I need is to open up my mouth and speak the words, “Father, in the name of Jesus, I seek You earnestly.” And His Spirit comes in power!
What a wonder is this God! What a wonder it is that He hears my prayers and He answers me when I call. I don’t deserve this great love but I rejoice that He has poured out His love upon me in His beloved Son (1 John 3:1-3 NIV). What an awesome God!
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