Prayer

Early African converts to Christianity were diligent about praying. In fact, they each had their own special place in the thicket where they went to pray in solitude. The villagers reached these places by using their own private paths through the brush. When grass began to grow over one of these paths, it was evident to everyone that the person was not praying very much. Therefore, they would go to him and lovingly say, “Friend, there’s grass on your path!”

When the disciples asked about prayer, Jesus responded by giving them an outline (or model) to follow when praying. He said, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation’” (Luke 11:2-4). Notice that they were told to address the Father, offer praises to his name, and make petitions for the kingdom, physical needs, forgiveness of sins, and deliverance from temptation. Christians are instructed to pray for other things as well. For instance, we should pray for those in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-2), for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44), for the sick (James 5:13-15), for boldness in preaching (Acts 4:29), and for open doors (Colossians 4:3).

There is no designated place or posture required for praying. Jesus prayed in the mountains (Mark 6:46), in the wilderness (Luke 5:16), in the garden (Matthew 26:39), and even on the cross (Luke 23:34, 46). Biblical characters prayed standing (Nehemiah 9:5), kneeling (Ezra 9:5), sitting (1 Chronicles 17:16-27), and bowing (Exodus 34:8).

Prayer was always a part of the big moments in the Lord’s life. Jesus prayed at his baptism, before choosing his apostles, at the transfiguration, in the garden of Gethsemane, and on the cross. The same should be true of his disciples. We should pray always, especially before making important decisions or doing important things.

Our prayers must be offered according to God’s will. John declared, “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us” (1 John 5:14). James made a similar point in his epistle when he wrote, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions” (James 4:3). Notice that to receive in prayer, we must make sure it is in accordance with divine revelation. This, I believe, is what it means to pray in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18; Jude 20). So, is there grass on your path?