BASICS05

5 AN INTRODUCTION TO PRAYER

What is prayer? The first mention in the bible of prayer is right back in Genesis, at the birth of Adam's son Seth:

'At that time men began to call on the name of the Lord.' Genesis 4:26 NIV

This was after the slaying of Abel by his brother Cain and immediately we see that we have

always turned to God in times of trouble. So prayer is a natural and instinctive human act that our post-enlightenment mindset may have forgotten and is simply talking to God.

Be still and know that I am God

Blue Dawn by John Bell

Jesus said: 'When you pray, say:

Father, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.

Give us each day our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.

And lead us not into temptation. Luke 11:1-4 NIV

And then Jesus goes on to say these wonderful words of comfort:

'So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.' Luke 11:9-10 NIV

This could also be called the Disciple's Prayer and we are all disciples when we ask Jesus to teach us to pray. Equally, it is not a prayer said automatically; God is more interested in what is in our hearts than any form of words.