Shorter Catechism Qs. 98–100
Q. 98. What is prayer?
A. Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God for things agreeable to his will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgement of his mercies.
Q. 99. What rule hath God given for our direction in prayer?
A. The whole Word of God is of use to direct us in prayer; but the special rule of direction is that form of prayer which Christ taught his disciples, commonly called The Lord’s Prayer.
Q. 100. What doth the preface of the Lord’s prayer teach us?
A. The preface of the Lord’s prayer, which is, “Our Father which art in heaven,” teacheth us to draw near to God with all holy reverence and confidence, as children to a father, able and ready to help us; and that we should pray with and for others.
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“And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:27 ESV)
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Who doesn’t struggle to pray?
As Christians we understand life is going to involve a measure of struggles. But our struggle to pray is a little different than our other struggles. We know, don’t we, that if we could just pray, then all other struggles of our lives will be easier. If we can but experience the nearness of God, then we could face anything! But when we struggle to pray, every struggle becomes much more difficult. For when we struggle in prayer, we are struggling because God feels so distant. When we struggle in other areas, prayer will help. But when we struggle with prayer, where do we turn?
We can, and always ought, turn to Jesus.
Jesus taught us the Lord’s Prayer. Christians across many generations have found great help and comfort in the Lord’s Prayer. In the preface to the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray to ”Our Father in heaven.” How comforting it is! Too often, even Christians who cherish salvation by grace think of prayer as a meritorious work. Certainly, there is great joy when the heart soars to heaven “on the wings of prayer.” Sometimes our “success” with prayer greatly lift up our hearts. In turn our “failure” to pray well brings condemnation, self-loathing, and disappointments into our hearts.
But when Jesus teaches us to pray “Our Father in heaven,” he teaches us to pray not as those who are performing a work God is going to judge, but as children who come to their Father. Servants are always afraid of how their master will judge their works. Sons and daughters know their father loves them no matter what. In other words, Jesus teaches us what matters in prayer are not our eloquence or the ease with which we always pray. What matters more than these is that we pray with faith, knowing our Father loves his children when they struggle. He delights to hear even our worst, stuttering prayer offered in humility.
That is, we need to understand that our best prayers are more pathetic than we think they are. Our prayer could always be less self-centered, a little longer, a little more etc. etc. Our best prayers are never without faults. But what Father chastises his children for falling down and scraping their knees? Our Father loves Christians who struggle to pray.
Yet, in a different sense, our prayers are better than we think they are. In fact, our prayers are perfect. Paul writes in Rom 8:27 “he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” Remember that Paul writes this in the context of 8:26. “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” The Holy Spirit has come to help us to pray. There are times when we do not even know what to pray for. But just as we struggle to pray, the Spirit offers up to God perfect prayers on our behalf, and God receives the Spirit’s prayer as our prayer. Our best prayers ascend to God just at that very moment when the only thing we know and feel is how hard it is to pray!
Yes, praying is hard. We all struggle. But thanks be to our Lord Jesus Christ! Because of him, our worst prayers ascend to God as our best prayers. Don’t be ashamed if no words come, and the only thing you can do is to pray the Lord’s Prayer. Children learn to speak by mimicking the words they hear. They hear new words, and say them over and over until they can say them well. So with prayer. Repeat after Jesus. Mimic his prayers. That is surely how we are going to grow in our prayer.