A Biblical Way to Pray

Recently I was watching a message by Dr. Tony Evans, US based Pastor, author and scholar, teaching on Ephesians 6 concerning Spiritual Warfare specifically on “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” (6:18).

In this sermon, he drove home a point about prayer that I want to share with you to improve your biblical way of praying.

This is important because many modern day prayers have been distorted into something weird. People chant and call it prayer. People scream and say that’s powerful prayer. In a nutshell, I can say that people wrongly use their mannerisms in prayer to judge how powerful it is or not.

What did Dr. Evans say that can help transform our prayer life to get results?

Let me cut to the chase. What Dr. Evans said is something we all know but mostly neglect when we are praying.

He said that prayer is communicating with God what He has already said in His word. Simple and profound! Who doesn’t know that if you are talking to God it is about what He has said but not what we think is important? Yet, how many of us do this in our daily prayers?

It is His word He will accomplish and not our words. Read below what Psalm 119:89-96 says about God’s word and our prayer:

"89 Forever, O Lord,
Your word is settled in heaven.
90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
You established the earth, and it [b]abides.
91 They continue this day according to Your ordinances,
For all are Your servants.
92 Unless Your law had been my delight,
I would then have perished in my affliction.
93 I will never forget Your precepts,
For by them You have given me life.
94 I am Yours, save me;
For I have sought Your precepts.
95 The wicked wait for me to destroy me,
But I will [c]consider Your testimonies.
96 I have seen the consummation of all perfection,
But Your commandment is exceedingly broad."

We can learn the following about His word and our prayer:

#1. The Word of God Must Be Constant in Our Life

In 8 verses out of 9, we have the word of God recurring in different wonderful names. The word of God is referred to as…

• Your word (119:89)
• Your ordinances (119:91)
• Your law (119:82)
• Your precepts (119:83)
• Your testimonies (119:85)
• Your commandments (119:86)

It goes back to the inspiration of Scriptures. God’s word emanates from God and not man. God’s word has different names in the pages of the Bible. The depth of our knowledge in His word will help us to pray well.

#2. The Word of God Must Inform Our Prayers

In verses 94-96, the writer focuses on prayer of salvation from the wicked who seek his destruction. He didn’t say God should save him because he was in a tight corner but rather He should save him because ‘I have sought Your precepts’ (119:94).

We can learn that the Psalmist magnified the name of God and His word and gave little attention to his enemy. He teaches us that when we give a big place to God, He will deal with our enemies.

I say in conclusion that our prayers must be informed by what God has said in His word. We must let the word dwell in us richly (Colossians 3:16) so that we can pray biblically well.

What have you learnt from this write-up? Share with us.

Watch the full sermon by Dr. Tony Evans below: