WHAT DID PAUL BELIEVE ABOUT PRAYER?

The Apostle Paul wrote thirteen of the New Testament’s twenty-seven books. He is undoubtedly the grandest and greatest church planting missionary of all ages. He was a theologian, enjoying a depth of knowledge unsurpassed in his day, or ever since. He was a spiritual giant who earned the right to say, “Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).

We are well-advised to follow Paul’s example… his knowledge of and faithful adherence to God’s Word, his quest to know God with an ever-increasing intimacy, his pattern of loving God and God’s people, his courage in testifying to God’s grace, and his example of praying theologically-sound and eternity-changing prayers.

If we want to pray better prayers, it would be smart to study the prayers and prayer-life of the Apostle Paul. In this study, we might ask a series of questions. To Whom did Paul pray? For whom did Paul pray? For what did Paul pray? And, what did Paul believe about prayer?

Let’s take a brief look at that last question: What did Paul believe about prayer? To answer this question, we need only to look at one tiny section in Paul’s writings. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4-7).

“Rejoice… always.” Paul believed that prayer was more than a laundry list of things we want from God. “Heal this boo-boo… fix that… help this…” Better praying starts with rejoicing in the greatness and the grace of the One that we address in our prayers.

“The Lord is near… Don’t worry about anything!” Paul understood that faithful praying was essentially the opposite of worldly worry. Instead of worrying about our own abilities to face a fear or fix a problem, we should pray, putting our hope and trust in the One who always hears. “The Lord is near!”

“Prayer … petition … thanksgiving… present your requests to God.” Like a precious diamond, prayer is multi-faceted. It can include worship, praise, thanksgiving, intercession, and supplication. Prayer can resemble the ramblings of two close friends who share their hopes and dreams, their hurts and fears. Prayer can sound a bit like a married couple’s quiet conversations. And prayer can sound something like a beggar shouting at the wealthy passer-by.

But be sure, for Paul was sure, God hears our prayers. When we pray, “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).