Thursday

Day 145: How to Pray, part 1


Westminster Shorter Catechism
Q. 98. What is prayer?
A. Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God [m] for things agreeable to his will [n], in the name of Christ [o], with confession of our sins [p], and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies [q].

Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God [m]

[m] Psalm 62:8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

for things agreeable to his will [n],

[n] 1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.

in the name of Christ [o],

[o] John 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

with confession of our sins [p],

[p] Psalm 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. Ver.6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
Daniel 9:4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments.

and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies [q].

[q] Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing: but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.


Westminster Larger Catechism
Q.178. What is prayer?
A. Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God [x], in the name of Christ [y], by the help of his Spirit [z]; with confession of our sins [a], and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies [b].

Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God [x],

[x] Psalm 62:8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

in the name of Christ [y],

[y] John 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

by the help of his Spirit [z];

[z] Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

with confession of our sins [a],

[a] Psalm 32:5-6 I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. Ver.6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
Daniel 9:4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, etc.

and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies [b].

[b] Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God


Westminster Larger Catechism
Q.179. Are we to pray unto God only?
A. God only being able to search the hearts [c], hear the requests [d], pardon the sins [e], and fulfill the desires of all [f]; and only to be believed in [g], and worshipped with religious worship [h]; prayer, which is a special part thereof [i], is to be made by all to him alone [k], and to none other [l].

God only being able to search the hearts [c],

[c] 1 Kings 8:39 Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;)
Acts 1:24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
Romans 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

hear the requests [d],

[d] Psalm 65:2 O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.

pardon the sins [e],

[e] Micah 7:18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

and fulfill the desires of all [f];

[f] Psalm 145:18-19 The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. Ver.19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

and only to be believed in [g],

[g] Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?

and worshipped with religious worship [h];

[h] Matthew 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

prayer, which is a special part thereof [i],

[i] 1 Corinthians 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

is to be made by all to him alone [k],

[k] Psalm 50:15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

and to none other [l].

[l] Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?


Westminster Larger Catechism
Q.180. What is it to pray in the name of Christ?
A. To pray in the name of Christ is, in obedience to his command, and in confidence on his promises, to ask mercy for his sake [m]; not by bare mentioning of his name [n], but by drawing our encouragement to pray, and our boldness, strength, and hope of acceptance in prayer, from Christ and his mediation [o].

To pray in the name of Christ is, in obedience to his command, and in confidence on his promises, to ask mercy for his sake [m];

[m] John 14:13-14 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Ver.14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
Daniel 9:17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake.

not by bare mentioning of his name [n],

[n] Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

but by drawing our encouragement to pray, and our boldness, strength, and hope of acceptance in prayer, from Christ and his mediation [o].

[o] Hebrews 4:14-16 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. Ver.15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Ver.16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
1 John 5:13-15 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. Ver.14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: Ver.15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.


End of Lesson, Day 145


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