Catechism Question 84
What is prayer?
Prayer is conversation with God in which believers pour out our hearts to God in the name of Christ in adoration, confession of sin, thanksgiving, and supplication, and through which our desires are changed to conform with the will of God.
Focus and Purpose of this Question
This is the first in a series of questions on prayer. In this question, we define prayer. Many Christians know that we are supposed to pray, but often we have not even thought about exactly what prayer is in the first place. In this question, we begin our discussion on prayer with a simple definition.
The fundamental fact about prayer is that it is conversation with God. In prayer we talk to God, giving Him praise for Who He is, confess our sins, make our own desires and requests known, and give God thanks for hearing our prayer and granting us so many good things. All of this is done in the name of Christ, for it is only through Him that we have access to the Father.
However, this conversation is not simply one way. As we talk with God, He also speaks to our hearts, further revealing His will, helping us to see our desires and our situations better, so that often our very desires are changed to conform with God’s will.
Additional Questions:
Can you give a simple definition of prayer?
Scripture References:
Psalms 62:8
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
Psalms 10:17
You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry.
John 16:23–24
In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
Psalms 32:5–6
Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”— and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah 6 Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him.
Luke 18:9–14
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Matthew 7:7–11
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
1 Thessalonians 5:16–18
Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6–7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Psalms 73:16–17
When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me 17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
Psalms 42:8–11
By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life. 9 I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?” 10 My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 11 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Questions for Further Discussion:
Do we tend to think of prayer as simply telling God the things we want? Is this a correct understanding of prayer?
What does it mean to pray in Christ’s name? Why is this important?
Why is it important for our prayer to include praise to God for Who He is and thanksgiving for what He has done?
Why is it important for us to specifically confess our sins to God in prayer?
Do you tend to think of prayer as a monologue, or a dialogue with God? How can God speak to us as we wrestle through thoughts, desires, fears, and situations with Him?
How often do I find prayer changing me and my desires rather than the situation?
Additional Information:
This question is based on question 119 of the Heidelberg Catechism, question 98 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism, and question 38 of the New City Catechism. Any resources you find on the Heidelberg Catechism, Westminster Shorter, or New City Catechisms will have a good discussion on this question.
For additional information, see the teaching series “Prayer” taught during October 2004.
Suggested Worship Song:
Make My Life A Prayer To You (Melody Green)
(This song stresses that real prayer is more than just words – it involves our whole life.)
Make my life a prayer to you
I wanna do what you want me to
No empty words and no white lies
No token prayers no compromise
I wanna shine the light you gave
Through your son you sent to save us
From ourselves and our despair
It comforts me to know you’re really there
[Chorus]
Well I wanna thank you now
For being patient with me
Oh it’s so hard to see
When my eyes are on me
I guess I’ll have to trust
And just believe what you say
Oh you’re coming again
Coming to take me away
I wanna die and let you give
Your life to me so I might live
And share the hope you gave me
The love that set me free
I wanna tell the world out there
You’re not some fable or fairy tale
That I’ve made up inside my head
You’re God the son and you’ve risen from the dead
[Chorus]
I wanna die and let you give
Your life to me so I might live
And share the hope you gave me
The love that set me free