The Cathedral Close

When we pray, we speak to God.  God has promised to hear when we speak to Him in prayer. This is wonderful and mysterious; but as there can be no fellowship between man and man if there be no communication with each other, so there can be no communion on the part of man with God if he does not pray.

Prayer is faith, and hope, and love, in action. If we believe in God, if we have any hope in His mercy and in His promises, and if we feel any love for God, we shall naturally pray to Him.

But how must I pray?

1. I must endeavour to realize that I am in God’s presence, and that I am speaking to Him.
2. I must pray in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, depending on His merits and intercession.
3. I must pray by the help of the Holy Ghost, who helpeth our infirmities when we pray. We are to pray lifting up our hearts to God, and teaching us what to pray for as we ought. I must pray for help that I may pray aright. I must pray for the Spirit, not only of grace, but of supplication also.
4. I must pray with all reverence and godly fear. “Before thou prayest, prepare thyself.”
5. Thanksgiving must also form a part of my prayer always. This is often all that we can do in return for any blessings that we have received, and it should never be forgotten. When Daniel prayed, he also gave thanks before his God.
6. My prayer must be real; not merely the repetition, perhaps hurriedly, of a form of words, but the expression of what I want. When we say the words our hearts must also go with them. Only, we must remember that we cannot always command our feelings, and that if we do our best that is all God asks. We must never leave off praying because we find it difficult to pray as earnestly as we would.

Prayer

O Lord God, teach me to pray, I beseech Thee; and grant that Thy Holy Spirit may at all times help mine infirmities, both teaching me how to pray and what to pray for, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.