No pastor can rise higher than when he is on his knees. Prayer is the essential link to God. It is a great privilege and responsibility for the pastor as well as for all believers. We will focus on four questions related to prayer:

1. What is prayer? 

2. Why should I pray? 

3. How do I pray? 

4. When do I pray? 

1. WHAT IS PRAYER? 

Through the Bible, God talks to man. Through prayer, man talks to God. Prayer is communication with God. Prayer is spending time with God, talking to him and listening for his answer. Prayer is worship. Throughout the Bible we find praise and adoration to be a vital part of prayer.

In Matthew 6:9, Jesus said, This, then is how you should pray: Our Father in Heaven... 

In Matthew 6:6, But when you pray, go to your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you. 

These verses show that prayer is talking to God, not to man. The Bible says that there is only one mediator between man and God - Jesus Christ. Paul said, For there is one God, and there is one who brings God and mankind together, the man Christ Jesus,... 1 Timothy 2:5

When we were born again, God became our Father and we became his children. In John 1:12-13 we read, Some, however, did receive him and believed in him; so he gave them the right to become God's children. They did not become God's children by natural means, that is, by being born as children of a human father; God himself was their Father. 

From these verses we find the basis for prayer. That basis is a Father-child relationship brought about by the new birth. Prayer is the privilege of all believers because of their new relationship with God as their Father. Communication is natural in the relationship of a father and child. Because God is our Father, we share with him our dreams, goals, problems, and praise. This is prayer. 

2. WHY SHOULD I PRAY? 

It is the natural thing to do. Our special relationship to God matures when we pray. God is our best and most trusted friend; therefore, we need to talk to him. 

• How do I thank God for daily blessings? Through prayer. The Bible says, Be joyful always, pray at all times, be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 

• How do I receive forgiveness of sins? Through prayer. The Bible says, But if we confess our sins to God, he will keep his promise and do what is right; he will forgive us our sins and purify us from all wrongdoing. 1 John 1:9  A good example of prayer for forgiveness is found in Psalm 51. 

• How do I make my needs known to God? Through prayer. The Bible says, Let us be brave, then, and approach God's throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it. Hebrews 4:16 

But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should pray to God, who will give it to him; because God gives generously and graciously to all. James 1:5 

Why should I pray?

Because I need to praise God. 

Because it is natural for a child to talk to his Father. 

Because I need to express my thankfulness to God. 

Because I need forgiveness of sins.

Because I need to make my needs known to God.

Because I need to lift others through prayer. 

Christ felt the need to pray. So must we. 

3. HOW SHOULD I PRAY? 

The disciples of Jesus said, Lord, teach us to pray.

Luke 11:1 

Before Jesus taught his disciples how to pray, he warned them against wrong ways to pray. He said, 

"When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites! They love to stand up and pray in the houses of 

worship and on the street corners, so that everyone will see them. I assure you, they have already been paid in full. When you pray, do not use a lot of meaningless words, as the pagans do, who think 

that God will hear them because their prayers are long." Matthew 6:5,7 

Jesus continued speaking to his disciples about prayer. "This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven: May your holy name be honored; may your Kingdom come; may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need. Forgive us the wrongs we have done, as we forgive the wrongs that others have done to us. Do not bring us to hard testings, but keep us safe from the Evil One. Matthew 6:9-13 

This is called the model prayer. Jesus did not mean that believers should always repeat these exact words. When we read the prayers of Jesus and Paul in the New Testament, we see that they do not repeat these words. Jesus is saying that prayer includes: praise and honor to God, obedience to the will of God, seeking God's help for daily needs such as food, confession of sin, and request for help in overcoming Satan, the Evil One. In our prayers we should be concerned about the same things found in the Model Prayer. 

4. WHEN DO I PRAY? 

The Bible tells us to pray at all times. ...Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads. Ephesians 6:18b 

This means we are to be in constant communion with God. 

It is best to begin the day with prayer, seeking God's guidance and protection throughout the day. At the end of the day or before sleeping, pray, thanking God for his guidance and protection throughout the day and for all other blessings. 

A grateful Christian will pray before every meal, expressing thanks.

There is wisdom in allowing a special time for prayer just to remember the needs of church members and lost friends. A caring pastor not only prays for his flock; he prays with them, individually and collectively. A critical ministry of the pastor is praying with members during their times of grief, pain, and crisis. This ministry should be taken very seriously.

In successful sermon preparation, prayer and study are natural companions. When time spent in prayer exceeds the time of sermon presentation, there will be refreshing power.

The pastor must read the Bible and pray regularly if he is to be healthy spiritually. Only as the pastor prays can he lead his people to pray. We must remember the power of prayer is not the result of the person praying. The power is in the God who is prayed to. This frees us from trying to manipulate God and to simply trust in Him. 

For additional study on prayer please study the following Scripture.  

Daniel 6:10

Matthew 7:7

Matthew 6:7-8

Matthew 18:20

Matthew 26:41

Mark 11:25

Luke 18:1

John 17

1 Thessalonians 5:17

I John 5:14-15