Prayer

Prayer​ is a foundational practice for followers of Jesus, so we must model and practice it with those we disciple. Sounds easy enough. But some people worry and stress about prayer. They wonder if they’re doing it right (whatever that means). They wonder if they doing if often enough (whatever that equals). And so of course they wonder how they'll be able to guide others into meaningful prayer habits.

But Jesus doesn't want us to worry or stress about prayer. He just wants us to talk to his Father honestly and humbly.

• Jesus didn't harp on others about prayer, but he did model it regularly.

1. He prayed at his baptism (Luke 3:21).
2. He prayed at night after long days of serving God and others (Luke 5:16). He prayed early in the morning before starting his day (Mark 1:35).
3. He prayed before making an important decision (Luke 6:12).
4. He prayed before sharing a small meal with thousands (Mark 6:41).
5. He prayed before sharing a simple meal with his friends (Mark 14:22).
6. He prayed when anxious and distressed about his death (Mark 14:35).
7. He prayed for strength to be obedient in a very difficult time (Mark 14:36). He prayed for his own needs (Luke 22:41-44).
8. He prayed for others (John 17:20-21).

• Jesus didn't give rules about prayer, but he did offer a simple example. (“The Lord’s Prayer” Matthew 6:5-15 and Luke 11:1-13).

1. He said it should be simple.
2. He said it should be honest.
3. He said it should be humble.

Still, there's a lot of prayer nuances in the Bible.

• In his parable about the Pharisee and the tax collector, Jesus described praying in the Temple. But he also prayed in the countryside and in a garden.
• Jesus sometimes prayed while standing up. But in the Garden of Gethsemane he prayed bowing down with his face to the ground.
• In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said people should pray in private, by themselves, with the door shut behind them. But he also prayed when surrounded by crowds and in the presence of his friends.
• When teaching about prayer, Jesus recited just a few lines (less than 60 words in the original language). But he also prayed for an extended period of time the night before his crucifixion.
• Jesus taught that prayers shouldn't be repetitious. But he also said we should keep on asking for the things we need.
• Jesus said that our Father knows what we need even before we tell him. But he also said we should tell him anyway.

It seems that prayer is a large umbrella covering all the different ways, times, and places we talk to God. That's very good news. But it also means there's no single foolproof way to model and teach prayer. Having a sincere heart, a humble posture, an engaged mind, and an attentive attitude might be the best guidance we can offer to those we disciple. ​

Ways to Pray

Here are some simple strategies for praying with the people you're discipling and helping them learn to pray themselves.

Follow Jesus' example

Follow Jesus' simple prayer, what we usually call the Lord's Prayer. You can simply pray this each day just as it's written in your Bible, or personalized for what's happening in your mind, heart, and life. You can learn more about the Lord's Prayer here​ and here.

Follow a simple pattern

There are lots of prayer acronyms available online. Here are two that leaders find helpful.

• ACTS

1. A — Adoration. Praise God for who he is and what he’s done.
2. C — Confession: Honestly confess your sins to God.
3. T — Thanksgiving: Thank God for things both big and small.
4. S — Supplication: A fancy word for ask or request, for yourself and others.

• HEART

1. H — Honor God with praise and adoration.
2. E — Examine your life and confess areas of sin and selfishness.
3. A — Ask for God’s guidance and provision in your own life.
4. R — Request God’s guidance and provision for others.
5. T — Thank God for who he is and what he’s done.

Follow the words of Scripture

Simply turn a Bible passage into a prayer, like this from Proverbs 3:5-6:

Dear Lord, Help me trust you with my whole heart instead of depending on myself. Help me do your will every day. Please show me the right way to live and help me make good decisions. Amen.

Times to Pray

Here are some possible ways to "schedule" prayer with those you're discipling.

Daily moments

Have people choose specific prayer moments tied to their daily experience (for example while loading their backback, or while grocery shopping) or tied to specific prompts they might see or hear regularly (for example when seeing or hearing birds).

Daily hours

Create a sign-up sheet for Monday through Friday with the days divided into three-hour slots listed below. Have people sign up in as many slots as they want (there can be more than one name in each slot). Each person commits to saying a short prayer for the group anytime during the three-hour slot (NOT for the entire time slot).

1. 6 a.m. - 9 a.m.
2. 9 a.m. - noon
3. noon - 3 p.m.
4. 3 p.m. - 6 p.m.
5. 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
6. 9 p.m. - midnight ​

Mealtime

Make mealtime a prayer time. It doesn't need to be a public production in the school cafeteria (remember that parable of the Pharisee who prayed publicly so all would see). It's simply a moment to stop and be grateful, not just for earthly food but for the eternal gift of Jesus.

AM and PM

Prayer can be woven into each day's beginning and end. In the morning ask for God's guidance and then surrender your thoughts, attitudes, and actions to him. In the evening ask for God's grace and then thank him for the ways he guided, comforted, and revealed himself throughout the day.

Reflect - Discuss

• How do your students feel about prayer?
• What are some ways you pray with the people you're discipling?
• What are your hopes for the prayer practices and habits of those you're discipling?
• How can you personally deepen your own life of prayer? How might that impact the way you introduce prayer to your students?