My Tuesday Ladies’ Bible class just finished a study of prayer in worship. Since we are studying each element or essence of our worship to God, I had assumed our study of prayer would focus on the things for which we pray in the assembly, but our lesson took us to a different place than I had expected.

There is something really special about a group of Christians coming together to pray. We may pray for the sick, for the sad, for the needy and for the many other things that concern us. We may pray specifically for a need in the congregation, for our country, for peace; and the list goes on and on.

Our prayer time outside of worship is a very personal thing. It is talking to God about those things that concern our personal lives: friends, family, jobs, etc. As we studied about our prayer in worship, I discovered how connected our personal prayers are with our worship prayers.

When our personal prayer life is what it should be, our prayers in worship become more meaningful. After all, prayer is the closest way for us to connect with God.

Children have their own way of praying. As I listen to the young men lead prayer in my Sunday and Wednesday Bible classes, I see their personalities, their special needs, and their hearts. I also see a genuine concern for others.

My own grandchildren are no exception. These two incidences prove my point. Two years ago, my youngest granddaughter made her annual visit to Santa. Instead of mailing a letter, she took her letter to Santa with her. You know how busy Santa is, and taking the letter seemed to her more practical than mailing it.  Santa was kind enough to take time to read her letter.

In the letter, she told Santa that she would like for her friend, Caroline, to be free of cancer. She also said that she would like an art table and an American Girl doll. Lastly, she asked Santa to please pray for Caroline. As Santa finished the letter, Santa’s helper was about to snap the picture; but Santa held up his hand for her to wait. Then he bowed his head and with tears in his eyes, he prayed for Caroline.

I wonder if he has ever prayed with a child while performing his duties as Santa. I wonder what he thought about a child that asks for such a Christmas gift.

Caroline did get better. My granddaughter got her art table and her American Girl doll, but there was a greater gift here than the presents and even the remission of Caroline’s cancer. The greater gift is that my granddaughter has learned that there is a higher power. She didn’t ask Santa to make Caroline well, but she asked Santa to pray that God would make her well.

My other granddaughter has a routine of sitting in her room and talking to God. She talks to Him about all kinds of things, but she talks to Him like He is there. She talks to Him like He is a friend, listening to her needs and her gratitude.

I like the way these girls think! One of them asks for help in praying; the other one speaks privately to Him as though she is talking to her best friend. Both are Biblical. Both are practical. Both show trust and confidence in our heavenly Father.

My study of prayer has yielded some very interesting things:

• There are 667 prayers recorded in the Bible, and there are 454 recorded answers to prayers.
• Every great event in the life of Christ involved prayer. These include His baptism in Luke 3:21; the choice of His disciples in Luke 6:12; the confession of His messiahship in Luke 9:18; the transfiguration in Luke 9:29; in Gethsemane in Luke 22:39-46; and as He hung on the cross in Luke 23:46. There were other times when the scripture simply says that He went somewhere to pray.
• There are enemies of prayer recorded in the scripture. These were reasons for God to be displeased with prayers. The people of Ezekiel’s day had replaced God in their hearts, Ezekiel 14:3; the people in James’ day were selfish in their petitions, James 4:3; some were faithless and lazy, James 4:2; having an unforgiving spirit nullified the prayers in I Peter 3:7. Any or all of those could easily apply to us.

Prayer is not asking God to just give us things, asking God to “run errands” for us, bargaining with God, or just asking and never thanking. Prayer is pouring out our hearts to Him, crying out to God, drawing near to Him, begging Him for help, the creature talking directly to the Creator, an expression of our soul’s desires, offering adoration to the Father, confessing our sins, and offering true thankfulness.

Remember Solomon’s prayer when he became king. In I Kings 3:5-15, Solomon asked God for understanding to govern the people and to be able to discern good and evil. Because of those requests, Solomon received everything he could ever want. He did receive the wisdom he desired; and only when he forgot God and turned to other gods did he forfeit all that he had.

The results of our prayers are dependent on our relationship with God. They include peace, Philippians 4:6-7; wisdom, James 1:5-7; help from the Holy Spirit, Romans 8:26; closeness to God, James 4:8; mercy and grace, Hebrews 4:16; and forgiveness of sins, I John 1:9.

So pray. Pray often. Pray from your heart. Pray with the spirit and understanding. Pray without ceasing.

Sandra Oliver