Do you believe that? Does the content of your prayers include anything besides asking for God to add pleasant things to your life or take away painful things? The Bible says that our prayers, as well as everything about our lives, need to be all about God’s glory and the worship of Him.
Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness. (Psalm 115:1 NLT)
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught the disciples how to pray. It’s not a long prayer but the entire first half is all about God. He said,
“Pray like this:”
Our Father in heaven,
may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
(Matthew 6:9-11)
Shouldn’t our prayers follow the same pattern?
Daniel Henderson, in his book “Transforming Prayer”, says it this way, “Worship-based prayer seeks the face of God before the hand of God. God’s face is the essence of who He is. God’s hand is the blessing of what he does. God’s face represents His person and presence. God’s hand expresses His provision for needs in our lives. I have learned that if all we ever do is seek God’s hand, we may miss His face: but if we seek His face, He will be glad to open His hand and satisfy the deepest desires of our hearts.”
He goes on to say, “One core focus of worship-based prayer is the commitment to always start our prayers from the Word of God. This is the key to abiding.” And Jesus ties God’s glory, prayer and the Word together in John 15:7-8. “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” (NIV)
So the proper place to begin our prayer time is in the Word of God, humbly seeking to know Him and to submit ourselves to Him.
“Successful prayer isn’t about getting what you want from God. It’s about bending your will to His, recognizing His supremacy, and reflecting on His glory. It’s an act of worship—one that knits your heart and mind to the Lord in consistent communion with Him.” John MacArthur
