How We Pray

A couple weeks ago, I gave a brief reflection on the Lord’s Prayer. This week, I want to turn to the broader biblical basis for public prayer in worship. The key passage is 1 Timothy 2:1-10.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness–with good works.

There are several things to notice about the ways this passage informs our public prayers.

1. Paul commends several different kinds of prayer. In worship, we engage in all these kinds of prayer. Supplications are prayers where we specifically ask God to provide for our own needs; we pair this with our prayer of confession because our primary need is forgiveness from sins. Intercessions are prayers for others which we lift up in the long prayer after the sermon. We give God thanksgiving following the offertory. We also find warrant for the invocation (which is also a prayer of adoration) and confession of sin in other parts of Scripture, most notably in the Lord’s Prayer.

2. We are specifically called to pray for all kinds of people, including our political leaders. You’ll hear a prayer for our leaders every time we do an intercessory prayer, included with our prayers for the needs of all sorts of people. Of course, we want our political leaders to believe the gospel, but even when that does not happen, we are to pray for the sake of peace. The Westminster Confession of Faith says, “As nursing fathers, it is the duty of civil magistrates to protect the church of our common Lord.” This is something we should seek even when the civil magistrate is unbelieving.

3. Paul says that part of his purpose in his call as a preacher is to pray. In Roman Catholic theology, the minister stands between the people and God. The Reformers rejected that in favor of the biblical notion that the minister serves as a mouthpiece for the congregation. Certainly, I am always praying for you, but in worship, we are all praying together. Even as one person speaks, we are to join together as the priestly people of God with one heart.

4. Paul gives specific instructions to men and women to pray with pure hearts. You’ll notice that Paul’s instructions are very similar to what we saw in 1 Peter 3:1-7. Our prayers can be hindered by anger and quarreling or by distracting ourselves with our outward appearance. In public worship, we’re called to put those things aside so that we can pray with a singular focus on the work of Christ, who intercedes with us and for us in heaven.

(As an aside, this passage is one of many that describes the most common posture for prayer in the Bible: hands raised. That’s why I normally raise my hands during prayer. If you’re comfortable, I invite you to do the same. It’s a bodily sign of our prayers being lifted up before God. The second most common posture in the Bible is kneeling.)

So as we pray in worship, don’t sit idly. Be attentive and focused. Join the prayer of your heart with the prayers of those around you as we join with the communion of saints. We are just a few people here on earth, but when we worship, we participate in the eternal heavenly worship that always rises before God.

And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. – Rev. 8:3-4

Updates

As of Friday night, we still don’t have a new baby, so I’m planning to be with you this Sunday. That means we won’t have communion just yet, but continue to be prepared!

I also received the following announcement from Presbyterian Women this week regarding Operation Christmas Child:

Presbyterian Women have ordered boxes to pack for Samaritan’s Purse OCC. They will be here within 2 weeks. Please pack your boxes with love and prayer or let Janet know ASAP if we want to plan a night for the children to pack boxes. The deadline for boxes to be delivered to the Church is November 14th so we can get them to the area pick up site. Postage will be $10 per box. If you wish, PW will pay your postage.

Your friend in Christ,
Reid