Question – What is as old as man, as universal as religion, and as instinctive as breathing? 

Prayer!

GENESIS 4:26

AND TO SETH, TO HIM ALSO THERE WAS BORN A SON; AND HE CALLED HIS NAME ENOS: THEN BEGAN MEN TO CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD.

Prayer is practiced in some form by all of mankind from all faiths.  It emerges from the heart expressing a need – a need greater than man’s ability to negotiate.  Prayer is an acknowledgement of a being higher than himself.

It may be surprising to some, that even though prayers are plenteous – most people don’t know how to pray.  Keep this thought in your mind as we progress through this study – there are only two kinds of prayer. 

In the Parable of the Pharisee and the publican – the LORD teaches us the two different kinds of prayer.

LUKE 18:9-14

⁹ And He spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

¹⁰ Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

¹¹ The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

¹² I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

¹³ And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Both men – the Pharisee and the publican – went to the same place, at the same time, for the same purpose – PRAYER!

1. The Pharisee prayed in his religious pride, expecting God to answer because he believed himself to be worthy.  He gave the LORD a litany of  his exemplary qualities:  his own goodness, he was so much better than others, his good works. “I fast, I give.”  This type of prayer does not reach God.  This is self-righteous prayer. 
2. The publican, however, presents a much different prayer.  He comes before the LORD in great humility.  He is deeply aware of his sinfulness.  He demonstrates his unworthiness, confessing himself a sinner and begging for mercy.  This kind of prayer does reach God.  This is righteous prayer. 

Praying is a privilege.  In fact it is a rare privilege – because when done in humility as in the case of the publican – it brings you into close fellowship with God;  wherein  you admit your need for Him, and your utter dependence on Him.  And if you think about that from a purely practical standpoint – how is it that mere frail humans can commune with the omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, Godhead on such a personal level?  It is beyond comprehension – that is what it is.  If thinking about that does not humble you . . .

As this was only the introduction, we hope you come back for a deep, six part study on prayer, installed twice weekly.   We hope that it will bless you and enrich your prayer life, as well as strengthen your ministry to your families and others.