“Prayer is a continual conversation between our hearts and God’s.” —Transforming Prayer by Daniel Henderson
“At the beginning of our Christian life, we are full of requests to God. But then we find that God wants to get us into relationship with Himself—to get us in touch with His purposes.” —Oswald Chambers
How do we move our prayers from simple lists of requests to rich, meaningful encounters with God that deepen and strengthen our relationship with Him?
In his book Transforming Prayer, author Daniel Henderson identifies 4 main elements of prayer, based on the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6 (and also in Luke 11):
The Lord's Prayer
5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,
12 and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
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Here are the 4 parts of prayer that Henderson identifies:
- Reverence: Prayer begins with acknowledging and focusing on the character and attributes of God. In order to know His character, we must spend time in His Word and worshiping Him: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”
- Response: Dwelling on who God is and what He has done leads us to respond by surrendering to Him in obedience: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
- Requests: At this point in prayer, we are now ready to trust God with our needs and our relationships. As we pray about making right relationships, we will be compelled to confess any sin and seek forgiveness: “Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
- Readiness: Prayer gets us “battle ready” to stand against the enemy. “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
Read and pray through Ephesians 6:10-20 to become “battle ready” today:
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.