Photo: Adobe Stock
David declared, “Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice” (Psalm 55:17).
Roughly 60–70 percent of the Psalms are prayers. From thanksgivings to seeking wisdom to praises, the Psalms have historically served as a model for prayer.
Martin Luther was well known for praying the Psalms, a tradition he passed on to many modern-day Lutherans.
Spontaneous, or “free” prayers, also have a long history in Christianity, involving sending petitions to God without a set formal reading. Both have a place in Christianity. Another Reformer, John Calvin, was known to practice both fixed and free prayers and encouraged others to emulate his custom.
The monk Antony, who was said to be illiterate, learned Scripture from hearing it preached and repeating it in prayer. He likewise found solace in meditation, praying his own thoughts, praises, and petitions to God.
Whether one practices fixed or free prayers should not matter, as Jesus Himself gave an example of a fixed prayer in the Lord’s Prayer. Scripture is filled with examples of both—from Daniel praying similarly to David in captivity to Nehemiah sending requests to God in silent prayer. What matters is that we pray.
From James (the brother of Jesus) to Gregory, there remain accounts of prayer impacting the knees (physical pain and deformity) of many of the early Church Fathers. Luther, too, was known to pray constantly, believing it was his defense against dark spiritual forces.
Modeling the Psalms, prayer should be personal, set in thanksgiving to God, honoring Him for salvation and His grace. It can and should also contain the believer asking for wisdom, guidance, and even mercy.
Prayer is direct communication with God, one that separates Christians from others. Before entering the arena to face death, Perpetua and others joined together in prayer. English Reformers Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley similarly prayed jointly, being burned at the stake during the English Reformation. Prayer brought peace, solitude, and courage in the face of the most difficult moments.
Antony, who received regular visitors while mainly living in isolation, always instructed his company to stop worrying about life’s affairs and live in prayer.
In a day filled with distractions and darkness abounding, it is easy to forget the power and purpose of prayer. Yet it is prayer that slows the storm (see Jonah’s account) and sets our minds on our heavenly purpose.
Lest we ask: Do you pray? God wants to communicate with His sheep. How you pray, whether it be through free prayer or fixed prayers, matters little. Both are prayers.
The Lord wants the hearts of His believers. In full certainty, prayer is our direct communication with God Himself.
