Is Prayer a Custom or Option in your Life?

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Our church is starting a new series called 
Practicing the Way…a guide to developing spiritual rhythms in our lives. 
Rhythms are not something we’re born with…rather, rhythms are learned skills that eventually become habits and customs to us in our daily lives. 

Some of you are aware that I coached at the collegiate level. As an Assistant coach, I coached catchers in baseball, and the kickers/punters in football. In addition to that, I gave some individual lessons to some middle schoolers in our community. My specialty was teaching correct technique to beginners. It might surprise you, but there were times when I coached beginners in their positions even at the collegiate level. Either way, I loved getting them early in their endeavor. Watching them develop and implement what I taught them brought me great joy. But it had to start with their desire to want to adopt these techniques and make them part of their practicing – a part of their rhythms. These were learned skills that became habits for them. 

This is also our goal with this series…that each of us would develop and or improve upon spiritual rhythms in our lives. 

The rhythm that we’re going to explore this morning and throughout this week in our small groups…is the rhythm of prayer. 

A Prayer life isn’t something we’re born with…A Prayer life is something that we learn from others. 

• We learn from them who to pray to. 
• We learn from them what to pray.
• We learn from them when to pray. 
• We learn from them where to pray. 
• And we learn from them why to pray. 

Therefore, if prayer is something that’s learned, then the question becomes, who am I learning how to pray from? Who is my example – my teacher in this area of my spiritual walk with the Lord?  

Why is that important? 

There are many people in this world who would love to be your Prayer Coach / Prayer Teacher. In discernment, one must ask, – are their practices in alignment with God’s word? 

Just like there are some who are really good teachers, there are also some who have the capability of taking you down the wrong path. This is why James warns us in 

• James chapter 3 verse 1 (CSB) when he says that, “Not many should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we will receive a stricter judgment.”

You see, when teachers open their mouths, or show by example, then they’re held responsible for how and what they’re teaching you in word and action. 

So yes, when it comes to a prayer life, there are good and bad teachers. 

This morning I’d like to introduce you to both…the bad teachers – bad examples, along with the good. And be thinking to yourself… 

• Which teacher is more reflected in my prayer life? 
• Which way looks or sounds more familiar to me? 
• Which way looks more like my prayer life or my teacher? 
• And then humbly ask the Lord, what, if anything, in my prayer life needs to be corrected immediately? And trust me, He’ll reveal it to you, and then He’ll walk alongside you – helping you make the appropriate corrections. 

Please turn with me to Matthew chapter 6 in your Bibles. 

Jesus says in verse 5 and following that, “Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward.
VERSE 7 When you pray, don’t babble like the Gentiles, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. 8 Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.

Can you identify which type of teachers we just read about? Bad ones, right? 

Jesus takes prayer seriously, and in these few verses He’s making it very clear what prayer should not look like – what bad teaching looks like. 

First Group – The Hypocrites. 
He says in verse 5, “you MUST NOT BE LIKE,” well, there ya go. He’s addressing a group of people that are bad examples when it comes to prayer. This group of people is called hypocrites. 

• They’re actors…just playing the part of a prayer warrior. 
• This way of praying is something they’ve grown accustomed to and now love. 
• From the eyes of the onlooker, 
  • it appears that they’re enjoying prayer, 
  • it appears as though they’re right in how they pray, 
  • it appears as though they are very close with and close to God. 
  • Surely they’re on the right path, right?
  • NOOOOOO…don’t be like them. Their heart motive is to pray in such a way that it brings attention to themselves. They not only love praying this way, but they also love being seen when they pray the way that they do. 
  • I read James 3:1 earlier…and James reminded us of this – don’t be many teachers, judgment is to come, and at the end of Matthew 6:5 we read, “truly I tell you, they have their reward.”
  • When it comes to developing a rhythm of prayer in your life…You MUST NOT BE LIKE the HYPOCRITES. You must not pray like them, nor should you teach others to pray like them. 
  • Not only – don’t be like the hypocrites, but also look at verses 7-8.
    Who else are we not to be like – to not pray like? 

Second Group – The Gentiles. 
That’s right, the Gentiles. He says in verse 8, “don’t be like them” when you pray. 

• In Verse 7 we read that they babble and imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. 
  • One author describes babbling as “when you repeat things over and over again and it loses its meaning. Babbling is just saying words without any heart behind them. Sometimes we think that if we keep going, we’ll get God’s attention, we’ll pray the same thing, hoping that God hears what we say.” 
  • May we be reminded of what is recorded in Ecclesiastes chapter 5 verses 2-3 (CSB) it says 2 Do not be hasty to speak, and do not be impulsive to make a speech before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. 3 Just as dreams accompany much labor, so also a fool’s voice comes with many words. 
  • Babbling is not the way to approach God or get His attention. 
• This is an area I feel convicted in most in my prayer life, especially at meal time. Many times I feel like my family could quote my prayers. 
• Can you relate? 
• Not only babble, but…
• In verse 7 we also see that “They imagine…” Meaning, In their minds they think it’s possible for their many words to be heard…but they’re only fooling themselves. 
  • I wish I had time to dive into the following passage today, but I don’t, so here’s your assignment…
    • Go back and Read 1 Kings 18:25-40…that’s 1 Kings 18:25-40. And see how it relates to our passage at hand this morning. It fits so perfectly. 

May we – be reminded that putting on a show like the Hypocrites do, and Babbling as the Gentiles do, are ineffective and inappropriate methods of prayer to God. 

• Such prayers might be heard and seen by man, and might even be attractive methods of prayer to some, but God has no interest in them. To Him, each is vanity…empty – worthless methods of prayer. May I dare say that these might even be lukewarm prayers that make Him want to vomit. 
• In Isaiah 29:13 (CSB) The Lord said: These people approach me with their speeches to honor me with lip-service, yet their hearts are far from me, and human rules direct their worship of me.
• What about your prayer life? Reflecting back on it…have your prayers been done in such a way to impress those around you, whether it’s been to impress with your demeanor or your eloquent speech? It’s possible that you’re finally realizing that your prayers have been directed by human rules, and poor examples.
• Just keep in mind that you might be able to trick your peers into thinking you’re a prayer warrior and sincere in your words and actions, but God sees and knows your heart's motive behind each movement and word spoken. 

This prayer rhythm is a result of poor teaching, poor examples, and poor habits. If the hypocrites and Gentiles shouldn’t be our go-to examples, then who should be? 

The answer is Jesus. 

• Last week we concluded our series on the names of God. It was a great study that helped us grow deeper in our understanding of Who He is. Take a look at what name He’s referred to in the following verses. 
• John 3:2 (CSB) [Nicodemus] came to him at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform these signs you do unless God were with him.”
• In John chapter 20 and verse 16 (CSB) Jesus and Mary were having a conversation. Jesus  said to her, “Mary.” Turning around, she said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni! ” —which means “Teacher.”
• And then Jesus in John chapter 13 and verse 13 says, (CSB) You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are speaking rightly, since that is what I am.
• I AM your Teacher. 

Jesus says in John 14:6 (CSB) that “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” He is THE Teacher Who has and still is showing us how to live according to THE WAY. 

The Way…Practicing The Way. His Way. For He is The Way – The Teacher, The Example we’re to model our prayers after. 

Matthew chapters 5-7 records for us a time when Jesus invested in His disciples, by doing what? 
Look at Chapter 5 verses 1-2 (CSB). We read that…  

• When he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to teach them, 
  • Jesus found the perfect time and setting to poor vital instructions into His disciples. He shared because He loves and cares about them. 
  • He isn’t the type to pass up a teaching opportunity in hopes that someone else will speak into them. No, He was active in His teaching, because He knew they needed it and He didn’t want them to be misguided in their spiritual rhythm of prayer. 
• Keep in mind, these disciples He’s speaking into are not young children, He wasn’t catching them early in life. 
• These were young men who were hungry to learn and practice The Way. 
• Being taught is something that all ages must be willing to humbly receive. Why? 
• 1 John 4:17 is in reference to love when we read that “as he is, so also are we in this world.” He, meaning Jesus. As He is, so also are we. 
  • As He is loving, I am also loving.
  • As He is gracious, I am also gracious to others.
  • As He is merciful, I am merciful towards others. 
  • As He is forgiving, I am quick to forgive others. 
  • As He is patient, I too am patient with others. 
  • As He is holy, I too am pursuing holiness in my life. 
  • As He is…you fill in the blank. 
  • In correlation with what we’re talking about this morning…
    • As He is a prayer warrior – as He prays sincerely to the Father, in the correct way, so also are and should we. 

Teach us, Lord, then how to pray!!! Prayer answered…

Look at Matthew 6:6, 9-15 (CSB) with me…Jesus, The Way, The Teacher, instructs us how to pray. Beginning in verse 6. 

• 6 But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 

Jump down to VERSE 9 “Therefore, you should pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
your name be honored as holy.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And do not bring us into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
14 “For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. 15 But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses.

Notice the assumption…you can even go back to verses 5-8 for this. Just notice how Jesus says, “When” and “Whenever.” He doesn’t use the word “if.” The When and Whenever are assumptions that you will and are frequently praying. And as followers of The Way we should be praying…

• Secretly. 
  • Don’t make a scene. Don’t attempt to impress others by your external facade. God knows your heart. He knows your motives and intentions.  
  • Does that mean corporate prayer is discouraged? Not at all. There are many examples in scripture of people coming together in prayer. It just means that when we participate in corporate prayer that we don’t approach it like the hypocrites and Gentiles do. And if you can’t control that, then spend some time in secret prayer first. Get your heart right with the Lord, and then work your way back into corporate prayer and do it in a God-honoring manner. 
• Pray by including the ingredients that Jesus shares with us. 
  • One author states that “The Lord’s Prayer should be understood as an example, a pattern, of how to pray. It gives us the ‘ingredients’ that should go into prayer. Here is how it breaks down. 
    • ‘Our Father in heaven’ is teaching us whom to address our prayers to—the Father. 
    • ‘Hallowed be your name’ is telling us to worship God, and to praise Him for who He is. 
    • The phrase ‘your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’ is a reminder to us that we are to pray for God’s plan in our lives and the world, not our own plan. We are to pray for God’s will to be done, not for our desires. 
    • We are encouraged to ask God for the things we need in – ‘give us today our daily bread.’ 
    • ‘Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors’ reminds us to confess our sins to God and to turn from them, and also to forgive others as God has forgiven us. 
    • The conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer, – ‘And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one’ is a plea for help in achieving victory over sin and a request for protection from the attacks of the devil.”
• If I asked you this morning how your rhythm of prayer is going, what would your response be? Would you admit that you’re struggling with the spiritual rhythm of prayer in your life? Have you given thought to what Jesus has to say on this subject? As He is a prayer warrior…are you? 
• We all know that Jesus was and is a prayer warrior. I just want to point out one other example for us from scripture. 
• In Daniel chapter 6 verse 10 (NKJV) we read this…
  • Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
  • Daniel…
    • A prayer warrior. 
    • From a very early age…prayer became what he was known for…it was a part of his custom…it became a habit for him, it became his rhythm and even when his life was threatened because of it, he didn’t break. Why? He knew his reward to keep in prayer would be far greater than breaking just to suffice the pagan worshippers and ungodly rulers in the moment. 
• What would you have done? What would you do if our authorities banned prayer everywhere, and if you were caught praying, then you’d be threatened with imprisonment or maybe even death?  Would you break from your custom, or would you pray even more for God’s intervention? 
• AS HE IS, SO ARE WE!!! 
• AS WAS HIS CUSTOM/HABIT/RHYTHM, SO SHOULD OURS BE!!!
• Is it? 
• Some people view prayer as an option…they make up excuses that somehow exempts them from having to pray…But consider what the Apostle Paul reminds us of in Philippians chapter 4 verses 6-7 ( CSB) He says, 6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
  • You see, the phrase “present your requests,” is not optional language, rather it’s imperative…meaning it’s a command. Present your requests in prayer is commanded. We ought to do it because we want to show our love and obedience towards Him…not begrudgingly. 
  • Have you ever viewed praying as a command from God? 
  • If prayer hasn’t been part of your spiritual rhythm, then why? What’s holding you back? What are some of your reasons behind your excuses? 

Struggling with knowing how to pray? 

• Does praying seem awkward? 

• Do you feel like you’re only communicating with yourself? 
• Do you feel like no one is listening? Like your requests go unanswered or ignored? 
• Do you feel like your prayers even matter, do they make a difference, do they do any good? 
• Are you struggling with knowing how to begin communicating with God? 
• Is prayer even a priority to you? Do you attempt to resolve life issues on your own first, and then leave God as a last resort? 
• Do you fear being judged by others when you pray? 
• Do you wonder if they’ll view you as less of a Christian if you stumble over your words? 

Do you fear saying the wrong things in your prayers? Do you fear that your words aren’t eloquent enough for God and others to want to hear them? 

Prayer is about the heart…it’s about communicating with Him, much like you would with your best friend in life. 

Listen, Jesus is The Way…The best teacher and best example ever. But keep in mind that He does equip His followers to teach others as well. What does that look like for you? Who could be that example in your life that you could follow after? Who is that example who is aligning their prayer life with the Lord’s? Who is it that you could then come alongside and teach them how to pray? 

At this time…

• If you’re honest with yourself and can see that your prayer life reflects more of the Hypocrites, or of the Gentiles, or if you're someone who admits to viewing prayer as being optional, then I encourage you to spend some time with God in prayer. Confessing your ways, and expressing a heart that desires to change to reflect Him in all that you do. 
• If you’re here today and you’ve never given your life to the Lord…you’ve never accepted The Way…but you’ve been trying to access Him through prayer, then please understand this. 
  • In John chapter 9 verse 31 (CSB) we read about an important truth, that “We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is God-fearing and does his will, he listens to him.”
  • Please don’t let that discourage you. It’s not too late. There is something you can do about it, there is a prayer you can say that He will listen to. 
  • And that is the prayer for salvation. If you’ve never prayed to receive Christ into your life, then please repeat after me in your head as I read allowed. The prayer goes like this…
    • “Dear Lord Jesus, 

I know that I am a sinner, 
and I ask for Your forgiveness. 
I believe You died for my sins 
and rose from the dead. 
I turn from my sins 
and invite You to come into my heart and life. 
I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. 
In Your Name. Amen.” 

• Did you mean it? If so, then I’d love to hear from you. 
• Once you’ve placed your faith and trust in THE WAY, then He will begin to show you His ways, and grow you in your new prayer life.
  Old habits tossed aside, and new customs begin. 

May what we all know about Daniel, be said about each of us – be said about Faith Fellowship, that PRAYER IS OUR CUSTOM.