Page 12 - Teach us how to Pray - Book Layout - PDF

THE PRIVILEGE OF PRAYER

Why we can pray to the living God
Not only Christians pray. Remote tribes bring their offerings to their
gods and then pray for health, food, rain, and a good crop. Muslims
today stop whatever they are doing at the moment five times a day
and first pray. Even unbelievers find ways to pray. Millions in the AA
groups across the world pray to a Higher Power, begging for help
to control their addictions.

The Westminster Larger Catechism asks in Question 178, What is
prayer? And the answer is, “Prayer is an offering up of our desires
unto God, in the Name of Christ, by the help of His Spirit with
confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgment of His mercies.”

 What, according to the church’s confession, makes the Christian’s prayer
different from the prayer of the non-believer?

The Westminster Larger Catechism also asks in Question 179, “Are
we to pray unto God only?” and then answers, “God only being able to
search the hearts, hear the requests, pardon the sins, and fulfill the
religious worship; prayer, which is a part thereof, is to be made by all
to Him alone, and none other.”

 Why are we called to pray to God only? Also see Deut.6:4-6

 Why is it folly to pray to idols? See Psalm 135:15-18