We now come to a new section in our Foundations for Living series. Here we will examine how we can practically apply what we have learned about God and the Christian faith to our everyday lives. What better place to start than with one of the most important practices of the Christian life: prayer.

Prayer is as essential to knowing God and growing spiritually as breathing is to living and staying healthy.

Interestingly, according to recent studies, prayer is more popular than ever among Americans today. One recent poll showed that 8 out of 10 Americans pray regularly. And a Time/CNN poll found that 73% of Americans believe that praying for people can help to cure their illnesses (The San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 August, 1996).

In fact, a new book titled, Prayer Is Good Medicine, by Dr. Larry Dossey, advocates a rather unusual type of prayer. He prays to what he calls "the Absolute," and he takes great pains not to name this recipient. He also calls those who pray for someone's conversion to a particular religion the "dark side" of prayer. But Dr. Dossey—along with many others who claim to pray today—is completely missing the objective of what true prayer really is.

What Prayer Is and Isn't

Prayer is not some mystical process whereby we call out to some "Force." Nor is it some force with which we create things or speak them into existence, ordering God around like some kind of "Bell-hop" who art in Heaven. Prayer is communicating with and hearing from God.

True prayer is when our will is aligned with the will of God, and we pray accordingly. Prayer is our connection to heaven and heaven's connection to us—that is why you should always keep the lines open!

Why Prayer Should Be Practiced

Perhaps you used to pray when you were a small child, or you started to pray as a young Christian, but it seemed as though God always answered your prayers with a resounding "No!" Frustrated by unanswered prayer, you decide to stop praying. In doing so, you have unwittingly fallen into the sin of prayerlessness. Jesus said, "Men always ought to pray and not lose heart..." (Luke l8: lb). And Paul wrote that we are to "pray without ceasing . . . for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thessalonians 5:17, l8b).

On the other hand, maybe you pray regularly, but your prayers never seem to get a response. It seems that all you receive is an icy silence. Perhaps you relate to Job, who said in the midst of his trials, "Nor is there any mediator between us, Who may lay his hand on us both" (Job 9:33). Job was saying that there was no one who could lay his hand upon both God and man at the same time. But Jesus is our mediator. Being God, He knows God's desires; yet, having walked on this earth as a man, He understands our weaknesses and frailties. For that reason, we can be assured that we pray to a God who does not turn a deaf ear to our prayers. Instead, He desires to communicate with us in this way.

• How We Should Pray

"praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints" (Ephesians 6:18). Notice the use of the word "all" in this verse. We are to pray on all occasions, with all kinds of prayer and requests, and for all the saints.

• God does not teach us the posture of prayer, because any posture will do.

People in the Bible prayed standing, lifting up their hands, sitting, laying down, kneeling, lifting their eyes toward Heaven, bowing and pounding their chests.

• God does not teach us the place to pray, because any place will do.

Scripture tells us, "I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere . . ." (1 Timothy 2:8). People in the Bible prayed during battle, in a cave, in a closet, in a garden, on a mountainside, by a river, by the sea, in the street, in Hades, in bed, in a home, in a prison, in the wilderness, and in a fish.

• Jesus does not tell us when to pray, because any time will do.

People in the Bible are found praying early in the morning, in the mid-morning, in the evening, three times a day, before meals, after meals, at bedtime, at midnight, and day and night. People pray when they are young, when they are old, when they are in trouble, every day and always. In any posture, at any time, in any place, and under all circumstances—prayer is good and needed in the life of the Christian.

What Types Of Prayers We Should Pray

The Bible identifies several different types of prayers we can pray. One model for how we should pray is captured in the acrostic A.C.T.S. Each letter stands for a specific aspect of prayer, arranged in a very natural order.

A: Adoration (Worship), C: Confession (Of Specific Sins), T: Thanksgiving (Gratitude), S: Supplication (Specific Requests).

1. Adoration
Jesus essentially taught us the same thing in the Lord's prayer, which begins, "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name" (Matthew 6:9). This puts things in perspective for us. A good example of this type of adoration is found in Psalm 95:1-7. When we take time to praise and worship God in our prayers, we are placing God where He rightfully belongs. As a result, our problems and needs come into their proper perspective.

2. Confession
The closer we draw to God, the more we sense our own sinfulness. When Isaiah came into God's presence, he said, "Woe is me, for I am undone!" (Isaiah 6:5a). The confession of our sin removes any barriers and clears the air of anything that would cause God not to hear our prayers. As 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us .... " This is, once again, modeled in the Lord's prayer. After "Our Father who art in heaven, " we find, "Forgive us our sins" {Matthew 6:12).

3. Thanksgiving
Our immediate response after confession is thanksgiving. We should be thankful that God would indeed cleanse and forgive us. David said, "Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven" (Psalm 32:1a).

Should we give thanks because everything is going perfectly in our lives or because we are in a good mood? No, we should give thanks because God deserves our praise. Psalm 118:1 says, "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For his mercy endures forever." As another translation puts it, "His love endures forever."

By giving thanks, which is simply expressing gratitude for what we have, we prevent our focus from shifting to what we do not have.

4. Supplication
If we are faithful in the first three steps, the last step will not degenerate into some spiritual shopping list. Too often in prayer we cut to the chase instead of spending time in adoration, confession, and thanksgiving first. Yet, God does want to hear our needs and requests. Scripture tells us, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God" (Philippians 4:6-7). We are also promised, "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:l9).

Do not neglect this vital part of your Christian walk.

As someone has said, "Prayer is the breath of the newborn soul, and there can be no Christian life without it."