They were intrigued and moved by Jesus’ prayer life, but felt like dummies when it came to personal prayer. Their request was, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). Like the disciples we may feel ignorant about how to pray. I do not use the term disparagingly but allow me to share Part 1 of “A Dummies Guide to Prayer”. I have been there – deeply desiring to pray but frustrated by the inability to pray with power. May you come to experience the joy, comfort, and power of prayer.

WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL – One of my first and most memorialable experiences concerning prayer happened to me as a young boy. A friend begged me to go to Sunday School with him. They were having an attendance contest and whoever brought the most visitors would win a real live bunny rabbit. It was a big uptown church and I climbed the steps of the imposing structure with fear and trepidation. Perhaps you have had that feeling attending a new and strange church. We were herded downstairs where we were informed that we were going to talk to God. It was explained that next door to our room there was a big radio, I think it was a Ham radio. We would be taken in one at a time and learn how to talk to God using the radio as an object lesson.

The teacher asked everyone who wanted to talk to God on the radio to raise their hand. When I didn’t raise my hand, the teacher asked, “Son, don’t you want to learn how to talk to God?” “Yes,” I replied, “but I don’t need a radio. I talk to God all the time and sometimes he talks to me.” The teacher seemed skeptical and, at his urging, I relented and went into the radio room. I was sure they were going to hook me up to some electrodes and wires and turn me into a “Presbyterian” – not that there’s anything wrong with that. I didn’t turn into one. But I came out rather disappointed that I didn’t hear God speaking through the radio. I guess I learned that no denomination or people have a private line to God. The Word of God says, “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Joel 2:32). “Call on me and I will answer you and tell you great and mighty things” (Jeremiah 33:3). You don’t need to be special or go through a saint or a “Ham” radio to talk to God in prayer. Just go to Him – His ears are open to your cry. My friend won his bunny rabbit and it wasn’t long after that that I got a free one from him.

YOU MUST TURN THE POWER SOURCE ON. In some aspects, prayer can be likened to a radio, computer, or some other electronic device. You may have the latest technology and the right methods in hand but you must first turn the power source on. The power source of prayer is the wonderful name of Jesus. Jesus promised that if we asked the Heavenly Father anything in His name, we would have what we asked for. To ask in Jesus’ name is to ask in the authority, the will, and power represented by that name. (Philippians 2:5-11) Behind the name of Jesus is the power of His Word, His sacrificial atoning blood, shed on the cross for the remission of sins, and the power of an endless life. (Hebrews 7:16)

Jesus taught us that FAITH is a power source that will move mountains and trees. (Luke 17:6; James 5:15-18) Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to enable us to pray with power. (Romans 8:26-27) To pray effectively with power, make sure that you turn the power source on. One way to do so is to pray with thanksgiving and praise. (Psalm 100:4; I Thessalonians 5:18) Through thanksgiving and praise we enter into His presence. We have His promise, “Draw near to me and I will draw near to you” (James 4:8)

A HUMBLE HEART – Powerful prayer is a matter of the heart not your speech or head. If God will hear a little child, He will hear you if you have a humble and childlike heart.

Jesus told a story of two men who went to pray. One was a proud Pharisee, who bragged how religious he was, and prayed on a street corner so that others could see how religious he was. The other was a despised publican (tax-collector), who would not even look up to heaven, but smote his breast and prayed, “God, be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13). Which of these men was justified before God?

Have you prayed that prayer of the publican? God answers the prayer of the humble and broken, who pray in sincerity and faith.

Dennis the Menace and his pal, Joey, were scolded by Mr. Wilson for pulling up his prize flowers. Not long after, Mrs. Wilson brought out a plate of cookies to them. Joey asked Dennis, “Why did Mrs. Wilson do that, we weren’t very nice?” “Look, Joey,” said Dennis, “Mrs. Wilson didn’t give us these cookies because we are nice, but because she is nice.” God is gracious and merciful. Call on Him.