In the Old Testament, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob bestowed upon His servant Moses an official and exclusive title. Moses is described in the Book of Numbers as follows: "Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth." (Numbers 12:3). In addition, the meekness and faithfulness of Moses were the qualities that set him apart from his contemporaries.
Clearly, the righteous attributes of Moses spoke volumes about his exalted position before the Lord God Almighty; and thus, his personal relationship with God: "And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle." (Exodus 33:15). In other words, when Moses prayed, God not only heard the prayers of His servant Moses, but He answered the prayers of Moses. What a privilege!
Prayer is a remarkable right, responsibility and privilege of the pure in heart, whereby up-close and personal communication, conversation, or fellowship and communion with God is awarded on the basis of servanthood (the condition of sinless service): "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 14:15-16).
Perhaps privileged prayer could even be perceived as confident and consistent investments in one's practice of an effective prayer life securing one's ultimate entrance into one's eternal homeland: "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation." (Psalm 24:3-5).
Prayers are prominent and throughout the Bible, along with the prayer-oriented biblical characters who were both the source and product of intense and answered prayer. The epistle of James speaks about these prayer warriors: "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." (James 5:16-20).
The inimitable apostle Paul urges his companions to remain firm, fixed and focused for the sake of their spiritual growth and joy they realized in Christ, while exercising an uncompromising devotion. His message in this instance was not to worry about anything, but rather to pray about everything: "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:4-7).
In perusing the Gospels, we encounter our glorious and faithful Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and in the company of His inner circle: Peter, James and John. His prayers with passion and are literally paved with His Glory! For example, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ cries out in prayer to God the Father as he anticipates His passion on Calvary and at the Cross. The portrayal of both His divinity and humanity in the Scripture are on full display, as His anguish and agony become seemingly insufferable: "Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done" (Matthew 26:36-42).
In His role as a Master Teacher, we now focus on the events surrounding Jesus' instruction to His disciples with respect to the rudiments of the content of prayer. The humility of Jesus was an essential element in His teaching as well. The fact that He was all too familiar with both the motives and character of the prideful religious leaders of His day, speaks to us today, remains relevant and must be heeded in these days and times: "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." (Matthew 6:9-13).
In terms of prayer postures, or the varied positions assumed by the prayer during episodes of prayer, the following have been identified in the Word of God and Jesus instructs us accordingly. Of course, our Lord also demonstrated and provided instruction concerning prayer content as well. This discussion will be limited to the former. Specifically, the postures included: standing, kneeling, bowing, lifting eyes to heaven, lying prostrate, and the raising of hands. Do understand and keep in mind that this may or may not be an exhaustive list. In the final analysis, the overriding posture has been the revelation of a fruitful life governed by a heart that is inclined toward God.
What is often referred to as the "High Priestly Prayer" of Jesus occupies an entire chapter of His Word, the seventeenth chapter of the Gospel according to John. In His prayer, Jesus not only prays for Himself, but He prays for His own (disciples), His future believers (us) and others of like passions. Below, I have listed the first seven (7) verses of this majestic prayer:
"1) These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
2) As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
3) And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
4) I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
5 ) And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
6 ) I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
7) Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee."
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