Question 186. What rule has God given for our direction in the duty of prayer?

 

Question 186. What rule has God given for our direction in the duty of prayer?

 

Answer. The whole Word of God is used as a rule of direction in the duty of prayer, but the special rule of guidance is the form of prayer which our Savior Christ taught his disciples, commonly called the Lord's Prayer.

1 Samuel 12:23 “God forbid that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and right way.”

Regarding the “sin of ceasing to pray,” Romans 8:26 “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness (asteneia). We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” Asteneia means moral weakness, frailty, illness, etc. It means that we do not know what to pray for because we are sick. Unspeakable groans are God’s prayer.

This happens to those who listen to the Word. Prayer begins with listening to the Word of God, and is a process of learning God’s will through God’s guidance. The sin of ceasing to pray is for those who do not listen to the Word. Therefore, they become those who do not know God’s will.

Saul became king. Now Samuel was a prophet who spoke God's word. However, if the people did not listen to the word, they would fall into the sin of not praying. However, Samuel spoke to the people about prayer. "Far be it from me to sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you."

 

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