Pray: We GET to do this!
- Rebecca Montrone
- 2 days ago
- 10 min read
If we truly understood the advantage prayer gives us, wouldn’t we pray more—and with greater faith?
Cynthia, one of my clients-turned-friends and sisters in Christ popped into the shop Friday morning. She is a regular reader of these posts, and we got to talking about prayer. She has a prayer ministry - primarily intercessory prayer for others with a focus on physical needs and healing.
During our conversation, I said, "That's it! I want to do my next writing on the topic of prayer!" So. Here we are. I want to spend several days on this, since prayer is a massive biblical topic, and there are so many focuses to hone in on. For example, there is praise through prayer, there is simple wondrous time alone with God through prayer; then, there is intercessory prayer - prayer for others - and that can extend to so many aspects of people's lives. We pray when we ourselves are in need of provision or seeking consolation for our worries and cares.
FIRST, WHO DO WE PRAY TO?
Prayer is our Hotline to Heaven, and it is a HOTLINE, believe you me! Jesus Christ tore down the curtain of separation between us and the Father when He died on the cross for our sins. He rose from the dead, thereby killing death itself - and now, it says in the Bible, that He serves as our high priest - that means, simply said, that He is the way we have instant access to God any time of the day or night for whatever reason.
We do not need anyone else to tug on the hem of God's glorious train; no praying to someone else of lower standing in heaven. Praying to someone else is strictly forbidden in scripture, by the way, so to all who are praying to Mary or Saint Anthony or whomever else, quit. Go straight to God and God alone! And that should be welcome news, because you get to go straight to the top rather than praying your way up a ladder. In short:
We do not pray to Mary.
We do not pray to saints.
We do not pray to angels.
We do not pray to departed believers.
"IN JESUS NAME, AMEN."
This high-priestly function of Jesus Christ is the reason we always say we pray "in Jesus name." Did you ever wonder about that? JESUS not only opened the door to the throne of God wide but took it off its hinges for those who have accepted His death and resurrection as payment for their sins. At the moment of His death, God supernaturally tore the temple curtain separating the people from the Holy of Holies as an indisputable validation of this. Jesus Christ is our High Priest and the only priest we need. We don't need to see a human priest to confess our sins, we go straight to God the Father through Jesus Christ our high priest. It. Is. Finished.
There are many Bible references that emphasize God's insistance that we pray only to Him, but I like this one in particular, when the Apostle John receives the Revelation of Jesus Christ while on the Isle of Patmos. He is so overcome with the enormity of what he has witnessed in all of the visions that at the end, he goes to bow down and worship the angel that stands before him:
"Then I fell at his feet to worship him.
But he said to me,
'Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours
and your brothers and sisters who hold the testimony of Jesus;
worship God!
For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.'”
(Revelation 19:10)
Mary, the woman God used to bring the Eternal God into the world as a human so that He could live a sinless human life and die for our sins, is just like you and me in her standing before God. She doesn't have any greater access to God than we do - well, having died, like all in heaven she is with Him all the time in physical proximity, but you don't tap her shoulder through reciting the Rosary to get His attention. Remember that time when Jesus was told His mother and brothers were outside looking for Him, He replied, "Who are my mother, sisters and brothers?"
Well, here's the official version from the book of Matthew:
Matthew 12:46–50 "While He was still speaking to the people, behold, His mother and His brothers stood outside, asking to speak to Him. But He replied to the man who told Him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.'"
Scripture Is Clear: Just One Mediator Between God and Man — Jesus Christ
1 Timothy 2:5 "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."
John 14:6 "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
Romans 8:34 "Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us."
PRAYER ITSELF - It's amazing that we "get to do this!"
Just think about it! Sometimes as believers we think about prayer as a spiritual discipline; a duty, something we need to feel guilty about not doing enough of.
JUST THE OPPOSITE! Prayer is the invitation from God to talk with Him about everything and anything. Prayer is repeatedly described as drawing near, calling upon, and pouring out the heart. It is relational before it is functional.
The God of Scripture is not distant or inaccessible. He invites His people to seek Him, to speak honestly before Him, and to approach Him with confidence — not because of who we are, but because of who He is. Prayer assumes that God is present, attentive, and willing to be known.
Doesn't that alone, right there, make prayer seem like something you want to do? More like a rest than a task. In a way, prayer can be form of venting. Unlike when you vent to others, however, when you vent to God you are venting to the Perfect One with Perfect Understanding and Perfect Power to do something about your concerns. And then... with Perfect Wisdom. This is why sometimes - maybe often - the way He answers our prayers can seem less than ideal to us; we don't have His knowledge or His wisdom. And did I mention Perfect Love? That's the key, right? Because it would be one thing if God was all powerful and all knowing but not all GOOD. But. He. Is.
Psalm 145:18 "The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth."
Jeremiah 29:13 "You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart."
Psalm 62:8 "Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him. God is a refuge for us."
Hebrews 4:16 "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace."
PRAYER CAMEOS
Let's take a look at some key examples of people praying from the Bible. I chose these particular examples because they are all a bit different in their nuance and provide valuable insights.
OLD TESTAMENT
Abraham — Intercessory Prayer Rooted in God’s Character
When God reveals that He is bringing judgement upon Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham responds not with protest or denial, but with intercession (praying on behalf of someone else). His prayer does not question God’s right to judge; instead, it appeals directly to God’s justice.
Abraham’s concern is whether the righteous might be destroyed along with the wicked. He repeatedly asks whether God would spare the cities if a certain number of righteous people are found within them, gradually lowering the number from fifty to ten. Each request is offered humbly, yet boldly, and each time God agrees.
This exchange shows that God welcomes intercessory prayer that is grounded in His character. Abraham is not attempting to manipulate God, but to trust that the Judge of all the earth will act justly. When fewer than ten righteous are found, judgment proceeds — yet God still rescues Lot, confirming that He does not destroy the righteous with the wicked.
Key Insight: Biblical intercession appeals to who God is, not to who we are — and trusts His righteousness even when the outcome is severe.
Why it matters:
Shows that reverent boldness and humility can coexist in prayer.
Moses — Prayer That Stands in the Breach
After Israel’s rebellion, Moses intercedes to prevent their destruction. He appeals to God’s promises and reputation among the nations rather than Israel’s worthiness. Moses even offers himself in place of the people. God relents, demonstrating that intercessory prayer can delay judgment and restore relationship. A perfect example of "Prayer changes things."
Key Insight: God invites sacrificial intercession that appeals to His covenant faithfulness.
Hannah — Prayer from Deep Personal Distress
Hannah prays silently and intensely out of barrenness and grief. Though misunderstood by others, she pours out her soul to God and surrenders the outcome to Him. God answers her prayer with Samuel, whom she then dedicates back to the Lord.
Key Insight: God honors prayer that flows from surrender rather than control.
David — Prayer Marked by Honest Relationship
David’s prayers span praise, lament, repentance, and trust. He brings raw emotion before God without abandoning faith. Even when confessing sin (Ps 51), David appeals to God’s mercy rather than self-justification.
Key Insight: God welcomes emotionally honest prayer rooted in covenant relationship.
Solomon — Prayer for Wisdom Over Power
When invited by God to ask for anything, Solomon prays for wisdom to govern rightly. God grants his request and adds blessings he did not ask for.
Key Insight: God delights in prayers aligned with responsibility and humility.
Elijah — Prayer That Reveals God’s Supremacy
Elijah prays publicly on Mount Carmel, asking God to reveal Himself as the true God. The prayer is brief, God-centered, and purposeful. God responds dramatically, leaving no doubt about His supremacy. I want to include the full text here on this one:
“At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, ‘O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that You, O Lord, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.’ Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said,
‘The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God.’”
Key Insight: Prayer is meant to glorify God, not display human power.
Daniel — Prayer as Faithful Discipline
Daniel prays consistently despite legal threats. His prayers include confession for both personal and national sin, demonstrating humility and covenant awareness.
Key Insight: Faithful prayer persists regardless of consequence.
Hezekiah — Prayer in Crisis and Mortality
Hezekiah prays during national invasion and personal illness. He lays the threats openly before God and weeps honestly. God responds with deliverance and healing.
Key Insight: Prayer is appropriate in both public and deeply personal crises.
NEW TESTAMENT
Jesus Christ — Perfect Model of Prayerful Dependence
Mark 1:35 "And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed."
Luke 5:16 "But He would withdraw to desolate places and pray."
Luke 6:12 "In these days He went out to the mountain to pray, and all night He continued in prayer to God."
Matthew 14:23 "And after He had dismissed the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray."
Luke 9:18 "Now it happened that as He was praying alone, the disciples were with Him."
Key passages where we actually get to "hear" what He prayed:
John 17 (the great high-priestly prayer; want to see how He thinks about you? Saturate yourself in this passage of scripture!)
Luke 22:39-46 (Garden of Gethsemane)
Jesus prays regularly, before major decisions, in suffering, and in surrender. His prayers reveal intimacy with the Father and unwavering submission to God’s will.
Key Insight: Prayer is communion with the Father, not a tool for control ("not My will but Thine be done.")
AND: Jesus Teaches His Disciples How to Pray
Jesus did not assume His disciples already understood prayer. After observing His prayer life, they explicitly asked Him to teach them.
Luke 11:1 “Lord, teach us to pray…”
In response, Jesus gives what is commonly called the Lord’s Prayer
This prayer is not meant as a formula to be repeated mechanically, but as a pattern that reveals the priorities and posture of true prayer.
Jesus teaches His disciples to:
address God as Father, emphasizing relationship
begin with God’s holiness and will, not personal needs
depend daily on God for provision
seek forgiveness with humility
extend forgiveness to others
ask for protection from temptation and evil
Notably, Jesus places God’s glory and will first, before personal requests, and frames prayer as ongoing dependence rather than self-sufficiency.
Through this instruction, Jesus shows that prayer is not performance, repetition, or eloquence — it is relational trust directed toward God, shaped by reverence, submission, and faith.
Mary — Prayer of Submission and Praise
Mary’s prayer magnifies God and submits fully to His plan. Her words are saturated with Scripture and humility.
Key Insight: True prayer exalts God rather than self.
The Apostles — Prayer for Boldness, Not Comfort
After persecution, the apostles pray for boldness instead of protection. God answers by empowering them further.
Key Insight: Spirit-filled prayer reorients priorities toward God’s mission.
Peter — Prayer Through Failure and Restoration
Jesus prays for Peter’s faith before his denial.
Later, Peter’s prayer opens him to God’s broader redemptive plan.
Key Insight: Prayer sustains faith even through human failure.
Paul — Prayer That Forms Theology and Vision
Paul’s prayers focus on spiritual insight, maturity, and knowledge of God rather than circumstances.
Key Insight: Prayer shapes how believers understand God and live accordingly.
The Early Church — Prayer as the Engine of the Church
Prayer precedes major movements of God, including the release of Peter from prison — even surprising those who prayed.
Key Insight: God works powerfully through imperfect but faithful prayer.
Enough for Today!
We've spent a lot of time taking an overview look of prayer as it is modeled to us by some of the people praying in the Bible. This, alone, provides plenty of inspiration and encouragement to be in continual communication with our Wondrous God throughout this day. Tomorrow, we'll continue by beginning to take a look at various types of prayer, such as intercession, praise, prayer for sickness and healing, prayer for provision, and prayer during times of worry, fear, and anxiety.
The good news is that we have been invited, whatever is happening and whenever we wish:
"Trust in Him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before Him.
God is a refuge for us."
Psalm 62:8
Till next time, Pray: We GET to do this!
Interested in knowing how to enter into a personal relationship with God through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ? Say a Salvation Prayer and Receive Jesus Christ Today.
Of course, the saying of a prayer is the reflection of a monumental and life-changing heart decision, but this is a good guide.
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