What you believe about prayer will affect how you pray. If you firmly believe God answers prayers, you'll pray often and with confidence. If you're uncertain about prayer, you will pray sporadic and feeble prayers.
In the ancient Greek world, most people prayed sporadic and feeble prayers because they weren't confident in the power of prayer. The word used in that day for pray was the word euchomia. It meant to ask, wish, or make a vow. Prayer to most of the ancient Greeks was like wishing upon a star. People threw up petitions to the gods they hoped existed, were available to hear them, and powerful enough to grant their requests.
Interestingly, when the authors of the New Testament wrote about prayer, they did so with a revised word for it. They added the prefix "pros" meaning "to" or "toward" to give the word focused direction (proseuchomia). No longer did people need to lob their requests to the heavens hoping some god may hear them. Now they had a direct line to the one true almighty God.
That's why Jesus taught his disciples to prayer to their Heavenly Father (Matthew 6:9). Now we can approach God's throne with confidence knowing that he hears us and will answer our prayers according to his perfect will (1 John 5:14-15; Hebrews 10:19-22; John 14:14).
Do you believe prayer is a direct line to the creator and sustainer of the universe who loves you and wants what is best for you? That's what it is!
So, what do you believe about prayer? How is it affecting how you pray?
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