I was asked this week what I would be doing Monday morning. I responded that I would be going to the County Commissioners’ meeting to open that meeting with prayer. Their word to me was, “Well then, pray well!” I took those encouraging words and carried on. But later, I got to thinking. What does that mean? What does it mean to do a good job praying? 

            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. – Mark 1:35

            I believe the key to praying well is actually doing it. It was Jesus’ habit to take time away to pray and thus it should be ours. In a culture that demands so much of our time and attention, in order to pray well we must take time to exercise our access to God. We cannot simply send a praying hands emoji, or wait until the last resort. It is done well when it is done – not done elaborately or eloquently or by formula, but prayer that is done with heart and a real connection with God.

            And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. – Matthew 6:7

            Prayer done well recognizes the incredible honor of entrance to the throne of God and has an element of praise to it. Our prayer should give respect to the author of all that was, and is, and is to come. We should recognize the majesty of the receiver of our prayer and give praise because God is worthy of our praise.

            Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. – Matthew 6:9

            Prayer done well finds its foundation in humility. It recognizes that we are not deserving. It understands that we are needy and incapable. It acknowledges that we cannot see the big picture, nor the full scope of the activity of the Lord. It believes that God is good and can be trusted with our most cherished cares. Praying well embraces the fact that God’s timing is different than ours, His methodology is different than ours, and His possibilities are beyond our understanding. God is greater than our best ideas.

            Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. – Matthew 6:10

            Praying done well also incorporates honesty. It brings before God our hearts desires, fears, worries, and wants. With an open heart to the kingdom agenda, it is honest with God about our expectations and emotions. God is able to bring direction to our agenda, and healing to our hurt, anger, and disappointment, if we are honest with Him. It is through or honest exchange with God that we can arrive on the same page and know the joy and peace that is promised us.

            Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. – Matthew 6:11-13

            And finally, I believe prayer done well is based on God’s Word and His Biblical promises. The Bible is the revelation of God. It reveals to us the nature of God, the methods of God, the assurances of God, and the plans of God. We can correctly order our prayers by paying attention to the instructions and promises found in the Bible. We pray well when we thank, praise, and intercede according to Biblical guidelines.

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises – 2 Peter 1:3-4