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Several questions are asked about pray in the
hymn titled Did You Think To Pray? Some
deal with thinking to pray, while others deal
with the manner in which we pray and things we
pray about.
Did You Think To Pray
Prayer is something we can forget to do if we're
not careful, especially if things are going well.
So we have to make a conscious effort to pray,
or we can go through the whole day without praying.
When we pray as we should, though, we find that
we feel better, and we're more fruitful in the
Lord's kingdom.
- "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing;
in everything give thanks; for this is
God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do
not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic
utterances. But examine everything carefully;
hold fast to that which is good; abstain from
every form of evil" (1 Th. 5:16-22).
In the song Did You Think To Pray? we're
asked these questions about remembering to pray,
which can help us evaluate ourselves.
Ere you left your room this morning,
Did you think to pray?
When you met with great temptation,
Did you think to pray?
When your heart was filled with anger,
Did you think to pray?
When sore trials came upon you,
Did you think to pray?
When your soul was bowed in sorrow,
Balm of Gilead did you borrow
At the gates of day?
The song reminds me to pray every day, especially
at the start of my day. And it reminds me to pray
in times of trouble.
Besides this, the hymn reminds me to pray for
people who are in trouble, not only my brethren,
but others whom I hear about.
What Did You Pray About?
What we pray about is as important as remembering
to pray. For example, our prayers shouldn't be
vain repetition but sincere communication to God
from our hearts.
- "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions
as the heathen do. For they think that they
will be heard for their many words" (Matt. 6:7,
NKJV).
So it's possible to pray a lot, but for our
prayers to be in vain because of the content.
In the hymn Did You Think To Pray?, we're
reminded of things to pray for.
Did you sue for loving favor,
As a shield today?
By His dying love and merit,
Did you claim the Holy Spirit
As your guide and stay?
Did you plead for grace, my brother,
That you might forgive another
Who had crossed your way?
James and Philippians contain two of the many
Scriptures that teach us how to pray, and the
things we should pray for.
- "Is anyone among you suffering? Then he
must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to
sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Then
he must call for the elders of the church and
they are to pray over him, anointing
him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the
prayer offered in faith will restore the
one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him
up, and if he has committed sins, they will
be forgiven him. Therefore, confess your sins
to one another, and pray for one another
so that you may be healed. The effective
prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much"
(Jas. 5:13-16).
- "Rejoice in the Lord always; again
I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit
be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious
for nothing, but in everything by prayer
and supplication with thanksgiving let your
requests be made known to God. And the
peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus" (Phil. 4:4-7).
In the Name of Jesus
We're also reminded in the hymn, Did You Think
To Pray?, to pray in the name of Jesus.
In the name of Christ our Savior,
Did you sue for loving favor,
As a shield today?
The word "name", as it's used here, denotes
the power and authority of Jesus. Thus, it's by
the authority of Jesus, as given Him by the Father,
that we can address our heavenly Father in prayer.
- "'In that day you will not question Me about
anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if
you ask the Father for anything in My name,
He will give it to you. Until now you have
asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will
receive, so that your joy may be made full'"
(Jn. 16:23-24).
- "This is the confidence which we have
before Him, that, if we ask anything
according to His will, He hears us. And
if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask,
we know that we have the requests which we have
asked from Him" (1 Jn. 5:14-15).
Conclusion
I hope these thoughts help us to remember to pray,
and to pray in a manner that pleases God.
Have you been thinking to pray lately? And are
you praying as you should?
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