My notes from Don Carson’s talk in the tenth session at EMA (Evangelical Ministry Assembly)…
Improving our Prayer
How can we best improve our praying?
One way is by carefully listening to the best models. We can learn much by listening to the prayers of others. Helpful resource is the Valley of Vision book by Arthur Bennett. We also improve our praying by practice. It is easier to read books about praying than actually praying.
But if we are to improve our praying at all, we need to learn how to pray from God.
Improving along four axis:
1. Prayer steeped in the Word of God
Look at the language used in Nehemiah 9. Look at the themes covered: Creation, Abraham, Exodus, Law, Wilderness years, Golden Calf, Manna, time of the Judges. Part of the prayer is a survey of redemptive history.
Chapter also enmeshed in biblical language. Scarcely a line not taken from biblical literature. Memorable parts drawn from prayers of earlier believers.
This prayer is steeped in Scripture.
Prayers will be enriched as we read and reread Scripture. But this prayer doesn’t feel artificial in quoting all this Scripture. This prayer comes out of a lifetime of learning to pray Scripture.
2. Prayer steeped in Biblical Theology
We see this in Nehemiah 9, but also found in many other passages, for example Exodus 32, 33, and 34.
Thematically turns on 5 points:
- It comes at the end of this divine revelation about how the tabernacle is to be made.
- Very powerful in narrative there is play on glory and goodness.
- You come across abounding in love and faithfulness or grace and truth.
- Clearly time of giving of the law.
- Dramatic clause – no-one has ever seen God.
All five of this themes occur in John 1:14-18. Impossible to believe this is a providential accident. John reflecting on this passage.
- Word became flesh and tabernacles among us (v14).
- Glory and goodness (v14).
- Full of grace and truth (v15) – grace and truth came par excellence in Jesus Christ.
- Law was grace given (v16) – now we have grace and truth par excellence, grace that surpasses it, exceeds it.
- No-one has ever seen God (v18). Do you want to see God? Study Jesus. Moses sees the trailing edge, we see Jesus.
These are biblical theology themes. Prayers Moses utters have to be upgraded, covenantally renewed. These four prayers in Exodus 32-34 need to be developed and unpacked and prayed again in New Covenant form.
Pray for the important things which are established by biblical theology.
3. Prayer steeped in the Priorities of Scripture
a) Examples of Scripture
Pray Ephesians 3:14-21. Pull out and make lists of Scripture and incorporate them in our prayers. This will include prayer the Lord’s Prayer.
b) Eschatological vision of Scripture
In Ephesians, Paul delights in reflecting in Sovereignty and grace of God Almighty in calling out a people of both Jews and Gentiles which He saves by grace for a life of service. This constitutes a new humanity, new people who He reconciled to God through the cross and now God dwells by His Spirit. When Paul prays in Ephesians 3:14 it’s for this reason, because this is God’s purpose. The prayer has to do with asking that God’s Will will be done.
Heart beat of what we pray for ought to be in line with God’s redemptive purpose in the gospel.
c) The ultimate goal of Scripture
We pray to bring maximal glory to God (Ephesians 3:21).
4. Prayer that acknowledges its frank ignorance of the mind of God
First three points show numerous ways our prayers can be enriched by knowing the mind of God.
Romans 8 reminds us of our weakness and need for the Spirit to intercede for us when we do not know mind and will of God. Spirit intercedes for God’s people according to the Will of God.
Application
“We’ve reformed our preaching, let’s reform our prayers.”
- Take time to copy out prayers of Scripture.
- Set time aside for praying.
- Pray in line with mind of God for your people, nation, and advance of the kingdom of God.
