Out of curiosity, I decided to Google the word prayer. I couldn’t believe the response—a smorgasbord offered in the name of communion with almighty God. One Web site detailed a free mini course that would teach me about the “seven spirits of God.” Another site offered telephone miracles twenty-four hours a day that would enhance my health, my finances, and my relationships.

One interesting site even showed me pictures of what prayer should look like. It said if I was a Christian, I should bow my head and clasp my hands together. If I was a Native American, I should dance; if a Hindu, chant; if a Sufi, whirl. If I was an Orthodox Jew, I should sway, and if I was a Quaker . . . I should be quiet!

The Wisdom of the Young

Googling prayer proved to be more confusing than helpful, so I asked some of my son’s friends this simple question:  “What does the Bible say about prayer?” Their responses were interesting, to say the least. Here are a few:

• “Don’t even try it if you’re mad with your dad—God won’t be listening.”
• “Wash your hands first!”
• “Remember to say amen or everyone’s food will get cold!”
• “Think about others before you think about yourself.”
• “Just concentrate on God and try not to fall asleep.”

Hmm. Not quite what I’d been looking for. Their answers conveyed that there are right things to do and wrong things to do when we pray—and you’d better get it right if you even have a hope of God listening to you! Their responses also seemed to indicate that they had been corrected in their past efforts at prayer and were working with a fresh set of ground rules.

But something besides their responses jumped out at me. Interestingly, the boys’ tone of voice changed when I asked them about prayer. Even my own animated son became a Francis of Assisi as he responded—quiet, gentle, reverent. (I have to tell you, however, that moment soon passed.) This indicated to me that even at a young age, we’re conditioned to believe that fellowship with God is some sort of lofty and theological transaction. The boys’ attitude mirrored what they had seen others do in an attempt to be “religious.” They had no clue how to answer the question accurately, but they sure did put on a good show while they were talking about it!

When I thought about it, I had to confess I’ve sometimes done the same. And I’m sure you have too. Think about it—how many times have we been asked to pray in public and instead of talking with God using the manner and words we offer at home, we find our “spiritual” voices, religious vocabulary, and pious pose?.

Surely that can’t be how God wants us to relate to him. So what does the Bible actually tell us about prayer? It seemed a good time to go to the source and investigate.