Teach Us to Pray
FrontLine | July/August 2018
When setting out to put together this issue of FrontLine, we regularly encountered an objection from prospective writers. Not, “Sorry brother, I just can’t make any more commitments at this time,” but, “Brother, I just don’t feel adequate to write on that topic.” I sympathize with this objection. Who really feels adequate to discuss prayer? Even those who seem to pray well, to pray the “best,” recognize that we are but feeble wisps of vapor reaching out to commune with our infinite God. Who are we to tell other men about the “great” things we have learned about prayer?
Nevertheless, we are called to pray, and those of us in the ministry are called to teach God’s people. We hope you find this issue helpful for your own spiritual experience. To help us, Wally Morris helps us answer the question, “Why Is Praying So Hard?” Gordon Dickson gives us insight from the prayers of Daniel in “Seasons of Prevailing Prayer.” Greg Baker offers a testimonial concerning recent experience with prayer in his Utah congregation, “Upreach: The Local Church Reaching to God in Prayer.” Brent Niedergall has another question: “What If God Answered Prayer?” By that he means, “What if we really believed God answered prayer? Would our prayer life change?” Thomas Overmiller encourages us regarding corporate prayer, especially encouraging both men and women to join in the prayer meetings of the church in “Men and Women Praying Together.” My own attempt looks at the disciples and their request to the Lord, “Teach Us to Pray.” The disciples were familiar with prayer. However, when they witnessed Jesus praying, their hearts were stirred by their own inadequacy.
Our issue certainly isn’t the last word on prayer, but we hope that it might be a word that stirs you up again about your own praying. We hope that you will be more purposeful, diligent, and persistent in believing prayer. Our God hears the prayers of His saints. Do you believe this?
Don Johnson
Don Johnson is the pastor of Grace Baptist Church of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
FEATURES
Teach Us to Pray
Don Johnson
Who among us really feels that we understand and practice prayer as God intended?
Why Is Praying So Hard?
Wally Morris
Praying must be hard, since so few individuals and churches set aside regular times for it.
Seasons of Prevailing Prayer
Gordon A. Dickson
The same is true for all of us: we do what we do in the sight of God.
Upreach: The Local Church Reaching to God in Prayer
Greg Baker
It is a sad commentary on my sinful soul that God had to hold me in the valley to teach me to pray.
What If God Answered Prayer?
Brent Niedergall
I don’t think we always pray as if we believe God answers prayer.
Men and Women Praying Together: Going beyond Scripture
Thomas Overmiller
Unfortunately, sometimes we restrict the appropriate involvement of women in worship and ministry.
Praying for Victory
Don Johnson
Bible reading is only half of a devotional experience.
Just Keep Praying
Abby Huffstutler
DEPARTMENTS
Mail Bag & News from All Over
On the Home Front
Wit & Wisdom
David Atkinson
Biblical Integrity in Worship
David C. Innes
98th Annual Fellowship Report
Doug Wright
Notable Quotes
Robert Condict
On Language & Scripture
Mark L. Ward Jr.
At a Glance: Select Studies in Isaiah—Apocalypse and Songs
Layton Talbert
E.M. Bounds on Prayer
So Many Opportunities
Jeremy Van Delinder
The Spiritual Pothole of Doubt
Jerry Sivnksty
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