Prayer as a One-Way Conversation in the Human Experience
Prayer, in the biblical sense, is understood as direct address to God, an "intercourse of the soul with God" [1]. It is not merely contemplation or meditation, but an active engagement that can be oral or mental, spontaneous or formal [1]. Scriptural descriptions of prayer include "beseeching the Lord" (Exodus 32:11), "pouring out the soul before the Lord" (1 Samuel 1:15), "crying to heaven" (2 Chronicles 32:20), and "drawing near to God" (Psalm 73:28) [1]. It is also described as "bowing the knees" (Ephesians 3:14), "lifting up the soul" (Psalm 25:1), and "lifting up the heart" (Lamentations 3:41) [7].
The concept of prayer presupposes a belief in God's personality, His ability, and His willingness to engage with humanity [1]. While the Bible does not offer a theoretical explanation for the mystery of prayer's efficacy, it provides numerous directions regarding its time, place, and manner, along with types and examples of prayer [2].
One of the most significant examples of prayer in the New Testament is the Lord's Prayer, taught by Jesus to His disciples (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4) [5]. This prayer is presented as a model of simplicity, contrasting with the "vain repetition of pagan prayers" [9]. It encapsulates a wide range of spiritual needs in a concise and humble form [5]. The Lord's Prayer is considered the comprehensive type for simple and universal prayer, and all Christian prayer is based on its spirit, as well as the spirit of Jesus' prayers in Gethsemane and John 17 [6]. Notably, the Lord's Prayer does not explicitly mention the atonement of Christ or the offices of the Holy Spirit [6].
Biblical texts command prayer, as seen in Isaiah 55:6, Matthew 7:7, and Philippians 4:6 [7]. Prayer is to be offered to God (Psalm 5:2), to Christ (Luke 23:42; Acts 7:59), and to the Holy Spirit (2 Thessalonians 3:5) [7]. It is to be offered through Christ (Ephesians 2:18; Hebrews 10:19) [7]. The Scriptures affirm that God hears and answers prayer (Psalm 10:17; 65:2; 99:6; Isaiah 58:9) [7].
The term "conversation" in older English translations, such as the King James Version, does not refer to verbal communication in the modern sense of a two-way dialogue. For instance, Philippians 1:27 states, "Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ" [3]. However, "conversation" here refers to one's deportment or manner of life, or one's relations to a community as a citizen, rather than verbal exchange [8]. The Greek word used in Philippians 1:27 and 3:20 specifically denotes citizenship or one's conduct within a community [8].
While prayer is often described as a "converse with God" [1], implying an interaction, the human experience of prayer can sometimes feel like a one-way conversation. This perception arises when individuals express their thoughts, desires, and petitions to God without immediately perceiving a direct, audible response. However, the biblical understanding of prayer emphasizes the act of addressing God and the expectation that God hears and responds, even if not always in an immediately discernible or verbal manner [1, 7]. For example, Psalm 102:1 is titled "A prayer of the afflicted," where the psalmist cries out, "O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come unto thee" [4]. This highlights the earnest plea for God to attend to the prayer, even in distress [11].
The efficacy of prayer, despite the human perception of it sometimes being one-sided, is a core doctrine. The difficulty in understanding this efficacy often stems from the tension between the belief in general laws governing the universe and the belief in human agency [2]. Nevertheless, the biblical witness consistently portrays prayer as a powerful means of communication with a personal God who actively engages with His creation [1, 2]. All acceptable prayer is understood to go to God through Christ, who serves as the mediator between God and humanity [10].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Prayer — Is converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant, ejaculatory or formal. It is a "beseeching the Lord" (Ex. 32:11); "pouring out the soul before the Lord" (1 Sam. 1:15); "praying and crying to heaven" (2 Chr. 32:20); "seeking unto God and making supplication" (Job 8:5); "drawing near to God" (Ps. 73:28); "bowing the knees" (Eph. 3:14). Prayer presupposes a belief in the personality of God, his ability and willingness to hold inter”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Prayer — The object of this article will be to touch briefly on-- + The doctrine of Scripture as to the nature and efficacy of prayer; + Its directions as to time, place and manner of prayer; + Its types and examples of prayer. + Scripture does not give any theoretical explanation of the mystery which attaches to prayer. The difficulty of understanding real efficacy arises chiefly from two sources: from the belief that man lives under general laws, which in all cases must be fulfilled unalterably; and the opposing belief that he is master of his own destiny, and need ”
- King James Version “[KJV] Philippians 1:27 — Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;”
- Psalms “Psalms 102:1 (Geneva1599) — A prayer of the afflicted, when he shall be in distresse, and pour forth his meditation before the Lord. O Lord, heare my prayer, and let my crye come vnto thee.”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Lords Prayer — the prayer which Jesus taught his disciples. (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4) "In this prayer our Lord shows his disciples how an infinite variety of wants and requests can be compressed into a few humble petitions. It embodies every possible desire of a praying heart, a whole world of spiritual requirements; yet all in the most simple, condensed and humble form, resembling, in this respect, a pearl on which the light of heaven plays."--Lange. "This prayer contains four great general sentiments, which constitute the very soul of religion,--sentiments which”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Lord's Prayer — The name given to the only form of prayer Christ taught his disciples (Matt. 6:9-13). The closing doxology of the prayer is omitted by Luke (11:2-4), also in the R.V. of Matt. 6:13. This prayer contains no allusion to the atonement of Christ, nor to the offices of the Holy Spirit. "All Christian prayer is based on the Lord's Prayer, but its spirit is also guided by that of His prayer in Gethsemane and of the prayer recorded John 17. The Lord's Prayer is the comprehensive type of the simplest and most universal prayer."”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prayer — Commanded -- Isa 55:6; Mt 7:7; Php 4:6. To be offered To God. -- Ps 5:2; Mt 4:10. To Christ. -- Lu 23:42; Ac 7:59. To the Holy Spirit. -- 2Th 3:5. Through Christ. -- Eph 2:18; Heb 10:19. God hears -- Ps 10:17; 65:2. God answers -- Ps 99:6; Isa 58:9. Is described as Bowing the knees. -- Eph 3:14. Looking up. -- Ps 5:3. Lifting up the soul. -- Ps 25:1. Lifting up the heart. -- La 3:41. Pouring out the heart. -- Ps 62:8. Pouring out the soul. -- 1Sa 1:15. Calling upon the name of the Lord. -- Ge 12:8; Ps 116:4; Ac 22:16. Crying to God. -- Ps 27:7; 34:6. Drawing”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Conversation — Generally the goings out and in of social intercourse (Eph. 2:3; 4:22; R.V., "manner of life"); one's deportment or course of life. This word is never used in Scripture in the sense of verbal communication from one to another (Ps. 50:23; Heb. 13:5). In Phil. 1:27 and 3:20, a different Greek word is used. It there means one's relations to a community as a citizen, i.e., citizenship.”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 6:9: 6:9-13 The Lord’s Prayer is similar in form to a common Jewish prayer (the qaddish). Jesus gave this prayer to his followers as a succinct expression of their new faith. 6:9 Pray like this: In contrast to the vain repetition of pagan prayers (6:7-8), “the Lord’s Prayer” is a model of simplicity. • Jews rarely addressed God as Father, but Jesus did so in every prayer but one (Mark 15:34). • may your name be kept holy: God’s name is profaned by the sin of his people (Isa 29:22-24; Jer 34:15-16; Ezek 39:7; Amos 2:7).”
- 1 Kings (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Kings 8:30: Toward this place - Both tabernacle and temple were types of our Lord Jesus, or of God manifested in the flesh; and he was and is the Mediator between God and man. All prayer, to be acceptable, and to be entitled to a hearing, must go to God through Him. The human nature of Christ is the temple in which dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; therefore with propriety all prayer must be offered to God through Him. "If they pray toward this place, hear thou in heaven thy dwelling-place; and when thou hearest, forgive." This appears to me to be the true sense an”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 102:1: Hear my prayer, O Lord,.... The prayer of a poor, destitute, and afflicted one; his own, and not another's; not what was composed for him, but composed by him; which came out of his own heart, and out of unfeigned lips, and expressed under a feeling sense of his own wants and troubles; and though dictated and inwrought in his heart by the Spirit of God, yet, being put up by him in faith and fervency, it is called his own, and which he desires might be heard: and let my cry come unto thee; he calls his prayer cry, because it was uttered in distress, and with great v”