EN－①－A－006－ Basic Teaching English 2026 (ver.9) A group Relationship with God
(６) Prayer ■・■ 2025/04/23
Prayer is fellowship with God and the building of a relationship.
The God we believe in is our “Father,” so prayer can be likened to having a conversation with one’s father.
When we talk about prayer in this way, some people may find it difficult to understand, because many people?especially in Japan?have been hurt in their relationship with their earthly fathers.
If a father is controlling, too busy, or indifferent to his children, it's hard for someone to form a true and healthy image of a father.
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We touched a bit on the issue of wounds from parents earlier in A-03.
Taking those things into consideration, if we can come to understand the parent-child relationship as God originally designed it, then understanding prayer becomes much easier.
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For many Japanese people, the first image that comes to mind when they hear the word “prayer” is likely a “wish-making prayer,” like the kind offered at a Shinto shrine.
Naturally, the focus of such prayers is on whether or not the wish will be granted.
Of course, Christians also pray to make requests, but the nature of Christian prayer is fundamentally different.
Let’s look at some general distinctions.
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Japanese-style prayer often involves:
1. A “gamble” ? where one is happy if the wish is fulfilled, but resigned if it’s not.
2. A “transaction” ? offering money at the shrine in exchange for granted wishes.
3. A lack of relationship ? the petitioner doesn’t really know the one to whom they are praying, nor do they seek to build a relationship.
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Christian prayer involves:
1. Communication within a relationship, like a child asking something of their parent.
2. Peace of heart that surpasses simply getting what one asks for.
3. Often experiencing specific answers to prayer.
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A baby’s first communication with their parent may be to express a need?“I want milk,” “Hold me”?through this, the child learns that the parent meets their needs, and trust begins to form.
In the same way, even if we don’t understand God well, we can come to know Him through prayer and calling out to Him.
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A) Prayer as a Good Habit
If prayer is communication with God, then it should be practiced daily as a good habit.
Christians traditionally pray to give thanks before meals.
While it’s not an absolute requirement to pray before eating, what matters is the heart of gratitude toward God.
Offering small prayers like this as part of daily life is a good way to maintain a healthy spiritual habit.
Such habits also help us remember to be thankful to God each day.
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Praying with your family before bed, or offering a prayer before leaving the house, is also a meaningful habit.
These prayers not only express gratitude to the Lord but also set a good example for others, especially children.
Practically speaking, God provides protection and blessing through such prayers.
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The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9?)
Jesus taught His disciples how to pray.
This is known as “The Lord’s Prayer,” and it reveals the posture of reliance on God.
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6:11 “Give us this day our daily bread.”
This is not just a request for blessings?it expresses our daily dependence on God’s help.
This verse also points to the need for spiritual nourishment, such as the Word of God.
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6:12 “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
This shows that in order for our prayers to be heard, we ourselves need to be free?from unforgiveness.
As illustrated in the parable in Matthew 18:23, we are forgiven as we forgive others.
Such practical action is key to having prayers that are heard.
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6:13 “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
This expresses a desire for protection in daily life.
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Praise and Thanksgiving to God
Matthew 6:9 “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.”
To “hallow” means to worship, praise, and give thanks.
When we have a heart of worship like this, we receive God’s protection.
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B) Group Prayer ? Bringing God’s Will to Earth
Matthew 6:10 says, “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
This means bringing the power, glory, and blessing of heaven to earth.
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Prayer is a way to release God’s power onto the earth.
The Bible says, “They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
This also implies that sometimes healing won’t happen unless someone lays hands on the sick.
God may desire to heal, but He chooses to work through our participation.
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To release God’s power through prayer, praying in groups or with others is often more effective than praying alone.
This is because of a specific promise made by the Lord:
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Matthew 18:19?20
“Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven...”
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C) Personal Prayer ? Fellowship with God
Matthew 6:6 speaks of praying in the “inner room,” referring to personal, intimate fellowship with God.
This type of prayer is essential in the life of faith.
There’s a well-known verse: “You are precious and honored in My sight” (Isaiah 43:4).
How wonderful it would be not only to know this as written in Scripture but to receive it personally and directly from God.
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In addition, it’s effective to intentionally remove any barriers that might hinder our relationship with God?such as an unforgiving heart, unresolved spiritual contracts with evil spirits, or unhealed emotional wounds.
Doing so helps us more freely receive from Him.
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Words Are Not Always Necessary in Personal Prayer
In personal fellowship with God, it's not necessary to string together many words.
This is a time to seek God Himself and to listen for His voice.
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Praying in Tongues
Speaking in tongues is a powerful tool for building a personal relationship with God.
It is something that can be continued by an act of the will, and it often opens the door for many people to deepen their relationship with God.
We’ll look at this in more detail in section “D-02.”
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Prayer that connects us with God brings encouragement and spiritual energy.
It’s like filling up your tank at a gas station?you receive spiritual strength.
Without this, you’ll become spiritually dry.
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How Our Prayers Reach God
God is three-in-one: the Father, the Son (Christ), and the Holy Spirit.
When we pray to God, the process can be summarized like this:
“We pray to God the Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, by the Holy Spirit.”
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John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.”
That’s why we commonly conclude prayers with the phrase:
“In Jesus Christ’s name we pray.”