Prayer

“The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.” 

–Psalm 145:18-19

Most of the world’s population prays. But what makes prayer particularly Christian? How, why, and for what should Christians pray? We hope on this page to begin to answer some of those questions and to direct you to opportunities for you to pray with and for the Park Slope Presbyterian Church community.

WHY PRAY?

First and foremost, prayer is a response to God’s initiative: he creates, he sustains, he saves…and we respond in prayer. In this sense prayer is a pursuit of our relationship with God; it is a dialogue with our Creator. As God speaks to us through his Word in the church, we speak back to him in prayer. And as God has spoken to humanity once and for all in the person of his Son, Jesus Christ, we pray to God in Jesus’ name. Jesus in his death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven has become the king and savior of the whole world; as such, he has at his disposal all the resources on earth and in heaven. And as a good husband listens attentively to the hopes, concerns, and requests of his spouse and then acts, so does Jesus respond to the prayers of his church. 

FOR WHAT SHOULD YOU PRAY?

People are used to thinking about prayer as a means to get their personal needs met. However, we should understand prayer as a means to praise and adore God, to know Him, to come into his presence and be changed by Him. We need to better learn how to pray, repent and petition God as his people. Biblically and historically, the one non-negotiable, universal ingredient in times of spiritual renewal was corporate, prevailing, intensive and kingdom-centered prayer. What is that? Kingdom-centered prayer is prayer that is focused on Christ the King, which is to say that it is prayer for Christ’s glory and for the advance of his kingdom. This means that kingdom-centered prayer is prayer for the church and for the world. Here are some examples of things to pray for:

• the church around the world, for our unity in Christ, and our mission to proclaim Christ to the world;

• for Park Slope Church—for our unity, ministry in the community, our worship, our pastor, staff, and lay leaders, our ministries, our mission;

• for the people of Park Slope—for justice and mercy, for our families and schools, for shop keepers and landlords, for our professions;

• for other churches and ministries in our area;

• for the nation, for the President and all in authority, for the promotion of public justice;

• for peace, for the sick, for those who suffer or are in trouble.