Podcast Summary: "How to Pray"
Renewing Your Mind by Ligonier Ministries
Released on March 8, 2025

Introduction

In the episode titled "How to Pray," hosted by Nathan W. Bingham on the Renewing Your Mind podcast, listeners are guided through a profound exploration of prayer as an essential means of grace for Christians. Drawing heavily from R.C. Sproul's teachings, the episode delves into the theological and practical aspects of establishing a disciplined and meaningful prayer life.

Understanding the Foundations of Prayer

The Significance of Prayer

The episode opens with Speaker A, identified as R.C. Sproul, emphasizing the dual focus required in prayer: remembering who God is and recognizing one's own identity in relation to Him. He states, "The two most important things that we have to remember when we speak to God is that we have to remember who he is and we have to remember who we are" (00:00).

Common Struggles in Prayer

Nathan W. Bingham acknowledges that challenges in maintaining a consistent and thoughtful prayer life are common among Christians, irrespective of their spiritual maturity. He poses critical questions about why, despite the desire to pray more, worldly worries and life's busyness often hinder regular prayer (00:27).

Biblical Foundations and the Marriage Metaphor

Pauline Teachings on Prayer and Access to God

Speaker A continues by referencing the Apostle Paul's teachings in Romans, highlighting the newfound access believers have to God's presence through justification by faith. He explains, "the veil of the temple was rent... so that now those who are justified by faith have permission to come into the presence of God" (01:27).

Marriage as a Metaphor for the Relationship with Christ

Sproul introduces the metaphor of marriage to illustrate the intimate relationship between believers and Christ. He references Edward Pierce's The Best Match to draw parallels between human marriage and the spiritual union with Christ. "When two people... are consummated, those two persons become one flesh... this union becomes the foundation for our relationship with Christ and the basis for prayer" (01:27).

Components of the Marriage Metaphor Applied to Prayer

1. Gift of Self

   • Just as marriage involves the giving of oneself to another, our relationship with Christ is based on His gift of Himself. "Christ gives himself to the believer... the Holy Spirit gives the gift of faith" (01:27).

2. Intimacy and Communication

   • The metaphor underscores the importance of communication in marriage, likening it to prayer. Sproul shares a personal anecdote about his courtship with his wife, illustrating prayer as a form of love letters exchanged with Christ. "Prayer is the communication of love between the bride and the groom" (01:27).

3. Delight in Relationship

   • Beyond duty, prayer should be a source of joy and delight, mirroring the affection in a marital relationship. "Prayer ought to provoke delight, not just obligation" (01:27).

Addressing Challenges in Prayer

The Lack of Effective Prayer Guidance

Sproul identifies a significant barrier to effective prayer: the lack of understanding on how to pray. He recounts an experience where Christians often feel guilty about their inadequate prayer lives without being provided with practical methods to improve (24:00).

The Lord's Prayer as a Model

Highlighting Jesus' response to His disciples' request for prayer instruction, Sproul explains that the Lord's Prayer serves as a template to guide believers in their communication with God. "The purpose of the Lord's Prayer was not to give us a prayer that we would recite ourselves every day, but simply to teach people how prayer should proceed" (24:00).

Practical Framework for Effective Prayer

Kingdom-Focused Prayer

Drawing from a seminar conducted by Archie Parish, Sproul introduces the concept of Kingdom-Focused Prayer, which prioritizes the work of Christ and the expansion of His kingdom over personal petitions. "The focus of our prayer is on the work of Christ and the work of the kingdom" (24:00).

Structured Prayer Approach

Sproul outlines a structured approach to prayer, inspired by Martin Luther's method taught to his barber. The process involves praying through the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Apostles' Creed, allowing for a comprehensive and focused prayer experience. "You set aside time for prayer every day... make sure that you have the opportunity to get alone, to get into a place of solitude" (24:00).

Gradual Increase in Prayer Time

He describes a progressive system where believers start with short, dedicated prayer times, gradually increasing the duration to foster deeper spiritual discipline. "We commit to pray for 30 minutes a day for three months... then move up to 45 minutes... to one hour a day" (24:00).

Integration of Scripture in Prayer

Sproul emphasizes the importance of incorporating Scripture into prayer, suggesting the memorization of selected Psalms to aid in praising God with His own words. "By memorizing a few psalms selectively, you have that at your disposal for praise" (24:00).

Theological Implications of Prayer

Spiritual Union and Unity Among Believers

Sproul elaborates on the mystical union believers share with Christ, asserting that this spiritual bond fosters a transcendent unity among all Christians. "If I am in Christ and you are in Christ, we are already spiritually united in Him" (24:00).

Humility and Boldness in Prayer

While encouraging boldness in approaching God's throne, Sproul warns against arrogance, advocating for a prayer life grounded in humility. "We are to come boldly into the presence of God, but in a spirit of humility" (24:00).

Conclusion: Embracing a Disciplined Prayer Life

Sproul reiterates the foundational principles for a robust prayer life: remembering God's sovereignty and our own identity in Him. By adopting structured, Scripture-based prayer practices, believers can deepen their communion with Christ, fostering both personal spiritual growth and collective ecclesiastical strength. "As long as we remember who he is and who we are, we will be in a proper posture and attitude of reverence and adoration" (40:06).

Notable Quotes

• "The two most important things that we have to remember when we speak to God is that we have to remember who he is and we have to remember who we are." – R.C. Sproul (00:00)

• "Prayer is the communication of love between the bride and the groom." – R.C. Sproul (01:27)

• "The purpose of the Lord's Prayer was... to teach people how prayer should proceed." – R.C. Sproul (24:00)

• "As long as we remember who he is and who we are, we will be in a proper posture and attitude of reverence and adoration." – R.C. Sproul (40:06)

Final Thoughts

"How to Pray" offers a comprehensive guide for Christians seeking to enhance their prayer lives. By intertwining theological insights with practical strategies, Nathan W. Bingham and R.C. Sproul provide listeners with the tools necessary to cultivate a disciplined, heartfelt, and kingdom-focused prayer routine. This episode serves as an invaluable resource for both seasoned believers and new Christians striving to deepen their relationship with God through prayer.