This week we being with Question 40 of the New City Catechism, found in Part 3 (questions 36-52), which focuses on the Spirit, restoration, and growing in grace. Question 40: What should we pray? Answer: The whole Word of God directs and inspires us in what we should pray, including the prayer Jesus himself taught us. As limited, created beings, we face challenges when it comes to prayer. One challenge is our lack of knowledge, wisdom, and perspective that would lead us to kn

Question 38: What is prayer? Answer: Prayer is pouring out our hearts to God in praise, petition, confession of sin, and thanksgiving. Among the various actions we take in prayer (e.g., confessing our sins, petitioning God for help), praise and thanksgiving should be at the top of our list. Repeatedly, Scripture commands us to praise the Lord (e.g., Psalms 146-150). When we celebrate God for who he is in himself, we may call that “praise.” When we celebrate what he has done f

We face challenges when we pray, and the best way to overcome them is to let Scripture guide us in prayer.

When we praise and thank God, we do not add anything to him. So what is the point of praising him, and why does Scripture command it?