Why did early Christians pray and how should we pray?

Staying in the valley of darkness is not what God wants for us, and He is willing to help us, and the Word of God commands us to rejoice in Him; Jas 4:9; 2 Cori 7:10. Prayer is offering up of our desires to God, and our hearts are revealed in prayer and our petitions are made known to God. Fighting for joy is worshipful, loving, serious, and dangerous because prayer for joy is not an emotional pampering. Prayer became the backbone of early Christians and they called on God for various reasons.

They called on God to exalt His name in the world; Matt 6:9; to extend God’s Kingdom; Matt 6:10; Rev 21:4; for the fullness of the Holy Spirit; Luk 11:13; Gal 5:22; to save the unbelievers; Rom 10:1; Matt 13:44; for healing Jas 5:13-15; Acts 8:7; for strategic wisdom Col 1:9; 3:16; for unity and harmony in the rank Jn 17:20-21; Phil 2:2; to know God better Col 1:10; Eph 1:17; to comprehend the love of Christ Eph 3:14, 18; for a deeper sense of assured hope Eph 1:16, 18; for strength and endurance Col 1:11; Eph 3:16; for their faith to be preserved Luk 22:32; not to fall into temptation Matt 6:13; 26:41; to complete their resolves and enable them to do good works 2 Thee 1:11; for the forgiveness of sins Matt 6:12; and for protection from evil one Matt 6:13.

Our call as Christians are to pray for the above concerns just like early Christians. Prayer and meditation are inseparable as God’s Word and His Spirit 2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:21. Without prayer we try to fulfill the Word in our own strength, and we may become like Pharisees eventually and may give up in despair. The Spirit brings joy where the Word of God is exalted and enables us to see the beauty of Christ in God’s Word. Using God’s Word in prayer is a powerful weapon to war against the schemes of the devil, and God’s Word has power to bring down strongholds and everything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God; 2 Cori 10:3-5.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

We must pray to incline our heart, open the eyes of our heart so that we are satisfied in God alone. Prayer is also the indispensable remedy and healing to our hearts when we do not desire God, the way we should.

Reference: Piper, John. When I don’t desire God: How to fight for joy (Wheaton: IL, Crossway Books,2004).