Having spoken in the last two weeks about the relational nature of prayer, which involves a recognition of the nature and character of God, Broughton Knox moves on to examine the nature of prayer itself. Is it surprising to find that prayer consists of requests?

Prayer means request and consists of requests. In the Lord's Prayer, which Jesus gave his disciples as a pattern as to how to pray, after the opening statement of relationship and recognition the prayer consists entirely of requests—seven in all. “Hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done” are the opening three requests. They are concerned with God's affairs and are followed by four requests with regard to ourselves; “give us”, “forgive us”, “lead us”, “deliver us”. Then the prayer ends.

Prayer consists of requests. We are constantly invited to bring our petitions to God. “Let your requests be made known to God”, said St Paul, and James said “You have not because you ask not”. But, of course, our requests must be in accordance with the character of God if they are to honour God, if they are to be part of true worship and if they are to receive an answer in the way that we would wish. What we ask for is an indication of what we value.

The Lord's Prayer begins asking that God's name may be hallowed. Is this the sort of prayer that comes naturally to our lips when we have the opportunity of asking for something which we want? The Lord's Prayer goes on to ask that God's kingdom might be inaugurated and that his will might be done. If we are so taken up with the things of this world that we bypass God and his kingdom, our prayers will show that we have not got our priorities right. After all, there is nothing more desirable than that men and women everywhere should acknowledge God as he really is, that is, should hallow his name. What a change it would make to our world! This should be the first prayer on our lips, for it should be the constant longing of our heart. So, too, when God's kingdom comes and his judgement vindicates the righteous, what a glorious prospect that will be. And when all men do his will, heaven will have come to earth. These are God's purposes and will be fulfilled. We should identify with them; they should be uppermost in our mind and should spring readily to our lips in prayer.

Then the Lord's Prayer turns to our own needs, our daily sustenance and the need of forgiveness. Confession of sins and prayer for forgiveness will always be a true part of Christian prayer. Confession and seeking forgiveness, along with praise and adoration (with which we begin our prayer), is part of that recognition of God and his character by which we honour God in prayer. Requests also honour God for they are the exercise of faith toward his loving promises. Voiceless prayer is not Christian prayer because it has no place for requests, of which Christian prayer (as taught by our Lord) consists.

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