The Heart of Prayer

What Jesus Teaches Us

Jerram Barrs

p.o. box 817 • phillipsburg • new jersey 08865-0817

© 2008 by Jerram Barrs

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—except for brief quotations for the purpose of review or comment, without the prior permission of the publisher, P&R Publishing Company, P.O. Box 817, Phillipsburg, New Jersey 08865-0817.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Italics within Scripture quotations indicate emphasis added.

Decorative frame © Gary Godby, istockphoto.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Barrs, Jerram.

The heart of prayer : what Jesus teaches us / Jerram Barrs.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-1-59638-103-2 (pbk.)

1. Lord’s prayer. 2. Prayer—Biblical teaching. 3. Prayer—Christianity. 4. Jesus Christ—Teachings. I. Title.

BV230.B367 2008

248.3’2—dc22

2007043466

To my three sons: Peter, Paul, and Philip, and to my seven (so far) grandchildren: James, Ethan, Harry, Eliana, Isaac, Owen, and Jesse. My sons, when you were little children, and you, my grandchildren, have taught me much of what I know about prayer by your example. May your heavenly Father shower his love into your hearts, both now and for all eternity to come.

Contents

Introduction

1. Lord, Teach Us to Pray

2. The Content of the Lord’s Prayer

3. Two Stories about Prayer

4. Private Lives and Public Lives

5. Perseverance in Prayer

6. Prayer, Fasting, and Discipline in Prayer

7. The Temptation of Jesus—Introduction

8. The Nature of the Temptations

9. Father, Glorify Your Name!

10. Jesus Prays for Glory

11. Jesus Prays for His People

12. Jesus Prays for Unity

Appendix A: An Essay on Mysticism and Prayer

Appendix B: The “Extra Words” of the Lord’s Prayer

Appendix C: Posture in Prayer

Introduction

As will become clear to you when you read this book, I have never thought of myself as an expert, either in the practice of prayer, or in reflection on the theology of prayer. “Why, then,” you may ask very reasonably, “have you written a book on prayer?” There is a simple answer to this which I hope and pray will satisfy, you, the reader. I have found Jesus’ teaching on prayer, and the example of his prayers, so personally encouraging to me that, like a little child who discovers something especially interesting or beautiful, I want to share with others what I have been learning from the Lord.

My primary thanks for anything helpful in this book must go to the Lord Jesus himself. The mistakes and anything unhelpful are my responsibility only, and I ask him for his forgiveness for these errors.

In addition to thanking the Lord, I also wish to thank my sons and grandchildren for all they ...