The Westminster Larger Catechism

Questions 178—187: On Prayer

Q. 178. What is prayer?

A. Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God^a, in the name of Christ^b, by the help of his Spirit^c; with confession of our sins^d, and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies^e.

^a Ps. 62:8 ^b John 16:23 ^c Rom. 8:26 ^d Ps. 32:5,6; Dan. 9:4 ^e Phil. 4:6

Q. 179. Are we to pray unto God only?

A. God only being able to search the hearts^a, hear the requests^b, pardon the sins^c, and fulfil the desires of all^d; and only to be believed in^e, and worshipped with religious worship^f; prayer, which is a special part thereof^g, is to be made by all to him alone^h, and to none otherⁱ.

^a 1 Kings 8:39; Acts 1:24; Rom. 8:27 ^b Ps. 65:2 ^c Micah 7:18 ^d Ps. 145:18,19 ^e Rom. 10:14 ^f Matt. 4:10 ^g 1 Cor. 1:2 ^h Ps. 50:15 ⁱ Rom. 10:14

Q. 180. What is it to pray in the name of Christ?

A. To pray in the name of Christ is, in obedience to his command, and in confidence on his promises, to ask mercy for his sake^a; not by bare mentioning of his name^b, but by drawing our encouragement to pray, and our boldness, strength, and hope of acceptance in prayer, from Christ and his mediation^c.

^a John 14:13,14; John 16:24; Dan. 9:17 ^b Matt. 7:21 ^c Heb. 4:14-16; 1 John 5:13-15

Q. 181. Why are we to pray in the name of Christ?

A. The sinfulness of man, and his distance from God by reason thereof, being so great, as that we can have no access into his presence without a mediator^a; and there being none in heaven or earth appointed to, or fit for, that glorious work but Christ alone^b, we are to pray in no other name but his only^c.

^a John 14:6; Isa. 59:2; Eph. 3:12 ^b John 6:27; Heb. 7:25-27; 1 Tim. 2:5 ^c Col. 3:17; Heb. 13:15 

Q. 182. How doth the Spirit help us to pray?

A. We not knowing what to pray for as we ought, the Spirit helpeth our infirmities, by enabling us to understand both for whom, and what, and how prayer is to be made; and by working and quickening in our hearts (although not in all persons, nor at all times, in the same measure) those apprehensions, affections, and graces which are requisite for the right performance of that duty^a.

^a Rom. 8:26,27; Ps. 10:17; Zech. 12:10

Q. 183. For whom are we to pray?

A. We are to pray for the whole church of Christ upon earth^a; for magistrates^b, and ministers^c; for ourselves^d, our brethren^e, yea, our enemies^f; and for all sorts of men living^g, or that shall live hereafter^h; but not for the deadⁱ, nor for those that are known to have sinned the sin unto death^k.

^a Eph. 6:18; Ps. 28:9 ^b 1 Tim. 2:1,2 ^c Col. 4:3 ^d Gen. 32:11 ^e James 5:16 f Matt. 5:44 ^g 1 Tim. 2:1,2 ^h John 17:20; 2 Sam. 7:29 ⁱ 2 Sam. 12:21-23 ^k 1 John 5:16

Q. 184. For what things are we to pray?

A. We are to pray for all things tending to the glory of God^a, the welfare of the church^b, our own^c or others good^d; but not for any thing that is unlawful^e.

^a Matt. 6:9 ^b Ps. 51:18; Ps. 122:6 ^c Matt. 7:11 ^d Ps. 125:4 ^e 1 John 5:14 

Q. 185. How are we to pray?

A. We are to pray with an awful apprehension of the majesty of God^a, and deep sense of our own unworthiness^b, necessities^c, and sins^d; with penitent^e, thankful^f, and enlarged hearts^g; with understanding^h, faithⁱ, sincerity^k, fervency^l, love^m, and perseveranceⁿ, waiting upon him^o, with humble submission to his will^p.

^a Eccl. 5:1 ^b Gen. 18:27; Gen. 32:10 ^c Luke 15:17-19 ^d Luke 18:13 ,14 ^e Ps. 51:17 ^f Phil. 4:6 ^g 1 Sam. 1:15; 1 Sam. 2:1 ^h 1 Cor. 14:15 ⁱ Mark 11:24 ; James 1:6 ^k Ps. 145:18; Ps. 17:1 ^l James 5:16 m 1 Tim. 2:8 ⁿ Eph. 6:18 ^o Micah 7:7 ^p Matt. 26:39

Q. 186. What rule hath God given for our direction in the duty of prayer?

A. The whole word of God is of use to direct us in the duty of prayer^a; but the special rule of direction is that form of prayer which our Saviour Christ taught his disciples, commonly called The Lord's prayer^b.

^a 1 John 5:14 ^b Matt. 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4

Q. 187. How is the Lord's prayer to be used?

A. The Lord's prayer is not only for direction, as a pattern, according to which we are to make other prayers; but may also be used as a prayer, so that it be done with understanding, faith, reverence, and other graces necessary to the right performance of the duty of prayer^a.

^a Matt. 6:9 compared with Luke 11:2