The first godly man we will “watch” pray is Abraham.

And, if altars are associated with prayer (and they certainly are, as well as being associated with worship), Abraham prayed often. I say that because repeatedly in his life, in his travels … when Abraham stops, he builds such an altar, and prays (communicates with his God)!

At least four times and likely five, Abraham does so in the Old Testament, during his lifetime. Here’s the first one. “And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.” Genesis 12:6-7

Altar building (and the associated worship, including prayer) eventually becomes a “way of life” for Abraham. Note the chronological proximity of the first and second altars. “And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.” Genesis 12:8, just one verse later … with prayer now being clearly emphasized!

Even after lapsing into Egypt, a “wiser” Abraham worships, prays again! “And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai; unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.” Genesis 13:3-4, the spirit of revival, of renewal! Abraham again at prayer!

Then as soon as Abraham separated from Lot, peaceably so, he again built an altar! After receiving one of history’s greatest promises from the Lord! “And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.” Genesis 13:14-18

And even at a time when Abraham was seriously “tested” of the Lord, at the “offering” of Isaac, another altar is constructed. “And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order.” Genesis 22:9

Wow!

Enough times to prove that Abraham was … and I use this word purposely and in its best sense … “habitually” building altars of prayer and worship to his great God in Heaven.

So Lesson first has been learned, or taught anyway, by Abraham.

Prayer must become a “pattern” to the child of God, the very “norm” of Christian existence!

Part of regular activity, second nature, as consistent as breathing or eating or sleeping!

Paul even thought we might learn to “pray without ceasing!” 1st Thessalonians 5:17 is where this unusual command is found.

Jesus, too, often so prayed. Mark 1:13 is the template, I suspect, for our Saviour. “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.”

Let us learn to do likewise!

Tomorrow, the Lord willing, another Lesson from Abraham.

The greatest prayer he ever prayed, I think.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell