Authentic Prayer, 2 Chronicles 20:1-12
In scripture, there are many examples of prayer. Some are eloquent others are passionate. Some are long and detailed; others are short and simple. Though not definitively prescriptive, these examples teach us how to pray.
Prayer is a fundamental part of living for Jesus. Jesus prayed. Jesus taught His disciples to pray. Paul prayed and encouraged the church to pray. The Old Testament is full of examples of God's people praying.
Jehoshaphat was a king of Judah who led his people to seek the Lord in prayer in a moment of crisis. A nation much stronger than his own was threatening to attack, and Jehoshaphat knew that they would lose in battle unless the Lord delivered them. So he called together the nation to pray and ask God to deliver them.
In Jehoshaphat's prayer, we have a helpful model of authentic prayer.