Calvin's Second Rule for Prayer: Need & Repentance

We are continuing to look at John Calvin’s four “rules” for prayer found in his Institutes. Last meeting’s rule was reverence and today’s could be summarized as a recognition of our need and repentance.

Calvin writes, “Another rule for prayer is, that in asking we must always truly feel our wants, and seriously considering that we need all the things which we ask, accompany the prayer with a sincere, no, ardent desire of obtaining them.”

He uses the example of people who repeat prayers often, but they do so as if it were merely a duty, or a task before God. And as they do so, he says their minds remain cold and they aren’t even thinking about that which they are praying for. It’s simply an empty routine. Calvin continues, “Believers ought to be specially on their guard never to appear in the presence of God with the intention of presenting a request unless they are under some serious impression, and are, at the same time, desirous to obtain it." And so Calvin’s point is that we must come before God truly understanding our condition and our needs, sincerely asking God to come to our aid, and believing that He can and will. 

Now in response to this, we might be tempted to say, “Alright Calvin, but sometimes my feeling of my need goes up and down. Now what?” Calvin recognizes this reality, and references James 5:13, which illustrates our different dispositions: “Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing psalms.” And so it is true that our feelings of urgency or the weight of the burden varies throughout our days. Yes, when we are hard pressed, we are often more driven to God. Calvin says its as if under pressure our access to God is freer, and He is inviting us to Himself. But likewise, we should still recognize our great need for Him even if we are surrounded on all sides with joy. As Paul exhorted the Ephesian saints to pray "always” (Eph. 6:18). 

Lastly, we must always recognize our daily need for the forgiveness of our sins so that God would hear us. Calvin says plainly, “One of the requisites of legitimate prayer is repentance.” As the prophet Jeremiah taught, “Though they shall cry unto Me, I will not hearken unto them” (Jer. 11:11). And so we must approach God with some sense of our genuine need before Him, and with penitent hearts, trusting that He answers the prayers of His children.