Lord, teach us to pray

‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’

Luke 11:1 NIV®

After Jesus was finished praying, in response to their request.
He taught them to pray.

Our Father, in heaven, hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,
now and for ever.

Amen

The Book of Common Prayer

Then Jesus told them the parable of the friend who went to his friend at midnight
to ask him to lend three loaves of bread,
as he had no food to offer his friend who was on a journey.
The friend refused because he and his family had retired for the night.
However, he persisted and eventually the friend got up and gave what was needed.
Jesus stated,

‘Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and the one who knocks the door will be opened.’

Luke 11: 9–10 NIV®

Jesus told this parable in order to show the importance of persistence in prayer.
Always praying means keeping our requests before God, believing he will answer.
It does not mean endless repetition or painfully long prayer sessions.
As we persist in prayer we grow in character, faith and hope.
Persistence is necessary for our benefit, not for God’s benefit.
The parable of the unjust judge and the persistent widow
also highlights the importance of persistence. (Luke 18:1–8).

I have found that God usually responds in one of three ways to prayer:
YES, because the request fits in with my will for you;
WAIT, be patient. God’s timing is not our timing;
NO, because God has something better in store.
Accept ‘no’ with peace and understanding –Trust him; he gives good gifts to his children.

Prayer is our greatest form of communication with our Heavenly Father.
It is meant to be a place where we can bare our souls
and be refreshed by His unconditional love and grace.
Prayer is not meant to be a repetition of mere words;
of pulling together a ‘wish list’ for God to answer;
an opportunity for us to demand a miracle;
an opportunity for us to try to manipulate God so that our will become his will for our lives.

The Daily Way by Michael Youssef

The Lord’s Prayer provides an example of how we should pray.
Jesus starts off by praising God,
this approach puts us in the right frame of mind to tell him about our needs/requests.
Forgiveness is significant as we ask God to forgive our sins and we must forgive others.
Then, we pray for protection from trials,
and end by glorifying God.
Our prayers should be conversations with God
and not just presentation of a shopping list to Him.
Some Christians genuinely find it difficult to pray: what do I say to God?
Remember, God made you, he loves you and each of us with an everlasting love.
He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, so nothing you say will surprise Him.
We don’t have to be stiff about praying to our Heavenly Father.
However, he is God Almighty, Divine Creator, so we recognise God’s Holiness and show deference.

Further suggestions when praying:

1. Give prayer adequate time.
   The average Christian spends only five minutes in prayer each day.
   Yet God continues to draw us to himself through prayer,
   and we build a relationship with God through Jesus.
   If ever you find yourself in a desperate situation
   you might need to call out to Jesus in a quick prayer.
   On one occasion, I called out, ‘Jesus help me’ and help came immediately.
   The name of Jesus is powerful.
2. Give prayer adequate space.
   There are no boundaries in prayer.
   In his presence, our souls find rest and refreshment.
   Make sure that you find a place to pray where you can concentrate without being disturbed –
   a place where you can focus only on God and not be distracted.
   Sometimes, when we have finished, we rush off to the next task without listening to God.
3. Give prayer adequate attention.
   You can pray standing up or sitting down.
   However, to pray effectively you need to make prayer your no. 1 priority.
   Therefore begin each day with prayer.

Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, we thank you for bringing us safely through the night to the gift of a new day.
Lord, what do you want to teach us to make us better persons?
What are your plans to make us more effective?
Help us to draw near to you as you lead and guide us.
Please be our teacher; show us your ways,
and don’t let us miss any lessons which you have prepared for us.

Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy.

Amen

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. Casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you.

I Peter 5: 6–7

Rejoicing always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5: 16–18 NASB

When peace like a river attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll –
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
‘It is well, it is well with my soul.’

Written by Horatio G. Stafford, who had sent wife and daughters ahead of him
on a ship travelling from America to England.
Unfortunately, the ship sank and his four daughters drowned; his wife survived.
Horatio received the tragic news while travelling by sea; his response was to write the hymn.

Glynne Gordon-Carter