Lord, Teach Us to Pray

“One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1).

Gospel writers tell us repeatedly that Jesus took time to pray.

There are so many things Jesus could have done instead. There were sick people who needed healing. There were people who needed to hear his teaching. There was ministry to be done.

Even though the pressures of ministry were great, Jesus regularly took time to pray.

Think about that. The second person of the holy Trinity regularly made time to pray.

Why?

Jesus prayed to get on the same page with God. Jesus prayed to be reminded of why he came to earth. It wasn’t just to heal and teach. Jesus came to save sinners from God’s wrath. It was when Jesus was praying that Jesus would remember the purpose for which he came.

Notice, when Jesus remembered and recalibrated his mindset, it was he who was changed. God’s will and purpose doesn’t change. But as Jesus remembered and recalled God’s kingdom purposes, Jesus was changed.

The disciples noticed a change in Jesus whenever he spent time with God in prayer. It’s because they saw this change in Jesus that the disciples approach Jesus to ask, “Lord, teach us to pray.”

Here is a vital truth about prayer. Effective prayer does not come naturally. Effective prayer is something that needs to be taught, something that needs to be learned, and something that needs to be practiced. The more we pray, the better we get at it.

Jesus took time to pray. Jesus made time to pray. Jesus taught his disciples to pray.

So, will you make time to pray?

We meet in the sanctuary every Wednesday at 6:15 to pray. See you Wednesday.