Teach Me 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, just as John taught his disciples.”—Luke 11:1

The Request

The disciples found Jesus praying in a quiet place. When he finished, one of them made a surprising request: "Lord, teach us to pray." This is strange because by this point, the disciples had spent three years with Jesus. They had heard the Sermon on the Mount. They had watched him pray morning, noon, and evening. They were pious Jews who had prayed their whole lives. Yet in the presence of Jesus, something about the quality and depth of his prayer life made them question if they really knew how to pray at all. Despite a lifetime of experience and three years of education, they realized they were still beginners.

Prayer is a learning Process

We might lose interest when prayer comes up because it seems so elementary. Prayer is speaking to God; even a child can do it. But Scripture shows us that God is not only friend, but also Lord, Judge, King, and High Priest (1 Cor 8:6; 2 Cor 5:10; Rev 19:13, 16; Heb 4:14-16). Prayer is never less than opening our hearts to God as a friend, but it is always more. As we grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ, we learn to commune with God in deeper ways. If the first challenge is to discipline our souls to love prayer, the second challenge is to continue learning how to pray. Jesus is not just providing the model prayer; he is the model pray-er. Prayer filled every stage of his life: in solitude before major decisions, in public before miracles, in gratitude, in sorrow, and in suffering on the cross. Prayer was the atmosphere of his life.

Three Components of Prayer

1. Words — Making our wants, needs, thoughts, and feelings known. Words help us be specific about things that often remain undefined in our minds.
2. Presence — Being mentally where you are. Our minds often wander to past regrets or future worries. Presence makes us available to God.
3. Awareness — Perceiving the situation differently because God is near. God is always there, but becoming aware of his presence changes how we see the world.

When All Three Aren't Possible

Sometimes words are hard. Sometimes, presence is impossible because anxiety is stronger than our will. Sometimes awareness is difficult because God feels distant. These are real struggles, not reasons for guilt. When you can't have all three, try to have two:

• If you don't have words: Be present and aware.
• If you cannot be present: Speak words and be aware.
• If you cannot be aware: Speak words and be present.

When you can't have two, try. But never revert to guilt. God is not petty.

Prayer is Hard

Why doesn't God make prayer easy? Because prayer is soul work. It is how God molds our character, makes us wise, and opens our eyes to wonder and mystery. No one matures through easy paths. What is rewarded is not success but persistence (Lk 18:1-8). God will always meet us where we are, but he also rewards our desire to know him by giving us more of himself. It all begins with a simple request: Lord, teach me to pray.