Lord, Teach Us to Pray

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 just as John taught his disciples.' Luke 11:1

The disciples had often seen Jesus withdraw to pray in solitude. Sometimes they heard Him pray aloud. They discerned that Jesus shared a closeness with the Father they did not yet know—but deeply desired.

Lord, teach us to pray—this longing still echoes in us today.

Teach us to pray with power.

Prayers that 'take hold of God's strength' and achieve much.

We often say, 'Prayer changes things.'

But how often have we prayed expecting an answer?

How often have we prayed believing—until the answer came?

How often have we truly experienced the power of prayer?

Jesus encouraged His disciples to pray confidently and persistently.

He wants us, too, to have assurance: that our prayers are heard—and that they will be answered.

The Father waits to hear every prayer of faith. He wants to give us whatever we ask for in Jesus' name. God intends prayer to have an answer, and no one has yet fully conceived what God will do for the child who believes that his prayer will be heard. God hears prayer.

Many complain they don't have the power to pray in faith an effective prayer that accomplishes much. But the blessed Jesus is waiting and longing to teach them this. - Andrew Murray, With Christ in the School of Prayer

Learning from Jesus

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed. Mark 1:35

Jesus' earthly ministry was sustained by His private prayer life.

He often withdrew to pray alone.

He prayed for Himself, for His ministry—always in preparation for significant steps ahead.

Before He began His public ministry, He fasted and no doubt prayed, while being tempted for forty days in the wilderness.

Before choosing His twelve disciples, Jesus spent an entire night in prayer (Luke 6:12-13).

Before returning to the Father, He prayed for His disciples—and for those who would believe in His name.

Jesus made time to pray after exhausting days. His inner strength flowed from His close fellowship with the Father (Mark 6:46; Matthew 14:23).

He prayed in preparation for sorrow.

He prayed while in pain on the cross.

With His dying breath, He even prayed for His enemies.

And He is now seated at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us.

In Jewish tradition, men prayed publicly—in the synagogue, standing with outstretched, uplifted hands.

The Pharisees, known for their devotion, prayed three times a day, reciting structured prayers that often sought public admiration.

Still, Jesus did not condemn public prayer—only the Pharisees' hypocritical prayers.

He and the disciples often joined in at the synagogue.

Yet when Jesus prayed—His prayers were different.

His prayers carried power.

As Jesus was baptized, He prayed—and heaven opened. The Father answered (Luke 3:21-22).

As Jesus prayed, the multitudes were fed.

As He prayed, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning (Luke 9:29).

As He prayed, Lazarus was raised from the dead (John 11:41-42).

Prayer — A Means of Grace

Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16

True prayer stems from sincere love and devotion—drawing one into close fellowship with God.

Jesus stressed the importance of private prayer.

Every Jewish house had a place for secret devotion.

Over the porch, or entrance, there was often a small room raised above the rest of the house—commonly called the 'upper room,' a place for secret prayers.

It was to this place that Jesus directed His disciples.

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. Matthew 6:6-8

God hears the prayers of His people—and He rewards prayer.

Firstly with spiritual blessings.

Prayer is a means of grace—a channel through which the Spirit moves: convicting, transforming and strengthening the soul.

Prayer humbles the heart, as all thoughts and attitudes lie open before God.

Prayer offers up the desires of our hearts and opens us to His presence, comfort and guidance.

Prayer teaches dependence.

The power of prayer is not found in the uttering of many words, for before we even speak, God knows what we will say (Psalm 139:4).

Prayer requires more of the heart than of the tongue. The eloquence of prayer consists in the fervency of desire, and the simplicity of faith. - Clarke

Prayer isn't a magical formula for getting what we want.

Rather, it is the means by which 'the powers of the eternal world have been placed at our disposal.'

We must begin to believe that God, in the mystery of prayer, has entrusted us with a force that can move the heavenly world, and can bring its power down to earth. - Andrew Murray, Reaching Your World for Christ

The Power of Prayer

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16b

Jesus assured His disciples that the power of prayer was within their grasp.

Everything they asked for in prayer, believing—they would receive (Matthew 21:21-22).

These promises referred particularly to the apostles in their work of spreading the gospel.

Yet, on Christ's behalf, and in His name, all prayers offered with humility, purity of heart (Psalm 66:18-20), in faith, and aligned with the Father's will—will be answered.

Approaching the throne of grace with confidence is a gift of grace given to all God's children. God cares about our lives. Nothing is too small or too big to pray about.

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him 1 John 5:14-15.

We can look to God in prayer, knowing that He will faithfully provide an answer.

The only limitation in all prayer is: according to His will.

God will only answer those requests that are:

in accordance with what He has declared He is willing to grant,

according to what He sees to be best for us,

according to His revealed will,

and all working together for a final good.

And there is peace in knowing this—for who would trust their own wishes to be better than God's will.

The most comforting confidence in prayer is that only those prayers, according to His will, will be answered.

We see in part, but God sees fully.

Our prayers are powerful because they connect us to the One who is all-powerful.

Prayer can do anything that God can do. - E.M. Bounds, Purpose in Prayer

And God has chosen to accomplish His will through the prayers of His people.

Yet so often, we settle for a form of prayer that expects nothing—and accomplishes nothing.

Prayers may be offered but remain unanswered because we lose the heart to persevere in prayer (Luke 18:1-8).

Sometimes God delays the answer to teach us humility and dependence.

Other times, God says no, according to His sovereign purpose.

But perhaps many times, we do not experience the power of prayer because we do not know how to pray as we should (James 5:17-18).

The realization makes us cry out, just as the disciples did long ago:

Lord, teach us to pray—

so that we may see Your power at work,

so that we may receive abundantly,

so that we may glorify Your name for the grace given to us.

Lord, teach us to pray with power, too! The promises are for us; the powers and gifts of the heavenly world are for us. [...] Yes, we feel the need now of being taught to pray. At first there is no work that appears so simple; later on, none that is more difficult. And the confession is forced from us: We do not know how to pray as we should.

Even when we know what to ask for, so much is still needed to make prayer acceptable. It must be to the glory of God, in full surrender to His will, in full assurance of faith, in the Name of Jesus, and with a perseverance that, if need be, refuses to be denied. All this must be learned. It can only be learned in the school of much prayer. Amid the painful consciousness of ignorance and unworthiness, in the struggle between believing and doubting, the heavenly art of effective prayer is learned.  - Andrew Murray, With Christ in the School of Prayer