Lord, Teach us to Pray

Scripture
Luke 11:1

“Lord, teach us to pray…”

Devotional
The disciples had prayed before.

They had grown up hearing prayers in the synagogue. They knew the Psalms. Prayer was part of their religious life. Yet after watching Jesus pray, one of them came to Him with a remarkably humble request:

“Lord, teach us to pray.”

That request tells us something important: prayer may be natural, but Christian prayer must also be learned.

When trouble comes, nearly everyone knows how to cry out for help. But Jesus teaches His followers something deeper. We need to learn who we are speaking to, what we should desire, how we should approach God, and why we can come to Him confidently.

Prayer is more than saying whatever happens to be on our minds. Our prayers are meant to be shaped by the Word of God.

That is also why the disciples learned prayer by watching Jesus. Prayer is both caught and taught. We learn from Scripture, but we also learn from hearing faithful believers pray.

That should cause parents and grandparents to consider something: What are the people around us learning by listening to our prayers?

Do they hear gratitude?

Confession?

Concern for the lost?

Dependence upon God?

Love for the church?

Trust during suffering?

The goal is not to impress others with our prayers. Jesus warned against that. But there is something powerful about children hearing their parents sincerely bring the burdens of life before God.

Perhaps the best place to begin today isn't by promising God that you will become a great prayer warrior.

Begin where the disciples began:
“Lord, teach me to pray.”

That is not evidence of spiritual failure.

It is an expression of spiritual humility.

And prayer always begins with dependence.

Reflection
What would change about your prayer life if you approached prayer as something Jesus is continually teaching you?

Prayer
Father, I confess that I often neglect prayer or approach You thoughtlessly. Teach me to pray. Shape my desires through Your Word. Teach me to praise You, confess honestly, trust You, and bring my needs before You. Help my life of prayer demonstrate my dependence upon You. I come through Jesus Christ, my Savior. Amen.