
A Praying Church – Teach Me To Pray (Luke 11:1-4)
Anyone can learn and grow in
“Lord, teach me to pray.” —Luke 11:1
These lessons are from a qualified person – Jesus.
1Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught His disciples.” —Luke 11:1
2So He said to them, “When you pray, say, Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 3Give us this day our daily bread. 4And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptations, but deliver us from the evil one.” —Luke 11:2-4
Prayer is not a
from God.
Verses 3 & 4 speak about asking for certain needs.
Notice where these needs are in the prayer.
Prayer is not about asking for things. It is about being with God.
The essence of prayer does not consist in asking God for something but in opening our hearts to God, in speaking with Him, and living with Him in perpetual communion. Prayer is continual abandonment to God. Prayer does not mean asking God for all kinds of things we want; it is rather the desire for God Himself, the only Giver of Life. Prayer is not asking, but union with God. Prayer is not a painful effort to gain from God help in the varying needs of our lives. Prayer is the desire to possess God Himself, the Source of all life. The true spirit of prayer does not consist in asking for blessings, but in receiving Him who is the Giver of all blessings, and in living a life of fellowship with Him. —Indian Pastor Sadhu Singh
Prayer is a time to acknowledge God’s
.
“Father” is an intimate term.
“Hallowed by Your name” refers to the desire for God’s character to be glorified.
What is ONE, just ONE, attribute of God that you could focus on?
When we focus on God’s nature, our prayers change.
We
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. —Galatians 5:22-23
We
“8For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” —Isaiah 55:8-9