What We Pray

Part of A Deeper Response to the Scripture

Contributed by Nancy Buschart

“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 are learning many things as they live and walk with Jesus. As they compare what Jesus says and does over and against what their rabbis taught them, much of what they experience is confusing leaving them with more questions than answers. Jesus is leading them into an “upside down kingdom” that is coming to them through Jesus himself, the Son of Man. Their lives and faith are being forever changed.

Particularly, Jesus prayed differently than their rabbis prayed. Rather than only the fixed Jewish prayers of their tradition, Jesus prayed to his Father all the time and everywhere. He prayed alone in a secluded place and he prayed together with his disciples. An intimacy of relationship is clearly evident in Jesus’ prayers and the disciples want to understand more.

“Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples’” (Luke 11:1). As the disciples observe Jesus’ life of prayer, their desire for more grew until their hearts and minds are teachable and ready to learn. The disciples want to pray like Jesus prays.

The prayer Jesus taught them is found in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. It is a simple prayer with just five statements (a sixth has been added for traditional worship use). Simple though it may be, The Lord’s Prayer is deeply profound and important to the Church of Jesus both then and now. It can and will change us too.

Our Father in heaven—Jesus tells the disciples to call God “Our Father” who is Abba. Jesus’ Father, the disciples’ Father, and our Father, loves his children. Because of Jesus’ love for us on the cross, we share intimacy of relationship with the Father, just as Jesus did during his life on earth. The Father who loves us is worthy of honor and worship and glory.

Your Kingdom Come. Your will be done—Jesus teaches that the Kingdom is come in and through His life, death, and resurrection. The Father’s will is abundantly greater than anything we can dream.

Give us today—We need what God knows we need, and this may be different than what we want or even think we need.

Forgive us as we forgive—Unforgiveness of those who have done evil to us may feel like justice. But withholding forgiveness is toxic to our hearts, minds, and relationships. As the Father has pardoned us in and through the death of His Son, so are we told to forgive.

Keep us, protect us—It is foolish to underestimate the Enemy’s “prowling like a roaring lion” and his desire to lead us away from the heart of the Father. We need the Father’s forgiveness for our sin and we need God’s protection from temptation.

Your Kingdom, Power and Glory forever—The Apostle Paul tells the Philippians that “every knee will bow, … and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:11-12). He is worthy of praise and honor and glory now and forever.

Although The Lord’s Prayer is deeply familiar and embedded into our worship, we need a slowing in our recitation of this prayer. When we approach our time of prayer, we begin by asking, “Lord, teach us to pray.” Take us deeper into the heart of the Father.

Consider—

╬ Linger for a moment with your Father in heaven who is Abba. Are you comfortable and drawn into His loving embrace?

╬ Paul tells the Colossian church to “Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13). Remember when you’ve been forgiven. Pass along the joy.

╬ Father, Son, and Spirit, lead us into the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples. Open our hearts and minds to these life-changing truths. In Christ Jesus we pray. Amen.