“A Different Way to Pray”
Main Point: Christians pray, and we can learn how to pray with more confidence.
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.” He said to them, “When you pray, say:
“‘Father, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.’” Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” —Luke 11:1-13
We shouldn’t be afraid to say that we need to learn to pray.
We should start our prayers by remembering the relationship we have with the One we are praying to.
But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” —Galatians 4:4-6; NLT
Our foremost prayer is that God’s kingdom and life on earth would be one and the same.
“…(I)f I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” —Luke 11:20
John Calvin: “We must make the invisible kingdom visible.”
After we remember who we are praying to, and our greatest desire, we ought to feel free to ask God for what we need today.
“Give us each day our daily bread.” —Luke 11:3
Praying for forgiveness reminds us that we are spiritual, emotional, and relational beings and we want to live at peace with God, ourselves, and others.
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. —Colossians 3:13
It’s good for us to pray that we won’t be led into situations where we’ll be tempted or tested, but, like Jesus, to also pray that if we find ourselves there, God will keep us faithful.
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” —Luke 22:42
God wants us to pray confidently, secure in the knowledge that He wants only the very best for us.
Takeaway: Luke 11:9-10 - “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Questions
1. How do you feel about the state of your current prayer life? What, if anything, would you like to be doing differently?
2.Is it easy, or hard, for you to think of God as your “Father”?
3.Which of the petitions of the Lord’s Prayer speak most strongly to you today?
4.What can we do to make the “invisible kingdom visible”?
Table Discussion Question: What would you like to ask God for today?