PUBLICATIONS/MEDIA

In Luke 11:1-4 and Matthew 6:5-15, Jesus’ disciples requested of Him, “Teach us to pray, just like John [the Baptist] taught his disciples to pray.” This is both interesting and a bit mystifying.

            They could have asked for a myriad of skills, blessings, or gifts, but they asked to be schooled in the subject of PRAYER! Could it be that Jesus’ prayer life exposed the power of God in response to His prayers? Could it be that they saw the desire and relationship that Jesus had with the Father in Heaven in prayer? Face it, did Jesus really NEED to pray? He IS GOD, isn’t He? Maybe, just maybe, His prayer routine was for our benefit.

            It is in prayer that we wirelessly connect with the Headquarters of Heaven. It is the vehicle by which we can verbalize our heart to the listening ears of our Father, and it is our spiritual method for touching the heart and face of God.

            Prayer! Jesus said His house was to be a house of PRAYER. In 2 Chronicles 7:14 – “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land,” we find the source of healing for the people of God and their land.

            These ragtag followers of Jesus could have asked for other things, but they pleaded for one simply powerful thing – “Lord, teach us to pray.” They could have demanded, “Lord, teach us theology, pneumatology, soteriology, or eschatology.” They could have inquired about equipping in church planting, church growth, church revitalization, worship, leadership skills, evangelism, discipleship, or apologetics. They could have begged Him to show them how to walk on water, heal the sick, raise the dead, or cast out demons. They could have asked for a session on hermeneutics and sermon preparation, church polity, or conflict resolution, BUT THEY DID NOT!

            They wanted to know how to pray. We should learn from their request. Let us dig deep in the Word and receive from the Lord in our own secluded spot (on our knees or on our face). “Lord, teach us to pray, just like You pray!” Only God knows what might happen!