Teach Us to Pray

Featured photo by Ken Carley

He was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1 (CSB)

Most people who have any experience with Sunday School have heard the story of Daniel in the Lion’s Den. But if that’s all you know about Daniel then your knowledge is incomplete. Daniel’s life is full of stories of an extraordinary man serving God.

Although these true events in Daniel’s story are incredible to read, if you miss an important theme of Daniel’s life, you will miss an opportunity to see a beautiful portrait of God interacting with a mere man. He wants the same opportunity with you!

Daniel didn’t treat God like He was a genie in a bottle. He didn’t pray for what God could do for him next. No prosperity gospel existed for Daniel, and it should not be a part of the believer’s life either.

So, what was it that set Daniel apart? Simply, he prayed. He persistently prayed. He prayed for God’s will in everything. He prayed earnestly. He prayed in danger. He prayed believing.

How can you and I let the Holy Spirit transform our prayer life? If we pay attention to the basics in our walk with God, then we can see our prayer life blossom, which will naturally keep us drawn to the heart of God.

“…‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’” Luke 18:13 (CSB)

The first step is simply to have a sincere and humble heart.

Confess known sin in your life and ask God to reveal any sin that you may be concealing, even from yourself.

“Compassion and forgiveness belong to the Lord our God, though we have rebelled against Him.”

Daniel 9:9

One of the ministries of our Holy Spirit is to help us pray. Ask Him to help you! Just talk to Him like He is there, because He is.

There is an event our lives that makes me think about our connection with the Spirit of God in prayer. It happens without a word needing to be uttered. It is the magical time that initially occurs between newborns and their moms and dads. It’s called imprinting.

Simply, imprinting is the face-to-face time when newborns recognize and follow their parents by the sound of their voice, by their unique scent and by touch. Imprinting also helps the baby learn language. More than anything, it’s a deepening awareness of security and love.

Romans 8:26 is a breathtaking picture of this magnificent, loving relationship between believers and the Holy Spirit.

I would bet many of you are familiar with this passage- “…we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us[j] with inexpressible groanings.”

Those who are devoted to God love to “see” His face and know the language of His love. We’ve been imprinted on the Father’s heart from the beginning of time. He was imprinted on our hearts when we gave our lives to Him.

In the Gospel of John 10, Jesus describes the close connection we have to Him when we really know Him. It illustrates the awareness that He has of His own. It’s such a beautiful passage of scripture. Also, see this displayed in Isaiah 40:11 and…

He will stand and shepherd them
in the strength of the Lord,
in the majestic name of the Lord his God.
They will live securely,
for then his greatness will extend
to the ends of the earth.

Micah 5:4.

There is an old hymn that sums up our prayer life.

Tell it to Jesus
Edmund Lorenz
Ca. 1876

Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus,
He is a friend that’s well-known.
You’ve no other such a friend or brother,
Tell it to Jesus alone.

Share the Good News in your world!

Isaiah 52:7

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.