“Lord, Teach Us To Pray” (Part 1)
“And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples” (Luke 11:1).
“How is your prayer life?” is a question that many would just rather not answer. I am a praying man, but I don’t pray enough. I do not believe that I am out of the ordinary in that regard. Jesus, our model for Christian living, prayed hours on end at times. Sometimes, it seems as if I barely have time to utter a brief “thank you” for the day’s blessings. I am grateful that we have those public periods of worship when we may collectively stop and offer prayer. It causes me to reflect upon my own prayer life and the need I have to engage the Father in prayer more often. Public prayer feeds private prayer, and vice versa. All of it tends to the glory of God. “Lord, teach us to pray.”
Men ought always to pray. It is encouraging to know that God wants me to pray. Jesus gave the parable of the unjust judge to teach us that “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” The parable tells of a widow who continued to plead her case so unceasingly that the judge, though he was unrighteous, finally granted her request simply because of her persistence. I, like Jacob, need to wrestle with the “Angel” until I receive a blessing (Gen.32:24-32). Unlike the unrighteous judge, God is righteous, longs to hear the prayers of his children, and is ready to give liberally (James 1:5). He simply wants us to take the time and ask (Matthew 7:11). “Lord, teach us to pray.”
God bless you, and I love you.
Kevin Cauley