Lord, Teach Us to Pray – Part 1
Consider that as you surrender completely to God, confident faith develops. Faith comes by His grace, but your partnership with God allows the Spirit to strengthen your faith. As you faithfully follow Jesus, your faith grows, and your prayer becomes more confident. Faith and prayer are connected. God’s faith inspires confident prayer.
Just as grace and faith are connected, so are faith and prayer. God extends grace so we can believe in Christ; then the Spirit empowers us to become people of faith who turn into people of prayer.
You have received God’s faith, Spirit, promises, and authority! Expect impossible situations to transform as you persist in prayer. When you have God’s faith on a matter, you begin to pray and speak with confidence that the promise is already yours and on its way.
Remember, the fullness of God dwells within you as a follower of Christ. Therefore, as you commune with God from your inner being, spirit to Spirit, know that God is at work in and through you to answer prayer and change situations.
Let’s start with what Jesus taught in the “Lord’s Prayer”
1 Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” 2 So, He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.” Luke 11:1-4 NKJV
“Praying in a certain place”
Jesus had come to a favorite place, Bethany. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived there. Jesus was likely in the garden behind Martha’s house. He felt comfortable and relaxed there. For instance, he spent the night in Bethany before his triumphant entry into Jerusalem.
We all have places like this. We refer to them as “prayer closets.” It’s important to create a space, or spaces, that help you maintain a consistent prayer life. It could be a room in your home, or maybe you prefer praying outside, such as on the porch or while taking a walk.
“Lord, teach us to pray.”
Disciples had seen Jesus’ supernatural lifestyle. But they asked him to teach us to pray, not to teach us how to heal or deliver the oppressed. Why?
The disciples watched Jesus as he healed the sick. They saw his miracle power to open the eyes of the blind and deaf. They saw him cleanse a leper with just a touch. His words calmed a stormy sea and brought the dead back to life.
How did he perform these healings and miracles? What was the secret behind such miracle power?
It was mysterious to them at first, but eventually the disciples discovered his secret. Jesus had this power because he was a man of prayer!
The disciples watched Jesus pray and realized his prayer life was a key part of his miracle-working power. Jesus was willing for them to learn how to pray and do greater works (John 14:12).
At the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry, he spent 40 days in the wilderness fasting and praying, and he left the wilderness in power. Luke records:
“Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness… Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.” Luke 4:1, 14 NKJV
We often seek answers without embracing discipline. Prayer can be relaxed, free-flowing, and intimate with God. However, prayer also involves times of disciplined communion with God. Through prayer, we gain a deeper understanding of God’s heart and will. Our prayer is strengthened through our communion with God.
There are no shortcuts to spiritual vitality — it’s about abiding in Christ daily! Not out of duty, but from a place of love and desire to be with Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith! Prayer is essential for living a victorious Christian walk.
Three Main Priorities of Jesus and Why He Prayed
Why did Jesus need to pray at all? After all, he was God, right?
Yes, God! But Jesus emptied himself of divine privileges and prerogatives (see Phil. 2:5-8), came to earth in human flesh, and lived dependent on the Father, led and empowered by the Spirit.
He became our example of how to live dependent on God and empowered by the Spirit. He daily spent time with the Father to know God’s will, receive direction, and gain fresh anointing for his ministry.
Jesus only did what he saw the Father do. From his prayer life, he lived in relationship, which allowed God to reveal, direct, and empower him for ministry.
If we want to be like Jesus, we also need to be a praying people!
I want to examine three of Jesus’ priorities that show his time with his Father through fellowship and prayer was his top focus.
#1 Jesus Prioritized Prayer Over Public Ministry
35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. 37 When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” 38 But He said to them, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.” 39 And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons. Mark 1:35-39 NKJV
Every day was busy for Jesus, right into the evening. Many of you know that feeling of fatigue. Every day and week are hectic, and sometimes a good night’s sleep is our greatest hope!
“…having risen a long while before daylight,” notice it was early morning and solitary. Was he interceding? Yes, but he was primarily spending time with the Father, dialoguing with Him.
From that place of fellowship with the Father, Jesus received direction (vs. 38 “next towns”) and power to preach and minister (vs. 39 preaching and casting out demons).
Petitionary prayer is important; Jesus expects us to ask him. But don’t mistake prayer for only petition. Prayer also includes worship, devotion, and relational dialogue. Start each day with a time of fellowship and prayer with God.
“Everyone is looking for you.” The pressure of daily life tends to crowd out time with God. Don’t let the tyranny of the urgent rob you of your vitality in God!
When I was younger and still working as an electrical engineer, I would drive an hour through central Florida to the Kennedy Space Center where I worked. I used that early morning commute to worship and listen to teachings. However, I also realized I needed to wake up a little earlier to give myself about 30 minutes for quiet time with God in prayer and reading the Word before heading to work. This is still something I value today and would recommend to everyone, even if your schedule is busy.
#2 Jesus Prayed During Moments of Decision
“12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray and continued all night in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:” Luke 6:12-13 NKJV
Mountain—almost always a picture of time spent with God. The conversation might have sounded like this, “Father, what is your direction, which of these should I choose?”
We all encounter major decisions and crossroads in life. Learn to cherish quality time with God in prayer to hear from Him, gain His perspective, and receive His guidance.
By the way, sometimes the direction God gives is wisdom and peace. Proverbs tells us:
“Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding; … Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.” Prov. 3:13, 17 NKJV
Before moving to Arizona in 2001, we prayed and earnestly sought God’s will and guidance. He didn’t give us a clear message, but we received wise advice from others, including my father-in-law. Ultimately, God granted us His peace about the decision. It felt like the right choice for us, and His wisdom and peace filled us.
After I accepted a job offer here, the very next morning God gave me a “clear word,” confirming that this was by His will and direction for us. In fact, he said, “You will excel in the job, your family will flourish, and your ministry will prosper. Can I not make streams in the desert?!” But first came His wisdom and peace, and prayer allowed us to enter a place with God where He could guide us with His eye!
#3 Jesus Prayed to Stay Focused on His Mission
“22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.” Matt. 14:22-23 NKJV
Jesus had multiplied the loaves and fishes for the crowd, then sent the disciples ahead in a boat to the other side of the lake. He dismissed the people and went up the mountain to pray. He was there alone, praying, focused on his purpose. Why?
John’s account of the same miracle in chapter six of his gospel gives us the answer: the people wanted to make Jesus king after they saw he was the “bread maker!” But Jesus knew there were unreached people groups they needed to reach. He knew they needed to get to the other side of the lake to Gennesaret to reach many. (Matt. 14:34-36) Jesus stayed focused on his purpose and assignments through prayer!
Do you have a place to be alone with God and stay focused on your assignment? Every believer has a purpose, starting with following Christ. Beyond that, He empowers us to represent Him.
I’ll continue next week with Lord, Teach Us to Pray, Part 2!
