Being a Christian in the twenty-first century has many challenges. The Christian walk today is vastly different in many ways than it was just a few generations ago. It seems that busyness is the number one distraction and it must make the top ten list of opponents to living a strong Christian life. Yet we have more going for us than ever before. We have more technology, more ways of obtaining truth and understanding, information is at your fingertips. Biblical knowledge and theological understanding is more prevalent today. We have a better understanding of what it takes to live an abundant life. However, with such knowledge and opportunity it is so easy to miss the basics or the foundation of the Christian walk. I think we can learn so much from the guys that Jesus started with if we slow down and look for the little things.
Prayer is so important in the Christian walk, yet it is so easily taken for granted. There are so many misconceptions about prayer and how to pray even with all the knowledge and biblical information we have available. Prayer is neglected, taken for granted, poorly done and tremendously misunderstood. Our privilege and opportunity to effectively communicate with the Creator God of the universe is amazing. Think of how blessed you are to stop and have an effective conversation with the Almighty God, your heavenly Father. Wow! When you think about it do you feel unqualified, unprepared and/or under prayed? I think most Christians do. I think most Christians do not pray like they want or feel a need to. I think most Christians aren’t confident in their prayers. The big question is how does this change?
I think there is an answer to that question and not only an answer but a good answer found in Scripture. In Luke 11 we find Luke’s version of what many call the “Lord’s Prayer” or what should be called the “Lord’s model prayer.” This prayer has been taught, preached, studied and many books written about it and all that is great. However, we may miss the important part of this passage. First we find Jesus praying. This tells me that if Jesus found or took time to pray that it must be extremely important. The Bible shows Jesus praying a lot. Secondly, not only do we find Jesus praying the disciples are either listening or watching Him pray. They have to be listening or watching Him pray because the act of Jesus praying brings a very important desire in the form of a request. “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” (Luke 11:1–2 [ESV])
Could it be that the answer to why we don’t pray and/or why we don’t pray effectively is that we have never ask the Lord to teach us how to pray? The Word of God tells us that if we ask we will receive. (Matt. 7:7 ) Some years ago as I was reading in my quiet time with God, I found the Scripture in the later part of Luke’s Gospel where Jesus opened the minds of the disciples to His Word. I began to pray that God would do the same for me and He has answered that prayer. Now I pray often that the Holy Spirit will teach me to pray. The more I learn how to pray the more I understand that I don’t know how to pray as I should. I want more! I want Jesus to teach me how to pray. I want to understand the value, the method, the simplicity, the commitment, the depth of praying to my Abba Father. Maybe that needs to be your prayer today, Lord, teach us (me) to pray. He may just answer that prayer, I think He will.
