Who taught you how to pray?

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." Luke 11:1 NIV

Principle: We learn to pray by following the examples of others – choose wisely

Who taught you how to pray?

When I was a child growing up in church, the King James Version of the Bible was the primary version available.  Being the authorized version, it was used for preaching, for Bible verse memorization, and for voicing your prayers in public.  To show reverence many would change the tone of their voice to a deeper level, like the hushed tone at a funeral.  Then the prayer would include a lot of thee(s) and thou(s) with occasional th(s) or st(s) added to the end of the words.  For example, “Father, thou knowest what a wretched man that I am.  I canst hideth my sin from thee.”  This is a quote from John 1:22 speaking to John the Baptist,” Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?”  Let me be clear, I do not doubt the sincerity of the people praying or their love for Jesus Christ.  Nor am I saying that the KJV is a sub par translation.  It was just the pattern that most American Christians followed in speech and prayer when I was a child because that was modeled in front of each of us. 

So I ask again, who taught you to pray?  Some of you may have grown up in a home in which the only prayer you heard was over the meal time.  If you grew up in church, you would have heard prayers from the pulpit over the sick and just before the offering.  You may have heard Sunday School teachers and others.  If you are a follower of Jesus, most of you were asked to say a prayer repeating after the person who had shared how to become a follower.  Their understanding is that you have never prayed before and they should lead you what to pray in your first prayer to God.  But most are never taught another time what and how to pray when you are alone.

So, again, who taught you to pray?  What does confessing your sins before God sound like?  How does God know that you are serious about repenting?  What do words of worship sound like coming from your own mouth?  Is singing prayer? Do you have to voice your words out loud?  What does approaching the throne of grace boldly mean when I have a request?  Does that mean I need to shout louder?  Does God think I am more serious if I cry and is it okay to laugh?  How do I know when God answers me when I am praying?  How long should prayers be?  Am I praying too little or too much?  How much time should I spend talking and how much time listening?  Should I write down my prayer request?  What does praying the scripture mean?  I’ve prayed for the same request for many years and nothing has changed, am I praying wrong?  Is speaking in another tongue really praying?  Do I have to speak in tongues and does that make me more spiritual?  I feel like I am not as good a prayer as the preacher, do my prayers count as much as his?  My prayer life seems dull and lifeless, what can I do about it?  Can Jesus teach me to pray so that my prayers are powerful and effective?

The disciples recognized that Jesus power, authority and direction for his life flowed from his time alone in prayer.  They asked him to teach them to pray.  He gave the model prayer that we now repeat as the Lord’s Prayer.  But he also continued the conversation with a parable and some other insights about prayer. 

The main point for today is that we learn by watching and hearing.  Then we look in the Bible to verify if God approves.  So, who are you training to pray?  Jesus said that we are to make disciples, teaching them how to be like Christ.  Who are you teaching to pray?  For those with children at home, this should be an easy answer.  There will be many opportunities for you to pray with, for and in front of your children.  Show them how you repent after cursing the driver who cut you off.  Show them how you give God the glory for answered financial prayers.  Show them your compassion for family members who are lost.  Show them what worship sounds like coming from your mouth.  Show them how to walk and talk with the one who loves you most.

Teaching others to pray can possibly add life back into your prayers.  To teach others does not mean that you are better or more spiritual.  It’s just the pattern of spiritual growth.  The disciples asked Jesus to teach them, just like John the Baptist taught his disciples.  Jesus understood the request and began to teach.  Reading books on prayer is very helpful, but nothing is as good as learning to pray from a friend.

-       Ask Jesus to teach you to pray.  He is still answering that request.

-       Ask Jesus to help you teach your children and family how to pray

-       Ask Jesus to show you someone for which you can begin to pray together that would like to grow in their prayer life.

Father, teach us to pray.  Teach us how to connect with you in meaningful ways.  Teach us how to hear your voice.   Teach us the rhythm of prayer in silence, listening and talking.  Teach us how to present our request in reverence and relationally.  Father, help us learn how to pray without ceasing.  Help us stay in constant communion with you the presence of Holy Spirit that prayers flow quickly from our lips.  Show us others that we should teach how to pray.  In Jesus name Amen.