Scripture to Read: Luke 11:1
For Christians, prayer is the incredible doorway we have to fellowship with our Heavenly Father every day. As Jesus prayed, His disciples watched, and then God had Luke record this in Luke 11:1, “It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.’” If we’re not careful, we will miss the actual question the disciple asked. The disciple did not ask Jesus to teach them “how to pray,” but rather to teach them “to pray.” When the disciple asked Jesus, “Jesus, teach us to pray,” the request asked for the formation of a prayer life or practice—it is broader and more relational. It is learning the habits, posture, disciplines, and heart-shaping that make someone a person of prayer. The disciples wanted to know what praying looks like, when to pray, and why, whereas asking Jesus, “Jesus, teach us how to pray,” this focuses more on the method and the technique of prayer. It’s asking for practical instruction, such as which words to use, the structure of prayer, and which components to include (e.g., praise, confession, petition, thanksgiving). This question leads to more concrete steps to follow when praying. The disciples didn’t just want a “how-to” list; they wanted to know how to build intimacy with God the Father. That is what we must work on daily. Building a deep intimacy with our Heavenly Father takes work. The good news is that through God’s Holy Spirit, it’s possible for every follower of Christ.
Challenge & Application
When you examine your prayer life, what habits, posture, disciplines, and heart-shaping have helped your prayer life?
How would you describe your prayer life to someone else?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!