Jesus Teaches Prayer
Jesus has been turning to prayer for support from the beginning. His disciples finally realize the power of prayer. “Teach us to pray” they say.
Prayer is a POWERFUL tool. It is how we speak to God. How we share our lives with Him. It doesn’t have to be some ritualized formula. In fact, Jesus says not to make it so. The words He gives His disciples are no so much a verbatim recitation as a heart’s position. There is no ‘magic’ in the words He gave. No ‘secret formula’ either. Just a heart centering accounting for God’s children to remember. As natural as counting. As integrated as breathing. As essential as our heartbeat.
Let’s rejoin Jesus as His disciples learn of the fulness found in prayer. Holy Spirit, lead this journey today. Help me to truly focus on what Jesus is teaching His disciples, and all of us across the ages. Help my heart to become a model of Jesus’ prayer. Make my life line up with His words.
♥ ♦ ♥
Jesus rises this morning with a heaviness of heart. It is evident in His steps as He makes His way to a solitary place to pray. Away from prying eyes, He pours out His heart to His Abba.
“Abba, Father. How magnificent are Your plans! I wait excitedly to see them unfold before me. But today, I feel the weight of the world on My shoulders today. There is a heaviness pressing in all around Me. I KNOW though that You will sustain me. You give Me all that I need, and more. I lay My life in Your hands once again. I CHOOSE THIS DAY to walk in Your ways and to show Your love to ALL those around Me.”
“Good morning My Son. I will indeed sustain You. I will push the heaviness from You and hold it at bay. I am SO PROUD of You! And I LOVE YOU with ALL My heart.”
Jesus feels His Abba’s arms around Him. Pushing back the ‘clouds’ that try to darken His morning. He breathes in an enormous sigh. As He releases it, the evidence of His pain washes from His face as surely as if a rainstorm has just cleaned the earth.
A short distance from Jesus, stands James, the brother of John. He silently watches Jesus. He sees the transformation this time in prayer has provided. His heart longs for that kind of assurance. The kind he sees in Jesus’ face when He returns from His private time in prayer.
Jesus rises from His knees and begins to retrace His steps back to the house where He is staying. As He nears the place where James is standing, He hears; “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples” (Luke 11:1).
Jesus’ heart nearly bursts with joy! He is MORE than happy to fulfill this request. “Let’s rejoin the others first. This is a lesson that everyone should have access to.”
James nods, then falls in step beside Jesus. Neither man says another word until they reach the house. The rest of Jesus’ followers gather around them when they get close.
“Let’s find a place to sit and talk” Jesus says.
The group moves to a comfortable spot. Once everyone has settled, Jesus begins.
“This morning, after I finished spending time alone in prayer, James asked Me to teach you all how to pray, as John taught his disciples.”
Nods begin throughout the group. They all want this as well. This brings a smile to Jesus’ face as He continues.
“When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation’” (Luke 11:2-4).
Matthew’s ears perk up. “Lord, didn’t You say something like this when You taught on the mountain top? The time You gave us all the foundation of Your teachings.”
“You are correct, Matthew. I did speak of this kind of prayer.” Jesus looks around at all those gathered before Him. “Many of you were not with Me at that time, so I will teach you all from the beginning.”
John says; “Do You want us to repeat Your words to the Lord, exactly as You have said them? Can You repeat what You have said, so we can mark it down?”
Jesus shakes His head. “No, John. You don’t have to repeat the exact words I just said. They are a place to start. A way to center your mind and heart when you come before the Father.”
The disciples look lost. Many are trying to remember the exact words Jesus has just given them. Jesus smiles at their efforts. “Let Me explain this a different way.”
All eyes are on Jesus now.
“Do you remember when I talked about prayer while on the mountain top?”
Heads nod all around. Jesus nods in return. “Let me remind you what was said. It is important that you understand.”
Everyone waits expectantly as Jesus closes His eyes and thinks back to that moment in time. When He reopens His eyes, He begins to recite the words He used during that day.
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:5-8).
“Is this why You go off to pray alone” asks Peter.
“Partly” replies Jesus. “More than anything though, I need time alone with My Abba. Time for the two of us to simply share in one another’s company. To keep Our relationship fresh and strong. That is what prayer will do for you as well. It will build a relationship and foundation on which you can approach the Father.”
“How, Teacher” asks John.
“In this way” Jesus begins. “Father, hallowed be your name.” Jesus looks out at His men. “Acknowledge the Father for Who He is. Respect, reverence, and recognition. His name is above ALL names. NO other name holds the power His does.”
Jesus looks to make sure everyone is still with Him before He continues. Seeing all their eager faces, He goes on. “Your kingdom come.” He waits a moment for His men to take hold of this phrase before expounding on it. “We are asking for the Lord to work out HIS perfect will in all that is around us. HIS Kingdom. HIS Will. Here on earth and in Heaven. We are also recognizing that He DOES have a plan and placing ourselves at His disposal to complete it; whatever that takes. And, sometimes it comes at a great cost.”
Jesus closes His eyes and thinks for just a moment about the cost He is preparing to pay. He shakes His head and returns His attention to His disciples. “Give us each day our daily bread.” Another moment passes while the disciples think about this phrase. “This is the first part of our request to the Lord. AFTER we have acknowledged Him as Lord and accepted His plan for our lives, THEN we bring our needs before Him.”
The disciples look on silently. Their hearts are being stretched.
“Our ‘daily bread’ is not strictly limited to the food we put in our mouths but that which feeds our spirits as well. Man needs physical food to survive. He needs clothing and warmth as well. These ALL your Father knows that you have need of. But man is more than flesh and blood. He is spirit as well. That spirit needs fed as well. Meditate on the stories of old. Learn the foundational truths I have brought to you. And feed your spirits on them daily. This is your daily bread as well.”
Jesus closes His eyes for a minute. He knows how difficult this next part is for man to fully understand. How it can be corrupted when used wrong. He says a silent prayer to His Abba that these men can TRULY grasp the depth of this section. “And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.” Jesus looks out to see who flinches. He is pleased to see that all His followers are still hanging in with Him.
“I have spoken to you many times about the importance of forgiveness. I have told you parables, such as the king who forgave his subject his debt but later enforced it because the same servant who was forgiven, refused to forgive a fellow servant. Your Father in Heaven will do likewise. If each of us refuses forgiveness to one who honestly repents, then your Father will not forgive you for your sins either.”
Eyes go wide here. Some are thinking about the sins they still hold against their brothers. Jesus knows that there will be some big changes coming today.
“The final portion is for your future walk with the Lord. What is past is no more, but if you don’t learn from it, you will repeat it.” Jesus gives them a minute again. “And lead us not into temptation.” Jesus looks around. “What you do from this moment forward matters. From the point where forgiveness is granted, walk with the Lord and His Spirit as your guide. HE will NEVER lead you into temptation. He will lead you away from it; IF you will allow it. Whenever you feel yourselves being drawn into temptation, reach out and grab hold of this truth. And let Him lead you back to the beginning; to HIS will being done in your lives.”
Every heart has been laid open and filled at this moment, with the TRUE power of prayer. Jesus can see it on their faces and hear it in their hearts. But He is not quite finished yet.
“Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:5-13).
Heads nod all around. Jesus has one more thing to say on this matter; for now.
“Prayer builds your relationship with the Father. It is the foundation of communication. NO relationship survives without communication. Use it freely and liberally.”
(to be continued)
The “Lord’s Prayer” is beautiful, but it is more than a collection of words or phrases. It is our hearts reaching out to His. Treat it with that kind of significance. It is not the words themselves, but the heart behind them. Just as there are those that speak the words without meaning when it comes to being a “Christian”, there are those who recite these words out of ritual instead of relationship.
Father God, I PRAY that I never take our time for granted. That I come to You with my whole heart and invest in our relationship. That I acknowledge Who YOU are and willingly give myself to You. Forgive me, again, for the times I came to You with anything less that my whole heart.
Help me with my heart. I feel a heaviness. A pressing weight of responsibility. NOT one that I want to throw off, but one I want to find joy in again. Help me find pleasure again in my changing relationship with my husband. As he can give less to me, help me find ways to still draw joy from what he brings and patience when the demands pile up.
Thank You for helping me carve out time for You and me today, between all the other requirements of my day. I KNOW that this time with You will sustain me during the hard days.
