Jump Start # 73

Lk 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.”

  What follows this request is what is commonly called ‘the Lord’s Prayer,’ or I think more accurately, ‘the model prayer.’ Jesus set this prayer as an example. There is a statement in that prayer that He would not have prayed Himself, ‘forgive us of our sins,’ Jesus never sinned.

  The request itself is most interesting. The disciples had seen Jesus praying. He did that often. Sometimes escaping the crowds, getting alone and often praying for hours. His prayer in the garden before His arrest illustrates the intensity of which He prayed, as His sweat became blood. John 17 records one of the longest prayers of Jesus, praying for unity among His followers. I think the request of this disciple was very honest and natural. It came from the heart of Jewish men who grew up saying prayers. Yet Jesus prayed differently. He prayed often. They wanted to learn to pray like that. So do I. Among most Christians, our prayer life is one area that most of us feel could use some help. We tend to pray shallow prayers. We tend to say the same thing. We tend to ask more often than thank and praise. We need some help, I know I do.

  It is interesting that these disciples had seen Jesus preach, but they didn’t want to know how to do that. They saw miracles and they didn’t seem to want to know how to do those. But prayer was personal and something they were already doing, they wanted to do it like Jesus.

  Jesus’ answer is simple. In Matthew’s gospel, the Lord says to go into the closet and shut the door and pray. Alone. Honest.

  The model prayer in Luke is 37 words. It begins with God. It acknowledges His holiness, His kingdom, and that we are dependent upon Him, even for our everyday food. It seeks the mercy of God and asks for help in temptation. Short, to the point, relationship based, true and honest is this prayer. One aspect of this prayer has been fulfilled, the kingdom has come. Prayer is not a “to do list.” Prayer is not a  “wish list” sent to Heaven. It’s talking with God. It’s communicating. It begins by realizing the position of God. Respect, devotion, and dignity must come when addressing God. He is not ‘the big guy in the sky,’ He is God. He is the Almighty, the Lord of Heaven and Earth.

  Prayer is faith based. It is more than believing what I pray about will come true, it is believing in God. It comes first with a relationship with God. We understand how awkward a situation is when an estranged child comes and asks for money. That’s hard to do. It’s hard to give when the relationship stinks. Is it any different with God? Prayer is one aspect of our relationship with Him. We walk with God. We read and follow His word. We become His people, and we talk (pray) to Him. The deeper your faith, the more you will pray. I find through the years, I pray less about myself and more about others. I also find that I pray less for physical things and more for spiritual things. Spiritual health is much more important than physical health.

  There is a line from the movie, ET, which says, “ET call home.” We need to do the same. We need to “call home.” We need to pray more, deeper and spiritual. How’s your prayer life? Think about it today. Send some short prayers to Heaven as you go about your day. It’ll make a difference, both to you and to God.

 Roger