LORD Teach Us To Pray

“Lord, teach us to pray…” Luke 11:1

A message delivered by Pastor Rene Nepomuceno, during the National Day of Prayer held last 02 December 2009 attended by representatives from 26 Filipino churches in Dubai UAE.

Several times I have heard some Christian preachers spurn this seemingly naïve request of one of Jesus’ disciples, “Even the disciples don’t know how to pray?” in order to stress the point that prayers are not repetitive bubbling words and should be offered to God “in Jesus Name.” As a result it has become a subliminal conclusion that those who end their prayers (regardless how careless it be) invoking the name of Jesus followed by an “amen” knows how to pray, it is the right way to pray if, not the only way.

But should we not reflect and ask this question once again “Lord teach us to pray…” Surely the disciples of Jesus being Jews were prayerful people, they recite the Shema, pray the psalms, offer spontaneous petitions to God and perhaps pray the way John the Baptist taught his disciples how to pray.[1] In the 1^st century, in the time of our Lord, there were several rabbis and pious leaders who were known for their powerful prayers being answered by God. Don’t they know how to pray? Can the disciples not learn from them? How about many the heroes of faith in the Old Testament, whose prayers caused God to abide to their petitions?

When I think of these things I ask myself do I really know how to pray? Am I indeed better off than them? Yes, I may boast I know the pattern, the formula, the acronyms (including the many “clever” variations) to guide me step by step how to pray, but does that mean I know how to pray?

“Lord teach me to pray…” What makes the prayer of a righteous man avail much?” As far as being prayerful, I admit, am surely by far behind many followers of other faith who pray with much regularity, intensity and passion. But again my credulous self would quickly reason out, yes people of other faith pray religiously but they are praying to the wrong god, their prayers are meaningless repetitive words and they are accessing God through many intermediaries not through my Lord Jesus. That is why, their prayers are not answered while I can claim and ask anything and are sure to be heard by God. But again is this how to pray? Does getting what I want proves that I know how to pray? Is this what the disciple(s) want to learn?

What did the disciples saw and witnessed in Jesus that prompted them to asked Him to teach them how to pray? Does Jesus have a prayer ritual, does he have an acronym step-by-step approach to prayer, and does he have specific posture, magic words or formula? Was it the miracles of Jesus that gave them that desire to know how to pray like their Lord, thereby gain also the same miraculous ability?

It is hard to guess but one thing can be safely assumed, they saw the unique intimacy of Jesus with God whom He calls His Father. They saw the oneness of the Lord with the LORD. This, I believe is what they want to learn? This, is for them is the essence of prayer, to be intimately related to God. Surely they know how to pray, but there is great chasm between them and God who is to be feared. They pray from a distance but Jesus pray in the inner chamber of God, they offer blood sacrifice to have the right to come to pray without being consumed, while Jesus pray without petty rituals. They pray with great caution watching every word they have to say, less they be accused of sacrilege or defamation of God’s name, but Jesus call God His Father, a “blasphemous” claim according to the religious leaders of their time.

Indeed, the answer of the Lord to this request proves this case.

Lord teach me to pray…When you pray say…

Father, your God is not a God of wrath. He is not like the gods of the nations or the God pictured by your religious leaders, who makes it difficult for people to come near to God. No, He is your Creator, Sustainer, Provider, Protector, Defender of the powerless – He is your Father. He longs to be one with His people, His creation.[2]

Seek His Kingdom, be “homesick” for His presence and His rule. Many times when you pray it is to preserve your human existence without God. You pray to perpetuate your worldly life, aspirations and mundane concerns. If you long for God your Father He will come to you. If your die to your worldly concerns and seek His Kingdom, He will come to you. He is very much willing to provide your needs to your hearts content without being enslaved by the things you need.[3]

Seek His Righteousness, seek God’s righteousness not your kind of righteousness. Seek God’s righteousness not those of the religious leaders, the politicians, and the rulers of this world. To be forgiven you don’t need to bring sacrifice but instead forgive and bring peace into this world, forget your rights but be concern with the rights of others, forget your benefits but think about the benefits of others.[4] This is the righteousness of God.

Remain in Him, remain in His words, that you may not be tempted and do crazy things that will harm you. Listen to Him and obey Him that the evil one may not deceive you.[5]

Yes, this is prayer. It is not about patterns and formulas, it is not about getting what His disciples want, for God is good even to those who are evil[6], but the prayer that Jesus our Lord taught is to lead His people to intimacy with God, their Father for only in Him can they find the contentment of their hearts (not what they want), guidance to keep them away from making ill intent decisions that ruins their lives and in Him alone will they find meaning for everything that they are and will be! And they pray through Jesus our Lord not just His “name”, but for who He is.

This is what prompted the disciples to ask, “Lord teach us to pray…”

[1] Luke 11:1, the complete request, “Lord teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”

[2] Lk11:2, Our Father in heaven

[3] Lk 11:2b, Hallowed be Your name, Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread.

[4] Lk 11: 4 And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.

[5] Lk 11:4b And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.

[6] Mt 5:45