Reflection and Awe Lent Series - Teach Us to Pray
When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’” –Luke 11:1-4 (NIV)
This passage of Scripture, often referred to as the Lord’s Prayer, may be one of the most well-known passages of Scripture. After a time of prayer, Jesus’ disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray. How humbling to sit at the feet of Jesus, hear Him pray, and have the opportunity to gain more wisdom and knowledge from Him as they sought to emulate Jesus in every way—including the way He spoke to His Father.
Let’s use this passage of Scripture to better understand Jesus’ teaching on how to pray.
How Jesus Says We Should Pray
1.Acknowledge God as Father and Honor His Name
Jesus begins the prayer by addressing God as Father, emphasizing our loving and deeply intimate relationship with Him. The phrase “hallowed be your name” invites us to worship and honor God’s holiness, reminding us to approach Him with reverence and gratitude for who He is.
2.Seek His Kingdom and His Will
“Your kingdom come” is a call to align our desires with God’s desires, purposes, and plans—to trust Him to work out all things for good according to His will (Romans 8:28). With this shift of focus, we prioritize God’s reign and authority over ourselves and our world.
3.Depend on God for Daily Provision
“Give us each day our daily bread” reflects our reliance on God for both physical and spiritual needs. It reminds us to trust Him as our Provider, who sustains us with what we need (mind, body, and spirit) to live and serve Him daily.
4.Confess and Forgive
Jesus teaches us to pray, “Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.” This encourages us to seek God’s mercy and forgiveness of our sins and challenges us to extend the same grace to others.
5.Ask for Guidance and Protection
“Lead us not into temptation” is a plea for God’s guidance and strength to overcome the temptation of sin. Through this, we acknowledge our dependence on Him to guard our hearts and keep us on the path of righteousness.
Ultimately, this prayer provides both a model and a guide, encouraging us to approach God with humility, reverence, faith, and a heart focused on seeing His glory and purposes fulfilled!
Our challenge to you is to put this prayer model into practice. Come before the Father in a posture of gratitude—thanking Him for who He is, not just what He’s done for us. Bring forth your prayers and petitions, keeping your focus on aligning with His perfect will.
That sounds like a powerful prayer, indeed!
