Lord, Teach Us How to Pray

“I just don’t feel comfortable in my payer life. I don’t even know how to talk to God and when I do, it seems like I have a laundry list of requests. Shouldn’t my payer life be more than this?” That was the conversation not too long ago with some Lord of Life folk. Perhaps you have similar thoughts. Our desire is that we can strengthen our life of prayer, one way to is to ponder the importance of the prayer that Jesus taught in the “Lord’s Prayer.” It is only a few sentences long but it offers a depth of meaning.

Jesus was a teacher of prayer. He was able to do the remarkable things He did because He was plugged in to the source of meaning and power in life. Prayer is where that contact took place. He prayed daily as a matter of custom. But especially when He had a decision to make, a difficult task to do, or a cross to face, He would first spend time with God in prayer.  The disciples knew that prayer was the source of Jesus’ power. That’s why they asked him, “Lord, teach us how to pray.” Today, that’s our request as well.

Lord of Life’s first Mark of Discipleship is “Pray daily.” The key is to keep at it. Make prayer an important part of your everyday routine. One thing you can be sure of is that if you take prayer seriously, it will change your life. Perhaps you’ve heard these words, “Prayer changes things.” Often prayer is able to change the situation in which we find ourselves. But always prayer is able to change the person who is praying. In prayer we receive love and guidance and strength.

I like how someone defined the familiar acronym ASAP this way: Always Say A Prayer. God knows how stressful life can become; he wants to ease our cares. He’ll respond to all our needs so, ASAP.

Go with God,

Pastor Qualley