Luke : Day 23

Read Luke 11: 1-13

If you could learn any new skill, what would it be? Playing a musical instrument perhaps? Or maybe you would like to take up martial arts or ballroom dancing!

As the disciples watched Jesus each day, they saw Him do something and wanted to learn how to do it too. They asked Jesus to teach them to pray.

In one sense, praying can seem difficult. You might have heard someone pray using flowery words and polished sentences. It might even seem difficult because we cannot see God or hear Him respond.

But Jesus showed that we shouldn’t overthink prayer. Firstly, He taught his disciples to call God ‘Father’. Although human fathers can fail us, those who can call God ‘Father’ will never be let down, treated harshly or abandoned. If we have been brought into God’s family through repentance and faith in Christ, then we too can call God our Father! He is not a magician who pulls things out of a hat whenever we demand, but as a perfect Father, God knows what is best for us and wants us to trust Him in everything.

Secondly, Jesus taught His disciples to pray that God would be given the glory He deserves. “Hallowed be your name, your kingdom come” means ‘may Your name be regarded as holy – may the day come when You will reign in the hearts and lives of all people.’ Praying like this reminds us of God’s greatness and holiness, and that His children should honour Him in all things.

Thirdly, Jesus taught His disciples to ask God for what we need. Here, He specifically gave the examples of praying for forgiveness, and for God to lead us in good and right ways, protecting us from the dangers of temptation.

We can pray the Lord’s prayer word for word – you might have recited it in school. But there are no set words that we have to use. Since prayer is children talking to their Father, it should be natural and from the heart. Praying is not about impressing others – it is an expression of love and faith towards God. Psalm 62:8 says, “Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”

“When you pray, say: ‘Father’…”

Luke 11:2