::Tuesday, February 05, 2008::
:: Lord, teach us to pray... (I) ::

Let's consider Luke 11:1-10.

"And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples." - Verse 1

In a certain place, our Lord was praying to our Father. He fulfilled the law required of man. We do not know the exact location of the "certain place" and it is interesting to note that this place is not revealed in the Bible. If God's word is silent, we should be silent.

Now, wasn't Jesus waiting for His disciples to ask for guidance in prayer? Wasn't Jesus waiting? Throughout His ministry along with the disciples, didn't He teach them to pray? O Lord! Teach us to pray! Isn't this supposed to be the cry of His disciples?

In other words, prayer is never meant to be taught by our Lord as means or parts of ritual. The disciples were puzzled over the fact that John taught his disciples to pray. Jesus prayed. John prayed. But Christ's disciples? Definitely, ever since they were born again, they had continuously prayed to God. Christ's disciples prayed. But, what made them to say "Lord, teach us to pray" was a deep desire to pray aright before God. In other words, they sincerely wanted to know how our Lord prayed. Isn't it wonderful to discover how our Lord prays? Isn't it wonderful to uncover the deep rooted heart of our Lord's desire and cry to our Father?

Lord, teach us to pray. Are we humble to learn from Christ? Have we prayed amiss? If we regard iniquity in our hearts, God will not hear us. We are praying daily to our Father in heaven. Have we asked for grace to pray aright? We could easily pray for 24 hours out of a pieistic heart and yet amissed. It is better to spend 5 mins with God in full communion with Him rather than hours of prayer that shut God's ear. With this understanding, it makes no wonder why the disciples ask our Lord "teach us to pray".

So, how did our Lord started teaching His "hungry" disciples?

"Our Father which art in heaven"

You may say, "Yes... I always pray either version 1 "Our father who art in heaven" or version 2 "Our Almighty God in heaven". But, do you know that the word "Our Father" weighs the most in our Lord's prayer and it is a distinct line between christianity and other religions. Why not our Lord? Why not our God in heaven? Why not the Almighty God in heaven? Why was it "Our Father who art in heaven?".........

Keep in touch of this entries as I bring you through one of the most highest and beautiful practice of faith in our Christian walk with God: prayers.

>>shared by+my life - God = broken pencil+ on 22:41. Comments |

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