Pray Like This

Follow Along with the Message

Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. ...

--Luke 11:1a (NLT)

But despite Jesus’ instructions, the report of his power spread even faster, and vast crowds came to hear him preach and to be healed of their diseases. But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.

--Luke 5:15–16 (NLT)

One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night.

--Luke 6:12 (NLT)

About eight days later Jesus took Peter, John, and James up on a mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white.

--Luke 9:28–29 (NLT)

...As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

--Luke 11:1b (NLT)

Teach us to pray…

If you’re ready to apprentice under Rabbi Jesus in his school of prayer, pay close attention to  Jesus teaches his disciples to pray, and  Jesus teaches his disciples to pray.

 Jesus teaches his disciples to pray:

“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 11:2–4 (NIV)

1. God is our Father

“Abba” is only a little word, and yet contains everything. It is not the mouth but the heart’s affection which speaks like this. Even if I am oppressed with anguish and terror on every side, and seem to be forsaken and utterly cast away from your presence, yet am I your child, and you are my Father. For Christ’s sake: I am loved because of the Beloved. So this little word “Abba”, Father, deeply felt in the heart, surpasses all the eloquence of Demosthenes, Cicero, and the most eloquent speakers that ever lived. This matter is not expressed with words, but with groanings, and these groanings cannot be uttered with any words of eloquence, for no tongue can express them.

--Martin Luther

“Unless you break the stronghold of false images of God in your mind, you’ll never be drawn to prayer."

--Jon Tyson

• For many of us, our journey into a deeper life of prayer must begin with the healing of our false images of who God is.

2. The goal of prayer is the  of our Father’s company.

“hallowed be your name.”

• hallow, to make holy or to set apart for special service. In the Bible, the term translates a form of the Hebrew word qadesh, the primary meaning of which is “separation” or “setting apart.” In its various forms this Hebrew word is also translated as “holy,” “holiness,” “consecrate,” “sanctify,” “dedicate,” or “purify.” Thus, a “hallowed thing” was something set apart for a special use or purpose: the sabbath is a day hallowed by God (Gen. 2:3; cf. Ezek. 20:20; Sir. 33:9; 2 Macc. 15:2); the altar in the tent of meeting is hallowed for sacred purposes only; and Israel is told to hallow the jubilee year (Lev. 25:10).

“To hallow God’s name is to have a heart of grateful joy toward God — and even more, a wondrous sense of his beauty…”

--Timothy Keller

“May you be worshiped by your whole creation; may the whole cosmos resound with your praise; may the whole world be freed from injustice, disfigurement, sin, and death.”

--N.T. Wright

3. Our prayers really do .

“Your kingdom come. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

 Jesus teaches us to pray.

“Whenever you pray, recite this…”

--Scot McKnight

A Few Examples of Pre-made Prayers:

1. The Lord’s Prayer

2. The Psalms

3. Scripture itself

4. Singing

“To sing is to pray twice.”

--St. Augustine

5. Liturgy

6. Apps on your phone

“There’s no bad way to pray and no single starting point for prayer. The spiritual masters offer one nonnegotiable rule: You have to show up for prayer and show up regularly. Everything else is negotiable and respects your unique circumstances.”

--Ronald Rolhesier

I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

--John 17:21 (NLT)

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

--Psalm 139:23–24 (NLT)