Teach us to pray

by Gold Label Publications  |  07/20/2025  |  From the Clergy

Teach us to pray. Jesus prayed often. Sometimes he went to a private place to be alone and pray. But he also prayed in the presence of his disciples. Imagine what kind of experience that must have been! As they heard Jesus pray, there must have wondered why he prayed for some things and not for others. Probably they wondered which of their own concerns and questions were acceptable subjects in prayer. To their credit, they did not ask Jesus if they could pray for this or for that, as we might have done, but they asked him to teach them to pray. The reference to John the Baptist teaching his disciples to pray may refer to a specific form of prayer that was an identifying mark of this group. The rabbis often taught specific prayers, so that prayer was a learned discipline and not simply a release of feelings.

In the Gospel of Luke, the Lord’s Prayer begins by addressing God as “Father.” The language of eternity is the language of home. Prayer can be, and should be, intimate. We may talk to God as we talk to a family member. We may say many of the same things we say to each other: “I love you.” “I need you.” “I trust you.” “I am sorry.” “Please help me.” This can be done with reverence and respect.

Bold claims have always been made for prayer. Bumper stickers read: “Prayer Changes Things.” A thoughtful response to this affirmation might be to ask, What does prayer change? More often than changing the world around us, prayer changes the world within us. Prayer gives us a new perspective on things. Prayer gives us a new power over circumstances. Prayer changes more things than we know.

Excerpt from Gold Label Publications