Teach us to pray

Luke 11: 1- 4

Lord, teach us to pray....

The request of the disciples is one that we too might echo right down through the ages. We often sense the need to ask, "Lord, teach us to pray....." Many times, we attend seminars and workshops to learn new techniques, to pray 'more effectively'.....This sounds strange in a way because how can one 'learn' what is truly relational? Well, certainly, there are ways to pray that can help us connect with God. But in the end we would seek to know the heart of the Father, in order to truly converse intimately with him.

This prayer is uttered in faith by Christians the whole world through, every day. It actually tells us a lot about God's desires and therefore it becomes a 'way' we learn to align ourselves with his heart. This is so that he does not become just another 'magic genie' who grants wishes, or an indulgent parent who gives in to every whim and fancy of his children.

Many, many books have been written about this prayer, approaching it from different viewpoints. But each time I take a closer look, it just reminds me of several central characteristics of the God who invites us to relationship: he is God Almighty, far beyond our human ways and understanding, his kingdom belongs to a different realm altogether and he desires that we live in ever greater awareness of and harmony with that realm, he is ready to provide for our daily needs, he desires that nothing gets in the way of our relating to him and our fellow human beings......and he is a God who invites petitions from us, in ever growing dependence....

In all, Jesus tells us to seek his Father in this manner. No hyped up promises about 'health and wealth', just humble dependence upon the One who calls us by name. Recently I was not well and it was really hard to pray in the way I usually do - it was difficult to concentrate on the daily passage, and 'listen' for God's voice. This model prayer helps tremendously at such times. It carries us through with a ' set format' that honors the deepest desires of God for our lives. When the fuzzy mind, in the midst of coughs and sore throats etc. is just unable to communicate any other way, this graced prayer says it all. Praise be to God!