LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY

One of the blessings of being in Christ is to be able to go to God in prayers and have Jesus as our great high priest (Hebrews 4:14-16) and intercessor (Romans 8:34). Jesus taught His disciples how they should pray (Luke 11:1-4) when He was asked. Besides knowing how to pray, it is important to learn about the attitudes required in prayer. We can learn about this and the rewards in prayer from the parable which Jesus taught in Luke 11:5-13.

In the parable, a person had a friend come to him at midnight requesting for three loaves of bread because he had a guest. The person told his friend not to trouble him nor disturb him because his family was asleep. However, as a result of his friend’s begging, the person rose up to give as many as was required.

Attitudes in Prayer

From the parable, we learn that humility is important in prayer (Luke 11:5-6). Hospitality was held in high regard in those days and no one would knock on a shut door unless there was a serious need in that culture of the day. The friend who went to borrow three loaves of bread had to humble himself to knock on his friend’s door at midnight. He did not have anything in his house to provide for his friend who came to him and thus, he had to humble himself to go out to knock on someone else’s door.

Jesus spoke of the prayers of the Pharisee and Publican (Luke 18:10-14). Whilst the Pharisee was praying about how ‘righteous’ he was and not like the other ungodly people, the publican did not dare look up to heaven but exhibited godly sorrow for his sins. Jesus said that the publican was justified rather than the Pharisee (Luke 18:14). He also said that “for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 18:14) 

The apostle Peter wrote of the need to humble oneself so that God will exalt the person. When one lowers himself or herself, the person will be dependable on God and cast all cares on God (1 Peter 5:6-7). With humility also comes praying for the needs of others (cf. 1 Timothy 2:1), including sinners (Matthew 5:44).

Another attitude that is important in prayer is persistence (Luke 11:7-8). The houses in those times consisted of one room and all members of the family slept together with the animals. As such, when one rouses up to tend to something or open the door, everyone in the family will be roused. The word “importunity” in Luke 11:8 means shamelessness. In other words, we read of the friend being so persistent to the point of being shameless such that his friend opened the door and provided what he needed. 

We can learn not to be discouraged when our prayers don’t seem to be answered. Persistence is necessary. David wrote “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” (Psalm 55:17). Paul also wrote of the need to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). He was an example in praying persistently by keeping brethren in prayers “without ceasing” (2 Timothy 1:3).

When we pray, it is important that we pray with boldness (Luke 11:9). The friend was told to go away but he carried on knocking even though it was midnight. We read of how Abraham pleaded with God 6 times for Sodom to be spared (Genesis 18:23-32). The Canaanite woman whose daughter was vexed with a devil pleaded with Jesus even though He did not answer her initially (Matthew 15:22-28). She too was bold in approaching Jesus. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). 

When we pray, it is important that we pray with faith (Luke 11:9). The man had faith that his friend would lend him the three loaves. Jesus said to ask, seek and knock. His brother James wrote: “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed” (James 1:6). God is pleased when one comes to Him in faith. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

We can have faith in asking because we are the children of God. “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” (1 Peter 3:12) In addition, John tells us that “..this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” (1 John 5:14-15)

Jesus also taught that there are rewards in prayer.

Rewards in Prayer

God has promised to answer our prayers (Luke 11:10). When Jesus said “asketh”,  “receiveth”, “seeketh”, “findeth” and “knocketh”,  the “eth” is an ongoing present tense. In other words, one who continues to ask – receives, seeks – finds and knocks – door is opened. We have this comfort from the scriptures that “..whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight” (1 John 3:22). We need to note that it does not mean that God will say “yes” to our requests all the time. A child may ask something from the parents and the parents will not always grant the request to the child, especially when it is harmful to the child. As such, with regards to our petitions to God, It may be a “yes” as is the case for Elijah when he prayed for no rain and subsequently rain (James 5:17-18); It may be a “no” as is the case for Jesus when He pleaded with God the Father to let the cup pass from Him (Matthew 26:39, 42, 44); It may be “wait” as is the case for Abraham and Sarah when they wanted a child (Genesis 17:19), but fulfilled only several years later (Genesis 21:2).

God will also give good gifts (Luke 11:11-13). Jesus asked a series of three rhetorical questions. Will a father give his son a stone if he asks for bread? Will a father give his son a serpent if he asks for fish? Will a father give his son a scorpion if he asks for an egg? He then rounded up in Luke 11:13 by saying that if mankind can give good gifts to our children, how much more will God, who is spiritual and our heavenly Father, give good gifts to us. We read of similar contrasts used in Luke 12:24 whereby if God will feed the ravens, how much more will He feed us who are better than them. Indeed, God is the source of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17).

Concluding Words

To the question asked by the disciple, Jesus answered what to pray for (Luke 11:1-4), and He subsequently went on to expound on the proper attitudes in prayer. It is needful for us to remember to pray with humility, persistence, boldness and faith, knowing that God has promised to answer our prayers, and that He is the giver of all good gifts.

Ask Yourself:

1. What are the proper attitudes in prayer which Jesus spoke of?

2. Does God always grant our requests when we pray?

3. How can I work on improving my prayer life and help others to improve their prayer life too?

Suggested Answers:

1. One should pray with humility, persistence, boldness and faith.

2. No. We have examples in the Bible where God said yes to Elijah, no to Jesus and wait to Abraham and Sarah.

3. You may discuss this with the writer or any Bible class teacher.