And it came to pass that as he was praying in a certain place when he ceased one of his disciples said to him Lord, teach us to pray. Luke Chapter 11:1.
Jesus was a man of prayer. His disciples were greatly impressed with his praying. When he was about to heal the sick, he prayed. Before he fed the hungry, he prayed. When he was perplexed, he went into the mountain to pray. Before he entered upon his great passion he prayed in the garden.
As the disciples observed their Lord in prayer they were filled with the desire to pray. Therefore, one of them asked Jesus, “Lord teach us to pray.” This same desire should fill our hearts especially as we note that prayer accomplishes so much for those disciples who had learned from Jesus to pray. We too should sit at Jesus feet in spirit and learn from him to pray for he has told us in his word how to pray.
Jesus tells us to pray in his name. “Truly, truly, I say to you whatever you ask the father in my name he will give it to you” John 16: 23. We have sinned and therefore have no right to come into the presence of God with our blackened hearts our sullied lips and our stained hands. Only through Jesus Christ is sin removed. He came into the world for this purpose that he might cleanse us from our sins and make us acceptable to his father in heaven. Therefore, the believer must approach God in prayer through Christ our savior.
Jesus to tell us to pray believing all things, “whatever you ask in prayer believing you shall receive” Matthew 21: 22. We are to believe confidently that God hears our prayers because he has promised. I am to believe that God can do what I ask. He is almighty. I must believe that God can change the course of things to answer my prayer. True God does not always do so because as they all wise, he knows that certain things for which I ask are harmful to me. But I should be confident that he can remove mountains if it needs be. He can do the humanly impossible.
Let us pray
Lord, I ask you to teach me to pray with a believing heart. Give me grace to hold fast to your promises. Keep me daily and touch with your with you through your prayer. When you've moved all distractions and thoughts and worries and cares that want to hinder me in my prayers. I ask you to bless me by healing my body and by cleansing my soul. I thank you, gracious savior that you have taught me to pray and above all that you delight in hearing my prayers and are not weary as I continue day after day pleading for help and mercy. Amen.