Lord, teach us to pray!

Luke 11:1-4

Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test.”

Food for thought!

Do you have a certain place where you pray? Let us phrase it differently. Do you have a place, a moment, a time in which you are alone, just yourself with Lord? Do you ever be by yourself in prayer? Do your people ever see you absorbed in prayer, just yourself by yourself? Well, this what today's gospel is all about.

The gospel says that Jesus was praying in a certain place. This is the first point to note. In a certain place! Many times the gospels tells us the place where Jesus goes to pray. This time, we are not told. There is no need to know because our certain place where we go to pray doesn't have to be known. The times you go into prayer doesn't have to be known by the people who live with you, or work with you. There should be for all of us a moment, a place, a time we retreat into our soul and think about our life and your God.

Jesus' place wasn't apparently too far away. Indeed, it is possible that Jesus didn't even leave his disciples. They must have been watching him in his certain place, because he was nearby. For when he finished, one of them said, "Lord, teach us to pray." We do well to ask Jesus to teach us to pray alone. Many of us can't ever pray alone except in public. We feel ashamed to close our eyes and our mouth and our ears in a public place. But we can learn to do it. Why?

Perhaps you are living in a fine house, in a quite neighbourhood, on the pleasant side of town. Perhaps you have a steady job employment, a loving spouse, and healthy children. Perhaps you have money to pay your bills, buy groceries, and even take two vacations a year. You attend church regularly; you are in a position to help your relatives having some difficulties; in short, your life is going along just fine. Why, you ask, is it necessary to have like Jesus a certain place, time or moment reserved for prayer? The answer is one: Jesus.

Jesus prayed and told us to pray. He said, "WHEN" you pray! He did not say "IF" you pray. In other words, he expects you and me to bring in prayer all our needs. This is what Joseph Scriven taught us to sing:

What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit,

Oh, what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged—

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful,

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness;

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden,

Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge—

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,

Thou wilt find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised

Thou wilt all our burdens bear;

May we ever, Lord, be bringing

All to Thee in earnest prayer.

Soon in glory bright, unclouded,

There will be no need for prayer—

Rapture, praise, and endless worship

Will be our sweet portion there.