Teach Us How to Pray

There are two common presumptions concerning prayer among Christians. First, that we know how to pray. Perhaps we pray frequently; and consider ourselves ‘proficient’ in prayer. We convince ourselves that we are praying well.  The disciples of Jesus, after spending close to three years with Him, observing Him pray day and night, realized that they did not know how to pray. In humility they implore Jesus: “Lord, teach us how to pray” (Lk 11:1).  Perhaps this humble request was their first authentic prayer!

Second, that we know what to pray for. The disciples of Jesus, James and John accosted him. They were convinced that they knew exactly what to ask for; they asked Jesus if it is possible for one to sit at His right hand and the other sit at His left in His Kingdoms. They later realized that their request was totally inappropriate (Cf. Mk 10:35-40).

These two disciples would still make another outrageous request to Jesus.  The Samaritan villagers would not allow Jesus and his disciples to pass through their village. Though the earth and its fullness belong to Jesus (Cf. Ps 24:1). Both Samaria and Samaritans belong to Jesus. Infuriated by the refusal of the Samaritan villagers to allow Jesus pass through their village, James and John asked Jesus whether they could call down fire from heaven to consume this ‘audacious’ villagers. Jesus rebuked them (Cf. Lk 9:51-56). Again they displayed a pitiable ignorance of what to ask for.

Like the disciples of Jesus we tend to pray for the wrong reasons and in a wrong manner. This is the reason Jesus taught his disciples and all us how to pray. To determine what to pray for and how to pray, we need the help of the Holy Spirit.  It is because we do not know how to pray that ‘the Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness’ (Rom 8:26). Precisely because we do not know what to pray for that ‘the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groaning’ (Rom 8:26).

In the final analysis, an authentic prayer is modeled after the example of Jesus and inspired by the Holy Spirit. We do not babble in prayer. We do not pray to impress people. Prayer is not a performance. Prayer is not words but groaning; not requests but desire; not activity but stillness. Be still and know that I am God (Ps 46:10).