Teach Us to Pray

What is prayer?

Is it a formula, a repetition, a 24/7 groveling in the prayer room?

Is it a continuous barrage of thanksgivings, a long list of requests?

Is it a type of spiritual formation?

Is it "work"?

Consider this:

Human willpower never ascends to the power of faith.

Even our prayers are not our work, but His. So, essentially, prayer is trust. Prayer is rest. Prayer is a baptism of our stubborn self-will.

When Jesus is asked "Teach us to pray," he responds with a bare bones example which many have taken to be a formula, but if you explore the content of the prayer, you can't help but come to a very simple conclusion about what prayer really is.

"Father" — An opening that speaks not of a future relationship but a current one... one that we have THROUGH Christ. We pray through the power of Christ's resurrection, not from our own competencies. Prayer is not our work, but HIS.

Then, after brief proclamations that He be praised and that his Kingdom operates on earth as in heaven... THEN comes the asking part. And what should the sum total of our supplications be, according to Jesus? The bare necessities of daily life to keep our body and soul together. What else do we truly need? Everything relies on our quiet union with Him.

Three verses earlier in the gospel of Luke, Jesus chided Martha for expecting more than that very thing from her sister Mary.

Quiet Union with HIM. This is how we pray.

Let us view prayer as an enjoyment of our union, knowing our entire lives are fragrant prayers rising to God.

If you'd like to explore more on this subject, I recommend reading books by Robert Capon and listening to Youtube teachings by John Crowder, such as one titled "Teach Us to Pray."