Teach Us to Pray

"Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As He finished, one of His disciples came and said, 'Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.'

Jesus said, 'This is how you should pray:

'Father, may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
Give us each day the food we need,
and forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
And don't let us yield to temptation.'" Luke 11:1-4 NLT

I don't know if you're like me, but at times, do you feel that we use prayer as a sort of magic trick? We go along and do things that we know isn't acceptable and then pray to get out of trouble. We want something that's really cool, we pray that we can get it or if we go ahead and get it, we have to pray to have funds to pay for it.

Is this what God created prayer for? Prayer was created so that we could talk and communicate with our Father in heaven. Not to be a magic wand that allows us to, on purpose, do unpleasing things to the Lord and then we pray and "poof" it makes them disappear. It's not the genie in the lantern that you rub and get your wishes granted.

Prayer is a very special gift that God has given us because He loves us so much and wants us to talk with Him. He made us to be a people that needs to communicate. He wants to hear our fears, needs and troubles. When we do do wrong, He wants to us to come and ask for forgiveness.

But He also loves to hear our praises and declarations of love and thankfulness. It doesn't need to come through a third party or special words. Prayer is to come from your heart and soul. An unique, intimate date that is between just you and your God.

So, how do you pray?

"So, let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most." Hebrews 4:16 NLT