Pearls of Great Value

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1

 But whenever you pray, go into your innermost chamber and be alone with Father God, praying to him in secret. And your Father, who sees all you do, will reward you openly. When you pray, there is no need to repeat empty phrases, praying like the Gentiles do, for they expect God to hear them because of their many words. There is no need to imitate them, since your Father already knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:6-8

Something that amazed me today. I realized that the disciples in the 3 and a half years that they walked with Jesus, only asked Him to teach them one thing. One thing that the bible records, that is. It wasn't to teach them how to heal the sick. Or how to perform miracles. It wasn't to teach them people skills. Or tips on the proper way to deal with the spiritual and political leaders at the time. Nor was it on financial growth. No, it wasn't anything we would guess, yet it's so vital to life that we could call it a lifeline. It was the request of prayer: Lord, teach us how to pray. 

In their observance of Jesus, the disciples must have noticed this one thing, prayer was routine for Jesus. He often went to be alone and pray. Maybe they noticed that Jesus went to pray after hearing about the death of a loved one. Maybe they noticed how after he had gone off to pray, He came walking on the water. Or how He healed the sick and multiplied food. Or spoke the most profound parables and preached with power. Maybe they noticed the way He prioritized prayer and wondered if that wasn't the key. I don't know what compelled them to ask, but the fact that they did and that the bible records it, shows us prayer is important. 

It doesn't matter what you're going through, every situation can be brought to the throne of grace! In grief and sorrow. In joy or pain. In thanksgiving. In making a request. Or maybe just to sit quietly in His presence. Let prayer be your go-to. Jesus went off to pray after His friend and cousin John was murdered. He prayed when his own life was on the line, and the burden on His shoulder seemed too much to bear. He prayed. He went to be alone with His Father. Often. And sometimes right in the middle of a situation He'd lift up His eyes and pray, as we can see right before He called Lazarus forth from the grave. He definitely wasn't scared of praying. 

I don't know. Maybe we just need to be brave. Find an ounce of courage and pray out loud. Straight from your heart to God's ears. In private. And yes, also with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Let's make prayer common again. Let's ask God to revive us in this area and see if it will not impact every other area in our lives. I believe He wants to ignite that fire. I believe He wants to have a conversation with you. I believe He's already waiting.

 

So today, let us ask for this one thing: Lord teach me to pray! Open within my heart the beauty of conversing with You. May I see and know that prayer is my lifeline. A port when life is stormy. A foundation to stand upon when the winds of life try to knock me over. I ask that prayer would be as routine and as genuine to me as it was to Jesus. Let me not turn back when I'm disappointed, or angry, or frustrated. Let me not run away when I'm scared or doubting, but teach me to run to You. I pray that I will know that prayer is like receiving a long tight hug from heaven. Let me experience it! I ask in Jesus wonderful name, Amen.