In [Luke 11:1] the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray. I find that same desire in me this morning. I've devoted the past four decades of my life learning about prayer. I have shelves in my office lined with multiple volumes on the subject. I have written two books on prayer. Prayer has been a common theme of these posts for years. I've devoted hundreds of thousands of hours to private prayer.
I still find myself needing to ask the Lord to teach me to pray. Prayer is much more complex than most realize. It is also so simple a child can grasp it. Complex and simple. A recent survey I discovered reported most people pray an average of five minutes a day. I can believe it. There are problems much bigger than five minute prayers.
I am fighting for a sick woman I used to pastor who has been in the hospital for nearly a month. Her body is wracked with pain and the doctors have not been able to diagnose the root cause. Tests have been run. Scans and MRIs. Even an exploratory surgery. None of those things have brought relief. So we pray. Deep intercessions.
I am also burdened for a beautiful young woman I knew as a child. Her parents are dear friends to Brenda and me. I pray for that young lady to return to the Lord after years of rebellion. I've prayed for her years now. At times the burden has left. It returned heavily yesterday morning and today. Both of these issues take more than five minutes. It took up the bulk of my praying this morning.
I find myself needing to learn how to pray more effectively. How to discern the voice of God. [I Sam 3:10] How to intercede. How to stand in the gap. How to believe for the impossible. How to pray with perseverance when the answer does not come immediately. [Luke 18:1] How to grow in faith. These are not lessons people can teach me. I can listen to sermons, read books, and listen to testimonies. I have done all of those things for decades. To really learn how to pray more effectively I must learn from the Master. He must instruct me.
I can imagine if the people of God really had the same heart for the Lord to teach all of us to pray. What a tremendous difference that would make in our communities. I think I am safe in saying that for the most part we are a prayer less people. I know. There is that five minute praying. How many really want to dive deeper in prayer. To learn to intercede for other people in their grief, misery, misfortunes, and mountain sized problems. This is necessary. There are problems in people's lives and society that will not be solved by our programs and expertise. Only God's miraculous intervention will make a difference.
People could be Christians for decades and still be in kindergarten in prayer. God desires that we advance and grow in prayer and faith. He longs for us to long to meet with Him. He wants to reveal great and mighty things we do not know. [Jer 33:3] He is the God who can do exceedingly and abundantly more than we can think or ask. [Eph 3:20] He is the God who can do anything. [Matt 19:26] He is the God that shows up in the day of our troubles. [Ps 50:15]
We all need the Lord to teach us how to pray. Like an eager student on the first day of school, I want to take my seat in the front row and soak up all He has to say. I want to enroll in the school of prayer and intercession graduating from kindergarten to advanced level courses. I want pray big prayers, pray with big faith, and see big answers to give God big glory. Lord teach me to pray. Lord, teach all us how to pray.
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