Pastor’s Podium

“Jesus, teach us to pray.” How many of you, if you were called on to lead in prayer would feel a little uncomfortable? I remember the first time I prayed out loud with a group of people. I was nervous. I did not know what to say. I did not know how to say it.

This is what happened that day. A few of us had gathered after a Bible study to talk, the next thing I knew, this group had become a prayer circle and each person was taking a turn praying as we went around the circle. I do not remember specifically what we were praying about or how anyone else prayed but what I do remember was waiting for my turn to pray. My knees were shaking, and I was still searching for the right words to say.

Then when it came time for me to pray, I felt my knees almost give out on me, just like someone had hit my legs on the back of the bend of my knees. I did not fall, but to this day, I don’t know if that was the Holy Spirit or if it was holy fear that caused that feeling.

“Jesus, teach us to pray.”

One day, one of the disciples asked, “Teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” (Luke 11:1) And, Jesus did, saying to them,“When you pray, say, Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.” (Luke 11:2-4)

This is a familiar prayer. Most people know this prayer by heart. Perhaps, we learned it as a child, and we recite it now without much thought. In fact, this prayer is so well known and easily recited that most likely, many of us do not think about the words as we pray them.

Jesus continues to share more about prayer to the disciples through a parable about the persistence of a friend asking for three loaves of bread at midnight.

Persistence in prayer is difficult for us in our culture today. We live in a world where we can simply press the buy now button on our computer or phone and those things we want get delivered right to our door.

However, prayer is not always quick. Prayer is not efficient. Prayer is not Amazon.com with everything available with 1-click. It is about building a relationship with God. It is about sharing Communion with God.

Through this parable Jesus says that when we pray, if we do not get an answer right away, or we do not get the answer we hoped to hear, we’ve got to keep patiently trying, day and night. God’s silence is not a sign of rejection. We should keep praying, persistently, with determination.

The text continues, “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.” (Luke 11:10) Jesus continues to tell us to come as a child would come to his parent, to come to prayer in the attitude that we are God’s beloved children. God, like a loving parent, already knows our needs before we ask. God loves us and wants the best for us.

Jesus wraps these stories up and says it all,“How much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” (Luke 11:13) God loves us and one of the ways God can show this love for us is through responding to our prayers; the Lord’s Prayer and all our prayers. Because when we pray, we listen to God, but we also give attention to God’s direction in our lives. This is how we love God, we simply let God love us.

Pray as Jesus taught the disciples and taught us. Pray for what you need and for what others need. Pray in thanksgiving for your blessings. Pray because you love God. Through your praying, let God love you. Pray with persistence for ourselves, our neighbors, our community and our world.

Maybe, sometimes when we pray, our knees are supposed to shake because of fear and they tremble because we are pushed beyond our comfort; or maybe, just maybe, because of the Holy Spirit.