“Lord, teach us to pray.”
A couple of weeks ago, we gathered around our table for dinner, as we usually do, and as always, my kids fought over who got to say prayers first. It was my daughter's turn; she shut her eyes, clapped her hands together, and in a big loud voice, to our complete surprise, she recited the Lord's Prayer word for word. She’s five. She learned it at school.
What my daughter didn’t recite was the conversation the disciples and Jesus had that led to this prayer.
“One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”” Luke 11:2 (NIV).
They wanted to be taught a prayer.
(Side Note: Prayer is my favorite to write about…).
Is there a right way to pray? Certain words that need to be included?
Form? Structure? It can seem that way, especially when we read in Luke that the disciples asked to be taught how. I read blog posts and watch videos and hear people talking about how we have to learn how to pray; it’s got to be done properly; we must be effective in our prayers.
“The simple path: silence is prayer, prayer is faith, faith is love, love is service, the fruit of service is peace.”
MOTHER TERESA
Powerful, two minute reads that have helped change the script in thousands of people's lives.
As a child, I was taught that praying was just talking to God like we would to a friend and that speaking in tongues was my secret language with God that only he could understand.
When did something so instinctual become so complicated?
When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, he didn’t say: “it’s just talking to God like you would a friend…”
He showed them a prayer.
This wasn’t just a lesson, a “how to” for prayers. In the Ancient Hebrew world, a Rabbi and his disciples had their own prayer. It was part of their identity and belonged to the group. Kinda like a theme song or a chant. From what we can gather in Luke 11, John had taught his disciples a prayer, as was custom, but Jesus was yet to do so. Which was a little strange.
But after asking if they could finally have a prayer so they could be like all the other cool disciples and their Rabbi’s, Jesus taught them one that was similar to many of the ancient prayers found in Hebrew traditions, with a few slight changes. Which is important to note.
But of course, he wasn’t teaching them the structure of prayer; he wasn't giving them a set of words to recite (even though my daughter can do it beautifully). Reciting words doesn’t do a thing! He was inviting them into a deeper conversation and sense of connection with God, the world and themselves – collectively, all at once.
Written by Liz Milani
A few years ago I emailed you. I'm facing some struggles and it's hard to believe that God will come through for me. Without getting into specifics can you pray for me? Can you pray that God shows mercy on me? So often times I struggle when I sin. I think the worst and feel the worst. Guilt encompasses my mind and I find it hard to trust God. I've gotten back in my devotions and the word today was, “Be still and know that I am God.” Can you pray that not only God redeems me again, but teaches me to trust throughout. Thank you so much.
Andrae,
I will pray for you. I believe in a God who forgives and loves us unconditionally, no matter how many times we fall short. I pray the Lord hears your prayers (as I believe he does) and that you feel his encompassing love surround you all of your days. Sit, and be still. Lastly, be patient…his is working in and for you at this very moment.
Blessings,
Jodi
So well said Liz. Prayer is between me and God. He hears my prayers if I say them out loud or my spirit prays for me. This will be an exciting series. Thank you
haha – Thanks Allen! Yep… prayer is more than words… its about, connection, and flow. You are heard my friend, in so many ways. Liz.
I love that soo much!
The simple path:
Silence is prayer
Prayer is faith
Faith is love
Love us service, the fruit of service is Peace xxx
It's one of my favourites, too, Wendy! Liz xo
I love your writing so so much. I’ve been reading you for about a year now. You mean so much to me, what you do means so much to me and help get a better grasp on Love life God all of it and dang it those things are intertwined hahaha. I just wanted to ask what are some things you’ve read or maybe this specifically mentioning up here when you said that most Jewish Rabbi’s had their own prayer for their disciples. I know you’ve talked about reading Rohr and sure probably others like Peter Enns maybe Rachel Held Evans. But with this, where’d you find the cultural context to find that out i’m like really really curious (also i hope this doesn’t sound like an interrogation i’m genuinely just really curious, trying to get in tuned to my own journey even more tooo [as we all are hahaha.])
Even if this never gets answered just know I appreciate you and your writing so much. You are an incredible person, you and Jesse too he writes too ! haha you are incredible people. I’m so very grateful for all you are and what you do, helped me see Love (it’s captialized bc that’s God that’s life that’s all) and love self others God more always. I’m so grateful for you ok this got a lot longer but yeaaa. :))
Just read this whole series. I love it so much. 🙂
Hi Thomas!
WOW – thank you so much for your kind words. They mean so much to ME! haha!!
It's difficult to pinpoint the ONE place I get all this info from because I read and listen and research so much. It's usually a culmination of places and authors and articles that I find all of this stuff out. A couple of Jewish Scholars that I love are Amy Jill Levine, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, and Rabbi David Fohrman. And Dr Alexander Shaia and Walter Brueggemann, although theye're not Jewish. I use a couple of Jewish websites regularly including myjewishlearning.com and ourrabbijesus.com. But there are a HOST of other scholars and authors and articles that I use.
Growing up in a very fundamental environment, I don't think I even considered that Jewish was Jewishness, that ALL the men and women who contributed to what we now call the Biblical text were Jewish, and that to fully grasp the sense of the various different stories and histories and letters and poems and riddles and parables and wisdom writings and diary entries that were recorded over the space of nearly 1500 people going through different times, technological advances and challenges, and stages of hum progression, I would do well to consider the context and culture of these beautiful souls. It's literally changing my faith and my life in a beautiful way.
Again Thomas, thank you so so much for your encouragement. We are STOKED that you are enjoying the App and that its meaningful to you. Thank you thank you thank you.
Liz.