Teach us to Pray 1

The disciples came to Jesus and said "Please teach us to pray!" (Luke 11:1) These were Jewish men and women who would have learnt to pray from childhood. But they saw, as John's disciples had seen, that there was something different about their Master's prayer. He would take time to go aside with His Father, and would return full of the Holy Spirit, with power to heal the sick and calm the storm! His was no formal praying. They wanted to know more! Let's look for the keys He gives us as we follow His pattern given in 
Luke 11:1-13 and Matthew 6:5-21.
"Our Father"
Come into Father's presence as His child. Be quiet in His love for you. Remember you have access into His throne room, not by any merit of your own, but because of the precious blood of Jesus, which has made you clean. So you can come and enjoy just being in His arms, protected, loved, warm, safe. 

Heb 10:19
"Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus ..."

Jesus tells us in Matthew 6 to go into a quiet place to pray, to shut out other interference. So turn off the problems and worries that crowd your mind, as you just relax in your Father's love. In the first letter of John chapter 3, verse 1, we read how great a love our Father has lavished upon us as His sons and daughters. Sunbathe in that love as His chosen precious child before you continue into further prayer. Maybe also He will speak words of grace, comfort and love into your heart. Then, when you pray, it is from that position of being a loved, treasured daughter or son of Almighty God - your Father!

"Who art in Heaven"
Our Father Who is pouring His love into our hearts lives in HEAVEN! He is with us through His Holy Spirit on earth. As we come to Him, into HIS presence, He will help us see from His perspective. He will show us Heaven's view! 

Ps 11:4
The LORD is in His holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven; ...
Jer 17:12
A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary.

As we see God in His splendour and holiness and power, and remember that He has raised Jesus from the dead and Jesus is now seated "at His right hand in heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion ... and He (God) has put everything in subjection under His feet ...",(Eph 1:18-22), then oh how awesome it is to pray to this mighty all-powerful Lord and King! THEN, on top of that we learn in the next chapter of Ephesians  that we too are " raised up with Him, and seated in heavenly places, in Christ Jesus." (Eph 2:4-7)
This is the place He shows us all the riches of His grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus! This is the place we come to learn about the inheritance that is ours in Christ.
We see who we are in Christ, the amazing truth of our righteousness in Him. This is the place where we can pray, outside of all the entanglements of earthly life and the turmoil of the world. Above satan's rule. Above all sin and pain and sorrow. It is real enough - but here we have the place of God's covenant promise and riches of grace!

Why not read Ephesians 1:18-23 and Eph 2:4-8. 
Then pray the first line of Jesus' prayer again:

"Our Father, Who art in Heaven ...."

Practical helps: Why not have a prayer notebook. In it you can jot down scriptures as you find them. There are so many wonderful verses about the closeness of our Father and His tender care for us. If you are not sure you are a child of your Heavenly Father, then click on the post label called "Becoming a Christian" and read that and other posts on this blog.  Jesus loves us and He died for us, so that as we believe and receive HIM, we will be redeemed from the power of sin and death and brought into the Kingdom of God and our Father's forgiveness, cleansing and love! 
"Beloved, now we are children of God!" 1 John 3:2