Lord, Teach Us To Pray

Lord, teach us to pray.

Like the disciples, we have our own reference for what talking to You looks like. They asked You to teach them "as John taught his followers" and we often come to You, thinking the same: teach us according to the reference point we know. But You always change things up... You always branch out our understanding because You are not like any other. Even prayer, to You, look different from anything we are familiar with. And that is why we need to be shown the way. We need to be schooled in the art of intercession.       

Following the model you once gave the disciples...    

Teach us what it means to call you Father. So many of us had mixed experiences when it comes to parents that, when we try to understand You, we struggle. We wrestle to fall into Your kindness. We fight to collapse into Your love. We can't wrap our minds around a Being that could be that good because all we've ever known is broken, fallible affection... or maybe no affection at all. Show us how to see that You are all the things others never were for us and that we can trust You, count on You, believe in You, rest in You always. 

Enter us into the sacredness - the holy reverence - of Your Name. Help us to understand the power it carries, the comfort it offers, the access it gives into all things abundant living. Make us see that it commands our respect, demands our worship, calls for our devotion. You are set apart unto Yourself and no one can take the place You forever hold over the world and everything in it. 

Give us the faith to request that "Your kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven." You do not run Your kingdom like all other monarchs we've ever known. You operate Heaven in a totally different way. Show us that way! We want to see even the slightest glimpse of eternity here because the truth is, once You came down to earth in human form, You began the join the two once again. Sin had ripped them apart in the first Eden and now You started the process of moving us toward the new Eden. Your kingdom is here, happening right now in front of us, if only we had the awareness to witness it. Open our senses and let us start to become active observers of a reign already in effect and make us know the specialness of being called royalty in Your household forever. 

Slow us down so that we start to know what it means to ask for our "daily bread." Not just the literal food that feeds a body but the Bread of Life that feeds a soul. May we savor the crumbs that fall from Your table, treating them as actual necessary sustenance for our being instead of a just a bonus for having committed to following You. Let the Word sink in so deep and the Truth run so wide inside of us that we are always in a state of communion with You, listening to You, and obeying what You direct. Give us enough so that we are satisfied but also, let us not get full so that we do not keep coming back for more. 

Lead us on the path of forgiveness, both for the wrongs we ourselves have done but also the things others have done against us. Even though we know it it bad it hang onto resentful, bitter thoughts about others' failings or to beat up ourselves over mistakes we made, somehow, we still feel a sense of power in holding these wrongs over ourselves and others. It makes us feel superior and justified. Break us of this. Shatter our need for holding a grudge and help us learn what it means to forgive ourselves and others like You. It's true that we will never be able to completely forgive the way You do, but at least give us grace to try... and try again... and keep trying. To not keep a list of wrongs and believe the Accuser when he tries to bring it all back. You have washed it all into the sea of Your matchless mercy. Show us how to do the same. 

When we are tempted, give us the strength to be strong and to love You more than whatever may be appealing to our lesser selves. In the face of things calling to our shadow side and baser nature, may we be reminded that giving into our selfishness, pride, and negative passions never did actually get us anywhere. Let us welcome accountability. Let us lean into conviction and constructive criticism. We need to keep growing, changing, learning. Allow us to never get too "holy" that we think ourselves above the pull of sin. 

And may we always acknowledge that "Your's is the kingdom, power, and glory forever." We agree with the words You spoke when You showed the way to prayer, but help us live like they are actually true! Give us the ability to believe the things You went on to tell the disciples right after: that You welcome our shameless audacity to come to You at all times for all things, knowing that You will always give us as much as we need of You. Let us accept your undeserved 24/7 invitation into Your gracious throne room and help us get over our need to sugarcoat our true needs, struggles, and feelings. Allow us to feel safe enough to be honest in Your presence, knowing that we can't hide our real selves from Your all-knowing gaze. 

Teach us to pray, Lord. 

We need it.