I want to pray like this!

Reflecting on Luke 11:1-4

“He said to them, “When you pray, say…” (Luke 11:2)

It is interesting to me that so far Jesus hadn’t expected them to pray.
For all this time with them, He was still only modelling prayer.
Or maybe they were praying, but in a more formal, traditional way.
They wanted to pray like Jesus, to talk to God more personally.
Either way, Jesus was not rushing them into prayer.
Now that they are asking, He is glad to help them out.

This version of the prayer is shorter than Matthew’s.
If both were inspired, which one was the right one?
Matthew’s is the version that that disciples normally use.
I see them as essentially saying the same thing.
What is missing in Luke’s version is implied in what is there.
‘Your kingdom come’ includes or implies ‘your will be done’.
‘Lead us not into temptation’ also means ‘deliver us from evil’.

The most important lesson as I see it is its simplicity.
Jesus uses short, simple sentences, without the fluff.
The disciples had been raised under religious prayers.

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others… And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:5,7-8)

These prayers were long rambling performances meant to impress others.
They were full of words, but not full of meaning.
This is what the disciples noticed in Jesus’s praying.
It was simple, sincere and not meant to impress.

The specific sentences do not matter, but their simplicity does.
God and Jesus are not impressed by the words, but listen for the heart.
God thank you for this…
Jesus help me with that…
God show me what to do in this situation…
Jesus, I’m sorry for…
God, use me to bless that person…

These short prayers can be used anywhere, anytime.
The people around you don’t even need to know you are praying.

“When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6)

I want to talk to God and Jesus this way.
No need to explain, they already know what is going on.

You will notice that I talk to both God and Jesus.
Both God and Jesus are with me, and live in me.

“Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” (John 14:23)

Jesus is with us to help us as we grow in our relationship with God.
I talk to Jesus as God with me, and Jesus helps me to speak to God.
I ask Jesus questions, like the disciples did: ‘Jesus, teach me to pray!’

You may pray differently than me, that is OK.
The key thing is that you pray, from the heart!
I’m comforted by the fact that Jesus did not force prayer on the disciples.
He tolerated their weak prayers, not correcting their prayers.
He can see through our stumbling, weak prayers to the heart within them.
His simple example of prayer convicted or compelled my heart.
I want to pray more and more like this, like Jesus.
‘Jesus, teach me to pray like this!’
‘God help me to relate and talk to You from the heart!’

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, thank You for knowing my heart, and helping me relate to God personally, sincerely and simply! It is a joy and a blessing to pray like this!