“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 11:1, NIV

I think the person who translated the verb ‘to pray’ as ‘to ask for’ did the speakers of some of our indigenous languages a big disservice.

Because of that mistranslation, prayer is completely misunderstood to the extent that some people think that they have nothing to ‘pray for’ because they have everything they need.

From a biblical perspective, ‘praying’ and ‘asking for’ things do not mean the same thing. 

Praying may involve some ‘asking’ for stuff but it is just a small part of it. 

In the original language, the word translated ‘pray’ means to ‘intervene’ or ‘mediate’ with a higher authority on someone else’s behalf.

In that sense therefore, the act of prayer is basically reciprocal, involving two-way communication.

In the New Testament, the Greek word also primarily expresses the idea of ‘supplication’ not necessarily petition.

That’s why our meditation today suggests that prayer is a skill and a discipline that can be learned.

Whereas many people  tend to think that Jesus’ lesson on prayer was simply about telling the disciples what to say in prayer (the so-called ‘Lords’ Prayer’ in verses 2-4), it is clear that the lecture on prayer goes on right up to verse 13, tackling the the how and the why of prayer.

However, it is also clear that the lesson on prayer starts long before one of the disciples asks the Lord to teach them to pray.  

“Prayer, then, is a matter of our participating in the life of Jesus Christ.”

MICHAEL CASEY

If we look again at our meditation verse critically, it shows us a number of things about prayer.

First, the disciples saw him praying, which means that He gave them a practical example of being prayerful. 

Secondly, prayer is personal; the Lord didn’t require that the disciples must join Him in the exercise of praying.

He simply went on to pray because He understood that prayer is primarily personal and private. Thirdly, it says He was praying at a certain place.

That implies that prayer was being done at a certain place – at a secret prayer location that He called His closet. 

Finally, after a certain period, they could notice that the praying had ended. That implies that though the time it took was not specified, His prayer session lasted for a specific period, which made the disciples notice that He had finished praying.

These key lessons do speak to us who just pray spontaneously or when we feel like and don’t think that the discipline of prayer is necessary.

If the Son of God was and actually continues to be a disciplined prayer warrior, what reason do you have for not being an intercessor?

Also, are we giving a similar example to those close to us? Do our children for instance, ever see us praying alone privately?

 So after seeing the practical example from the Lord, a hunger was created in the disciples to yearn for it as well, to practice it as He did, and as John did.

As Michael Casey aptly put it; “Prayer, then, is a matter of our participating in the life of Jesus Christ.”  

Prayer:

Almighty God, teach me how to pray. May I continually grow into a selfless intercessor, ready to stand in the gap on the behalf of Your people. Transform me continually through prayer, for the glory of Your Name, Amen!