VI. HOW CAN I GROW?

2. Pray

Read Luke 11:1-13

We want to grow up to be like our heavenly Father. But we can only get to know what people are like by talking to them and watching them. Communication is vital in any relationship. This is equally true in our relationship with God. Talking with God in this way is the essence of prayer.

1. You will notice that there are footnotes to some of the verses in the passage in Luke in the New International Version of the Bible. These add some important words that were included in some of the older manuscripts from which we get our modern English Bible. It starts out as just another day in the life of Jesus. What was Jesus doing as part of this normal day? (Luke 11:1)

2. What was the disciples’ request? (Luke 11:1)

3. To whom should we address our prayer? (Luke 11:2)

4. What should be our first two concerns when we pray? (Luke 11:2)

5. God’s Kingdom is his rule and the realm where that is effective. It is where his will is being done - on earth or in heaven. Is there any point in a person praying this if he does not want this to be applied first in his own life?

6. Do you think God is concerned about our basic daily needs? (Luke 11:3). List some of the needs in your life that would be covered by this request.

7. What is the condition for our sins being forgiven? (Luke 11:4)

8. What is the final request in this model prayer? (Luke 11:4) What particular sorts of temptation would be relevant for you to pray about in this way?

9. What points is Jesus trying to make through the story that he tells after he prays his model prayer? (Luke 11:5-13)

When Jesus was asked by the disciples to teach them how to pray, He gave them a model prayer. They were not supposed to just repeat it word-for-word, but it gave them a framework of the sort of things to pray about. There are other prayers recorded in the Bible which we can also use as models to help us know how to pray and what to pray. Psalms is full of personal prayers which can help you to express your heart to God. There are others in the New Testament.

Read: Acts 4:29,30; Romans 15:5,6,13; Ephesians 1:15-19; 3:14-19; Philippians 1:9-11; Colossians 1:9-12; 1 Timothy 2:1-4

Try to become familiar with these great prayers of the Bible and include their ideas and vocabulary into your own praying. It will help your praying to move beyond a shopping list for your own needs and wants.