Day 33

[Jesus] was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”

Luke 11:1

Many people long for a firsthand, interactive relationship with God. Lacking a vital sense of the eternal in their lives, they want to know how to communicate with God. In other words, they want to learn how to pray.

The early disciples also want to know how to pray, so they ask Jesus to teach them. Significantly, this is the only time they ask to be taught anything! When they make this request, Jesus gives them what we call the Lord’s Prayer. (See Luke 11:2-4.)

We can spend a lifetime learning how to pray this prayer the way Jesus teaches us. Many assume if we just say the words then we are praying. But this is far from the truth. These words need to be entered into, lived in, meditated on, as well as spoken.

If we are interested in learning how to pray, Lent is a good time to begin.

Daily Practice

Meditate on the Lord’s Prayer today. Slowly recite each line and consider its meaning for your life.