Lesson 2: Lord, Teach Us to Pray, part 2
James 5:16 - Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
“Lord, teach us to pray.” Yes, to pray. This is what we need to be taught. Though in its beginnings prayer is so simple that the feeble child can pray, yet it is at the same time the highest and holiest work to which man can rise. It is fellowship with the unseen and most Holy One. The powers of the eternal world have been placed at its disposal. It is the very essence of true religion, the channel of all blessings, the secret of power and life. Not only for ourselves, but for others, for the Church, for the world, it is to prayer that God has given the right to take hold of Him and His strength. It is on prayer that the promises wait for their fulfilment, the kingdom for its coming, the glory of God for its full revelation. And for this blessed work, how lazy and unfit we are. It is only the Spirit of God who can enable us to do it correctly. How speedily we are deceived into resting in the form, while the power is lacking. Our early training, the teaching of the Church, the influence of habit, the stirring of the emotions—how easily these lead to prayer which has no spiritual power, and accomplishes little. True prayer, that takes hold of God’s strength, that accomplishes much (James 5:16), to which the gates of heaven are really opened wide—who would not cry, Oh for someone to teach me thus to pray?
Jesus has opened a school, in which He trains His redeemed ones, who specially desire it, to have power in prayer. Shall we not enter it with the petition, Lord, it is just this we need to be taught! Oh teach us to pray.
“Lord, teach us to pray.” Yes, us, Lord. We have read in Your Word with what power Your believing people of old used to pray, and what mighty wonders were done in answer to their prayers. And if this took place under the Old Covenant, in the time of preparation, how much more will You not now, in these days of fulfilment, give Your people this sure sign of Your presence in their midst. We have heard the promises given to Your apostles of the power of prayer in Your name, and have seen how gloriously they experienced their truth: we know for certain, they can become true to us too. We hear continually even in these days what glorious tokens of Your power You still give to those who trust You fully. Lord, these all are men of like passions with ourselves; teach us to pray so too. The promises are for us, the powers and gifts of the heavenly world are for us. Oh teach us to pray so that we may receive abundantly. To us too You have entrusted Your work, on our prayer too the coming of Your kingdom depends, in our prayer too You can glorify Your name; “Lord, teach us to pray.” Yes, us, Lord; we offer ourselves as learners; we would indeed be taught by You, “Lord, teach us to pray.”
Prayer: Dear Lord, cleanse me of all my own desires so I can pray for what You want to do around me to further Your kingdom and bring glory to Your name.