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.” He said to them, “When you pray, say: “ ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation. ’ ” Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
—Luke 11:1-13

~~~~~

Lord, Teach Me To Pray
By Jennifer Kane

Lord, teach me to pray
With a heart full of faith—
Not seeking my glory,
But what You would shape.

Our Father in heaven,
So holy, so near,
Your kingdom, Your will—
Be done, Lord, right here.

Grant bread for today,
Not treasures untold;
Provide what I need,
My life You uphold.

Forgive me, O Father,
As I lay down my sin;
Help me forgive others,
Let mercy within.

Shield me from trials
Too heavy to bear;
Deliver me, Father,
When evil is near.

So I will keep asking,
I will keep knocking,
I will keep seeking,
Your Spirit unlocking.

For You are my Father,
So faithful, so true;
You give every good gift
That flows down from You.

Lord, teach me to pray,
Persistent and new—
A child at Your table,
Beloved by You.

~~~~~

Scripture: Luke 11:1–13

Have you ever listened to someone pray and thought, I wish I could pray like that? The disciples had that same feeling when they watched Jesus. They saw His closeness to the Father, His peace, and His power, and they asked Him, “Lord, teach us to pray.”

That request still echoes today. We don’t just need to learn how to pray—we need to actually pray. Prayer is the lifeline of our relationship with God.

When Jesus gave them the prayer we now call the Lord’s Prayer, He wasn’t giving them a ritual to recite word-for-word, but a pattern to live by. He reminded them that prayer starts with God—His name, His kingdom, His will. Then, it turns to our daily needs: food, forgiveness, and strength for today’s trials. It’s a prayer that pulls our eyes off ourselves and fixes them on the Father.

But Jesus didn’t stop there. He told a story about a man who pounded on his neighbor’s door at midnight until he got what he needed. It sounds almost impolite, but that’s the point—God welcomes bold, persistent prayers. He wants us to keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking.

And then Jesus gave one of the most comforting pictures of all: God as our Father. If human parents—flawed as we are—know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more does our perfect Father delight in giving us what we need? Especially the greatest gift of all—His Holy Spirit.

Prayer is not about perfect words. It’s about a perfect God who invites us close. It’s about trusting that He hears, He cares, and He answers with love.

Don’t overcomplicate prayer. Don’t wait until you “feel ready.” Just pray. Come as a child to your Father—honestly, persistently, and with faith.

Today pray through the Lord’s Prayer, but pause and make each line personal.
“Our Father” → Thank Him for being your Father.
“Your will be done” → Lay down something you’ve been holding tightly.
“Give us this day our daily bread” → Ask Him for what you need today, not tomorrow’s worries.
“Forgive us” → Confess, then extend forgiveness to someone else.

~~~~~

Father, thank You for inviting me to pray. Teach me to come to You with trust and persistence. Let my prayers be shaped by Your will, filled with gratitude, and strengthened by Your Spirit. Lord, teach me not just the words of prayer, but the heart of prayer. Amen.

August 19 2025