Teach Me To Pray

Luke 11:1, “And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”

How is your prayer life? How is your walk with God? What is your testimony like with both the saved and the unsaved? How is your study of the Word of God? All of these are closely connected.

Jesus’ disciples asked Him to teach them to pray. So He gave them the outline for prayer. However I think we also need to see the urgency for prayer, necessity of prayer and the power of prayer. Prayer is God’s avenue for us receiving what we need, as well as what we desire. We are told to ask, seek, and knock. We are told to be constantly in an attitude of prayer. We are told never to be anxious about anything, but to pray.

Here is a short list of helpful passages on prayer: Mark 11:24; Philippians 4:6; Romans 8:2; James 5:16; Matthew 6:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; John 15:; Colossians 4:2; Jeremiah 33:3

Albert Simpson Reitz was a baptist pastor for over 30 years, serving in Wisconsin and California. He also wrote over 100 hymns in his lifetime. I don’t know much else about him or even most of his hymns but we all know this one: Teach Me To Pray.

Notice the things mentioned in this hymn:

Verse 1 to know God’s Will

Refrain: to have power to accomplish God’s will and influence men for God.

Verse 2 to secure power to will souls to Christ

Verse 3 to secure power to live a Christ honoring life

Verse 4 because Christ is our pattern for prayer as well as the one to whom we pray

TEACH ME TO PRAY

by Albert Simpson Reitz

1 Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray;

This is my heart-cry day unto day;

I long to know Thy will and Thy way;

Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray.

Refrain:

Living in Thee, Lord, and Thou in me;

Constant abiding, this is my plea;

Grant me Thy power, boundless and free:

Power with men and power with Thee.

2 Power in prayer, Lord, power in prayer,

Here ‘mid earth’s sin and sorrow and care;

Men lost and dying, souls in despair;

O give me power, power in prayer!

(Refrain)

3 My weakened will, Lord, Thou canst renew;

My sinful nature Thou canst subdue;

Fill me just now with power anew,

Power to pray and power to do!

(Refrain)

4 Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray;

Thou art my Pattern, day unto day;

Thou art my Surety, now and for aye;

Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray.

(Refrain)

Would you plead with God to teach you to pray?

In Christ, Pastor Rob