Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” – Luke 11:1 (ESV)
And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach. – Mark 3v14 (ESV)
Why don’t we pray – How to Pray – What happens when we pray
Why don’t we pray
Distraction
“We’re more busy than bad… distracting ourselves into spiritual oblivion” – Ronald Rolheiser
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted
with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many
things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” – Luke 10:38-42 (ESV)
Comparison
How should we pray
Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.” – Matthew 6v6 (MSG)
Pray in Stillness – “Find a quiet place”
We do not pray to get God’s attention. We pray so that God will have our attention. – David Benner
“The time of business does not differ with me from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were on my knees. ” – Brother Lawrence
Pray in Secret – “[Find a] secluded place, so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God.”
“We must lay before him what is in us, not what ought to be in us” – C.S. Lewis
Pray in simplicity – “Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage.”
“The power of prayer doesn’t come from the words we say, but from the One who hears them.” – Annie VanderHeiden
What happens when we pray
“The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.”
“Prayer is how we press our hands into the invisible and find the hand of Christ reaching back. ” – James K.A. Smith
The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4v5b-7 (ESV)