TO BE TAUGHT TO PRAY

"Lord, teach us to pray!" Luke 11:1

It is a humbling fact that of ourselves, we neither know how to pray nor what to pray for. It is a special mercy that the Holy Spirit is provided to help our infirmities, and to make intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered.

Sometimes we have no proper sense of our needs. Sometimes we have no devotional feelings. And sometimes we have no words with which to express ourselves before God. Some of our severest conflicts, are upon our knees.

We want to pray — but cannot.

We are sighing for communion with God — but cannot enjoy it.

We want to pour out our whole souls to the Lord — but have not a word to say.

Never did the disciples more need the teaching of their Master — than we need the teaching and assistance of the Holy Spirit.

Lord, teach us to know ourselves — our needs, our transgressions, and our relationship to you. And then teach us to . . .

present ourselves to you,

confess our sins before you,

ask for a supply of our needs from you,

obtain the pardon of all we have done amiss,

and call you Abba, Father!

O teach us to pray this evening! O teach us to come before you, even to your seat — to draw near to you by the blood of Jesus, and find liberty in opening our heart to you. O to pray in faith, with fervor, according to your will, and as shall be acceptable in your sight!

Never allow us to be satisfied with a form, or merely to utter meaningless words before you — but let our whole hearts be engaged in the service — let us worship you in spirit and in truth. Let us pray in the Spirit, and with the understanding also.

Precious Lord Jesus, you are touched with a feeling of our infirmities, you know the hindrances which we meet with — therefore teach us to pray.

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will." Romans 8:26-27 – James Smith

-Discuss the following paragraph. (By what means are we to draw near to God in prayer? How are we to draw near to God in prayer?): 

..."O teach us to pray this evening! O teach us to come before you, even to your seat — to draw near to you by the blood of Jesus, and find liberty in opening our heart to you. O to pray in faith, with fervor, according to your will, and as shall be acceptable in your sight!"