Scripture Readings: Luke 11:1-13 & Colossians 2:6-7
“Lord, teach us to pray.” The disciples didn’t ask Jesus to teach them how to preach or how to lead. They asked Him to teach them to pray. Why? Because when the disciples saw Jesus praying, they realized that His daily actions came from a life deeply rooted in prayer. They longed for the same kind of devoted prayer life that He had.
So, Jesus taught them how to pray, offering a model rooted in relationship with God, reverence, dependence, forgiveness, and deliverance. We call it the Lord’s Prayer. It is also called the Disciples’ Prayer for all of us who long to grow in relationship with God.
Prayer is a defining theme in the Gospel of Luke. Luke records that Jesus was praying when the Holy Spirit descended upon Him (Luke 3), and again during His transfiguration on the mountain. Jesus not only prayed before important events but also prayed at all times. He even prayed before the cross and even while hanging on the cross. The disciples witnessed His devotion to prayer and saw firsthand the power and authority that flowed from it.
Jesus begins with the word “Father.” This is not a distant God or an abstract concept. This is the God who calls us His children. Prayer begins with belonging. Jesus assures us that we are welcomed, wanted, and heard by God. He teaches us to first praise God’s name and to pray for God’s kingdom and His will, saying, ‘Hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done.’
The Lord’s Prayer goes on, with direct request: ‘Give us… Forgive us… Lead us… Deliver us…’” We are invited to speak plainly. Being direct is not being disrespectful; It is an expression of trust. God watches over our honesty – our needs, our fears, our failures, our longings.
Each petition in the Lord’s Prayer reflects deep trust in God’s character:
“Give us this day our daily bread” – a humble request for enough for today, not tomorrow’s abundance.
“Forgive us our sins…” – a plea that trusts in God’s mercy and welcomes confession without fear.
“Lead us not into temptation…” – an acknowledgment of our weakness and need for divine guidance.
“Deliver us from evil” – a heartfelt cry for protection from all that threatens to harm or destroy us.
They are heartfelt pleas that arise from the depths of a person who knows that God hears them. Such prayer makes us realise that we cannot provide these things for ourselves and that we must depend on our Father for everything we have.
These are not abstract or selfish desires. Even personal needs like bread are expressed in the plural – “give us.” The Lord’s prayer teaches us to pray, saying “our Father”, “our daily bread”, and our sins. Prayer is communal rather than individualistic. We pray not only for ourselves but as part of God’s people, standing in solidarity with others in need.
We are imperfect people, longing for God’s mercy. The Lord’s Prayer reminds us that forgiveness is not only something we receive from God – it is also a responsibility we extend to others. It’s not a transaction, but a transformation. As we pray for forgiveness and commit to forgive others, our lives are changed. Prayer becomes a channel of grace that shapes our hearts and relationships.
Prayer is not only about restoring our relationship with God after we’ve sinned; it’s also about sustaining that relationship daily. We ask God to guide our lives, trusting that only God can lead us into a lasting, life-giving connection.
In today’s text, the parable of the friend at midnight illustrates the importance of persistence and boldness in prayer. A friend knocks at our door late at night, urgently needing bread. What will we do? In the culture of the time, failing to help a friend in need would bring shame. Jesus uses this story to show that persistent asking – even stubborn knocking – is welcomed by God.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened.” Prayer is not passive. It is active, passionate, and enduring. The parable teaches us that God does not reject persistence. He welcomes it.
Jesus invites us and the Church into a season of asking, seeking, and knocking. These are not one-time actions but a faithful, ongoing approach to God. As we admit our need and helplessness, we place ourselves in a posture of dependence, trusting in our Father’s goodness. And God, our loving Father, responds. He opens the door. He gives what is needed. (Video)
Even if our prayers begin with our own requests, when we knock and call upon God, we encounter His heart and His will. In the story, the request is eventually granted whether due to persistence or to avoid dishonour. Jesus teaches that we can approach God boldly and expectantly.
Jesus then shifts the focus: If earthly parents, despite their flaws, know how to give good gifts to their children, how much more will our heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit and good gifts to those who ask Him? The greatest gift is not what we ask for, but God’s own presence. The Spirit. The Helper. The Comforter. The One who guides and sustains us. May we expect God’s presence and His will. Let us seek the Giver, not just the gift.
The Lord’s Prayer teaches us that prayer is praise, petition, confession, and commitment. It is a daily rhythm of turning to God with every part of our lives. Followers of Jesus are called to pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance daily. May we pray every day, praising God, seeking His provision, asking for forgiveness, and inviting the Spirit to lead our lives.
So let us be bold. Bold like children who run into their parent’s room. Bold like the friend who knocks at midnight. Bold like seekers who will not stop until they find. We don’t need fancy words. We just need to be real. God welcomes our honesty. God delights in our trust. And God promises His presence.
As Colossians 2:6-7 reminds us, we are to continue to live in Christ. Having received Him by grace through faith, we are called to walk in Him, not as a one-time experience but as a lifelong journey. A deep, rooted spiritual life grows through steady, consistent communion with God. Life is not a sprint. It’s a journey of slow growth and steady progress.
Like trees are rooted in the earth, we are to be rooted in Christ drawing strength, nourishment, and life through our relationship with Him. From those roots, we are built up, strengthened, and established in faith. And from that faith flows thankfulness. Here, Paul wants us overflowing with thankfulness. Gratitude is the natural outpouring of a rooted life in Christ. It is both the fruit of maturity and a sign of spiritual health.
So let us trust the heart of the One we pray to. Let us thank God not just for answered prayers, but for His presence, His grace, and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
(Ref. Bible, commentaries, theological books, UCA materials)