Of all the things the disciples saw Jesus do, the only thing they asked him to teach them to do was to pray. Not calm a storm, not heal the blind or the sick, or even raise the dead, but to pray.
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.” Luke 11:1
What he says next is less about a formula but more about a template. Rabbi’s taught statements that could be used with some creative license. Let’s spend the next few days looking at the statements Jesus gives his disciples to pray… and how we might pray them ourselves.
2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: “‘Father,
Stop everything. Jesus does not begin the typical way of calling on the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But rather, he goes straight to “Father.” The actual word Jesus uses is “abba,” which basically means “Daddy.” In a culture obsessed with reverence and paying honor, Jesus says you can address the Almighty God as a loving dad.
“hallowed be your name”
And this name and the one it represents is holy. Only God can make his name holy. And he does so through his mighty acts. It’s as if Jesus is saying, “Father, flex your muscles. Show me and everyone else how amazing you are.”
Let’s pray that today.
Dear Heavenly Father, will you demonstrate your power and holiness by working in and on the life of the person I’ve been fasting and praying for. Be noticeable and praiseworthy in their life today.