The Lord's Prayer RevisitedSample

"Prayer 101" Before we look at the Lord’s Prayer itself, we need to first identify the context in which it was given. In Luke 11:1, just as Jesus is finishing His prayers, He is approached by one of the disciples requesting specific instructions on how he and the others should pray. As rabbi, Jesus was expected to guide His disciples in all matters spiritual – not the least of which was their prayer life. It is important here that we recognize the humility and willingness to take instruction that Jesus’ disciples demonstrated. (James 4:10) Like the disciples, we, too, need to seek the Lord’s guidance when it comes to our prayer life. (Matthew 7:7-8) In doing so, we must be receptive to the things God would have us pray about. (We’ll examine the specifics of that in the lessons that follow.) Even when we are unsure how to proceed in prayer, as the disciples were in this instance, we must also remember that God’s Holy Spirit is there to intercede on our behalf. (Romans 8:26)