Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:
Luke 11:1-13 (NIV)
Jesus’ Teaching on Prayer
11 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.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: “‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread.4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’” 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity, he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. 9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
What should the relationship between this prayer and our own be?
Lord, I know that prayer is so very important. The prayer that You taught has been meaningful to people of all ages. You are our Heavenly Father who loves us just as Your prayer tells me. That gives me comfort and peace. As my Father, I know that I can come to You to ask for my daily provisions believing that You will honor my requests by giving me those things that I really need. Lord, keep me from being tempted. And when I fail, please not only forgive me but help me to forgive those who hurt me. You know my tendency to doubt and to fear but You provide me the security and protection that I need as Your child and You will never let me down. Keep me seeking for more of Your Holy Spirit and His wisdom and power in my life. Allow my relationship with You to be a priority every day so that it impacts everything I do. Let Your will be done, Holy Father. I trust You. Amen