Jesus wants to hear from us?

Prayer is a tricky thing.  More than half of Americans report that they pray daily, but when pressed about how and what they pray about, and what it means to pray, the term, ‘prayer’ comes to mean almost anything. Almost as if prayer is entirely in the eye of the beholder. So, what does it mean to pray? Is there a right way? Could there be a wrong way? All these are actually good questions. And as we study Luther’s Large Catechism this week we will unpack a bit more about prayer from the context of the Lord’s Prayer.

This often repeated prayer, spoken by rote at nearly every worship service, has much more to offer than mere comforting familiarity. Luther introduces his commentary on the Lord’s prayer by talking about prayer in general terms. Specifically, he frames his discussion on prayer in terms of the commandment to not take The Lord’s name in vain. 

Interesting. 

What might that commandment have to do with prayer, or specifically, the Lord’s Prayer? 

According to Dr. Luther, a whole lot. Our first teaching on prayer begins with a discussion on the inverse of not taking the Lord’s name in vain. You know, of course, that Luther is famous for explaining the commandments in terms of not only what we must not do. But also, more positively, what we get to do. That’s right. We get to use God’s name in ways that bring honor to him.  We get to reflect on what is true of him and brings us to a fuller realization of his grace, mercy, and love. You see, the only way it makes sense to ban taking his name in vain is if God actually expects us to already be using his name on a regular basis in the first place. As in, prayer (and worship). 

Prayer is a duty and a delight. And yet, for many Christians, to pursue prayer as a lifestyle, to do all things by means of prayer (instead of just asking God to bless what we’ve already decided to do) is really challenging. Luther lists some obstacles to genuine prayer. The list is a familiar one; sin, the flesh (our inner desires that are bad), and the Devil. All three conspire to distract, induce boredom and disbelief and otherwise prevent us from taking prayer seriously. Yet, Jesus seems to expect us to pray.

In Matthew 6, verse 5 Jesus begins a brief teaching on prayer with the words, “And when you pray…”

WHEN. 

Not if. When. 

Jesus warns us against praying just to be seen praying. Jesus warns us against thinking that there are ‘better’ or ‘fancier’ words that will get more traction with God. You see, Jesus simply wants, us. He desires a relationship with, us. He longs to hear from, us. That right there is Gospel enough to start with. It is good news that Jesus wants to commune with us more than we do. It is good news, Gospel, that Jesus isn’t grading our perfect grammar or properly formatted phrases. He so wants to hear from us that he gave us the Lord’s prayer as a model for prayer. That’s right. Think of the Lord’s prayer as a template for prayer. A starting point, like a writing prompt, to inspire us to pour our hearts out to our Lord and Savior. 

Want to hear more? Join us this Sunday at 9:00 am.