Teach Us to Pray: Learning from Jesus’ Words About Prayer (Luke 11:1-13)
Have you ever felt unsure how to pray or wondered if you’re doing it “right”? You’re not alone. Even the disciples—people who walked with Jesus—asked Him to teach them how to pray. In Luke 11, we see how Jesus responds with guidance that is both powerful and simple.
A Simple but Meaningful Prayer
When one of the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, Jesus didn’t give a long speech or complicated instructions. Instead, He shared a short prayer that we still say today.
This prayer includes everything we really need:
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Honor God – We start by remembering who God is. “Father, may Your name be kept holy.”
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Desire His ways – “Your kingdom come.” We want to live in a way that reflects God’s goodness.
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Ask for what we need – “Give us each day our daily bread.” We can trust God to provide for today.
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Seek forgiveness – “Forgive us our sins.” And we forgive others, too.
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Ask for guidance – “Lead us not into temptation.” We ask God to help us make wise choices.
This prayer reminds us that talking to God doesn’t have to be fancy or perfect. It’s about being honest, respectful, and real.
A Story About Being Persistent
Next, Jesus tells a short story. He describes someone who goes to a friend’s house at midnight, asking for bread. At first, the friend doesn’t want to get up. But because the person keeps knocking, the friend finally helps.
What does this mean for us? Jesus is encouraging us not to give up when we pray. It’s okay to ask more than once. We don’t have to be shy with God. In fact, He wants us to keep coming to Him with our needs, big and small.
God Is a Good Father
Jesus then gives us a comforting picture: If you’re a parent, and your child asks for a fish, would you give them a snake? Of course not! And if your child asks for an egg, you wouldn’t give them something harmful instead.
If regular people know how to give good things to their children, Jesus says, then how much more will God, our perfect Father, give good things—especially the Holy Spirit—to those who ask?
This shows us God’s heart. He doesn’t just hear our prayers; He wants to respond in ways that are good for us. He knows what we truly need and gives generously.
What This Means for Us Today
Prayer doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s about relationship, not performance. You don’t need special words or a perfect setting. Just talk to God. Praise Him, ask for what you need, say sorry when you’ve done wrong, and ask for strength to live well.
And when you pray, don’t give up. Keep asking. Keep seeking. Keep knocking. God hears you, and He is always ready to respond with love, wisdom, and care.
So the next time you’re unsure how to pray, just remember the words Jesus gave us—and trust that your good Father is listening.
Luke 11:1-13 (WEB)
11:1 When he finished praying in a certain place, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.”2 He said to them, “When you pray, say,‘Our Father in heaven,may your name be kept holy.May your Kingdom come.May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.3 Give us day by day our daily bread.4 Forgive us our sins,for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.Bring us not into temptation,but deliver us from the evil one.’ ”5 He said to them, “Which of you, if you go to a friend at midnight and tell him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him,’ 7 and he from within will answer and say, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give it to you’? 8 I tell you, although he will not rise and give it to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence, he will get up and give him as many as he needs.9 “I tell you, keep asking, and it will be given you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep knocking, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened.11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he won’t give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, he won’t give him a scorpion, will he? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”