Did you ever notice that Jesus never really taught prayer? He taught and exhorted faith, obedience- righteousness but he never really openly taught prayer.
Don’t misunderstand, he practiced a prayer lifestyle for everyone to see. I think we can assume he wants us all to pray but he addressed it as it naturally came up or he was asked about it.
This makes me wonder if prayer, beyond a need for prayer, can be taught. It seems to me that prayer has to be learned. And that changes the dynamic. The impetus shifts from the teacher’s experience to the student’s need and it’s accompanying hunger.
As it goes, there are so many different important kinds of prayer, all shaped somewhat according to the times and call for every individual’s life. I’m writing here of something different than our shared Godward approaches for needs, fears and help in life. I’m thinking more of that kind of prayer that is required of us all to bring the Kingdom of God into our own, or someone else’s, world.
This kind of prayer, be it intercession for a spared life or the releasing of revelation to expand the kingdom, can’t be taught by any other, any less than the master of prayer Himself, the Holy Spirit.
I think that’s why the approach of the would be Pray-er is the opening move for that great and intimate course to be taught.
“Lord, teach us to pray…”
“….WHEN you pray…”