Jesus taught his disciples to pray. He prayed what we would, today, call the Lord’s Prayer praying in acknowledgement of God’s holiness, that his will would be done, for the things that we need, for forgiveness, and for protection from evil. We must learn to pray as Jesus taught us to pray!
Jesus’s Command
“This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
Matthew 6:9-13
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
How should we pray?
Read the story – Matthew 26:36-44
Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
Praying as Jesus prayed
- Based on what you have watched and read in these stories, what is prayer?
- What did Jesus teach us about why we should pray?
- How can you pray? What are some important things to do as you are praying?