LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY

 

 

 

What was the culture and background of the disciples?

Weren't they all Jews?

 

They knew how to PRAY.

They lived in a culture of PRAYER.

But their understanding of “HOW TO PRAY” was of self-serving petitions begged as favors from a perceived aloof, reluctant God, blind to their “urgent” need.

 

 

Our religious culture of PRAYER has been no different. To add to the confusion… in the Bible there are 7 different Greek words for the word, “PRAY”, with most meaning “to beg out of urgent need”, “to ask or inquire”, or “to request as a favor”.

 

WE HAVE ONLY ONE ENGLISH WORD!

 

 

Out of the seven words translated “PRAY” or “PRAYER”, 6 are only used a handful of times… “proseuchomai”, at over 100 times, is the main word used.

 

       “Proseuchomai” from prós, "towards, exchange" and euchomai, "to wish, pray") – properly, to exchange wishes;  – to interact with the Lord by switching human wishes (ideas) for His wishes (God birthed).

 

LITERALLY: Through communion with our Father, exchange our thoughts, ambitions, goals, desires, and will… [laying down our life (psuche:- SOUL – mind, will, emotions)]

FOR HIS!

 

 

IT IS THE GREAT EXCHANGE!

 

 

NOTE:  EVERY TIME Jesus went…

off alone…

to the mountain…

into the desert…

apart…

or in the Garden of Gethsemane…

TO PRAY…

 

It is the word “proseuchomai”.

 

 

WHY?

 

 

Jesus Christ knew He had to keep His Will aligned with the purpose and heart of the Father.  He had to keep His mind, will, and emotions – His SOUL – in subjection to the intent of the Spirit so He could show us as a “son of man” how to walk this Earth as a Son of God

 

This is the “knowledge” He had that “justified many.” (Isa53:11)

 

This is what He did in the garden, agonizing for 3 hours, “NOT MY WILL… BUT YOURS BE DONE” (Mtt26:34-35)

…where Yahweh, God “saw the travail of His SOUL and was satisfied”

…where He “poured out His SOUL unto death” (Isa53:11,12)

 

 

Jesus knew how to exchange His life for the life and purpose of the Father.

 

 

The disciples had never encountered this transformative intimate communication they saw daily modeled in Jesus.  

 

So… as Jesus was returning from one such encounter, they asked,

“LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY”

“teach us how to do THAT… TEACH US HOW TO “proseuchomai”! (Lk11:1-2)

 

He then instructs… “When you PRAY (proseuchomai), say: “Our Father” (indicating intimate relationship)

…and then goes on declaring – not asking – “Holy is your name… Your kingdom come... Your will be done… on Earth as it is in Heaven.” (Lk11:2-4)

 

 

Mtt26:41;Mk14:38

 “…watch and PRAY” (proseuchomai), lest you enter into temptation…”

 

 

Lk18:1 “Men always ought to PRAY (proseuchomai) and faint not.”

 

 

Mk11:24 “Whatsoever things you desire when you PRAY (proseuchomai), believe that you receive them, and you shall have them.

Mtt17:21;Mk9:29 "This kind does not come out except by prayer (proseuche – noun form of proseuchomai) and fasting"

 

So… we also ask… as the disciples did…

 

“LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY… proseuchomai”