In the beginning, Genesis tells us, God spoke with His creation “in the cool of the evening.” When sin interrupted this relationship, God continued to communicate with His creation, but scripture does not indicate the intimate relationship of Eden. We hear the voice of God disciplining Cain, instructing Noah and reprimanding Sarah. He shared with Abraham his plans for the destruction on Sodom and Gomorrah, allowing him to banter for the lives in the cities. The story continues throughout the pages of the history of the Children of Israel- God’s words to His chosen people and theirs with Him. Prayers crying out for blessing, for forgiveness, and for victories. But it was not until the coming of Christ that true communication between God and man was reestablished.
When Jesus’ disciples asked Him, “Teach us to pray,” it was not because they lacked the training of the ritual prayers of their heritage. They realized that Jesus understood the power and privilege of prayer. And, at the crucifixion of Christ, the curtain separating the common man from the Holy of Holies was torn from top to bottom, symbolizing the restitution of mankind to an intimacy with the Father.
So we, too, say to Jesus, “Teach us to pray.” We study the model prayer and the reasons why Jesus prayed. We “hear” Him as He petitions His Father. And we learn to pray.
Please join us in the next few weeks as we study “Conversations with God - The Prayers of Jesus.”