Teach Us To Pray

February 01, 2026

Teacher: Pastor Dave Brown

Since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus.

— Luke 1:3

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

— Luke 10:38-42

The Good Samaritan shows us what love does.

Mary reminds us where love begins.

Prayer teaches us how to stay there.

“Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

— Luke 11:1

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place.  When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

— Luke 11:1

“When you pray, say: Father…”

— Luke 11:2

Prayer is about presence before it’s about anything else.  Prayer doesn’t begin with outcomes.  Prayer is the free choice to be with the Father, to prefer his company.  In our desire for certain outcomes or our confusion over not getting certain outcomes, we are tempted to begin there.  But we cannot brush past simply being with the Father and arrive at anything close to the sort of prayer Jesus won back for us.  Prayer starts with presence.

— Tyler Staton

Gracious Father,
you are the God of peace,
the sovereign King who gathers one Kingdom from many nations
and calls us to belong wholly to you and to one another;

Teach us to be with you before we strive to do for you.
Quiet our anxious hearts,
loosen our grip on lesser allegiances,
and form in us the mind of Christ.

Where opinions differ, give us charity.
Where fears rise, give us trust.
Where we are tempted to divide, make us one.

As we seek the future of Redeemer Church,
guide us by your Spirit.
Grant us wisdom in discernment,

patience with one another,
and courage to follow wherever you lead.
 

Make us a praying people before we are a decisive people,
that our life together may reflect the peace and unity of your Kingdom.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.