Practice 13 of 13
Pray simply
Talk to God like someone you trust.
Key points
- The practice: Talk to God like someone you trust.
- Try this week: Pray for one minute a day. Say what’s on your mind.
- The good news: You never pray alone. Jesus prays for you, and when you have no words, the Spirit prays in you.
What Jesus did and taught
Teach us to pray
Jesus’ friends notice how he prays, and ask him to teach them.
He gives them a short prayer: the Lord’s Prayer.
He also tells them not to show off, and not to pile up words. God already knows what you need.
“Your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him.”
Matthew 6:8
Find it: Luke 11:1–4
Read Luke 11:1–4
1 When he finished praying in a certain place, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say, ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ ”
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
Why it matters
Prayer isn’t a performance. It’s honest talk.
You can start before you’re sure anyone is listening.
Try this week
Pray for one minute a day. Say what’s on your mind.
Low-energy week? Say one sentence: “God, help.”
A question to carry
What would you say to God if you were being completely honest?
With kids
Take turns at bedtime: each person says one thank-you and one help-please.
Go deeper
The good news
You never pray alone. Jesus prays for you, and when you have no words, the Spirit prays in you.
You don’t earn anything by doing this practice. Why it starts with grace