January 15, 2021 (Friday)
The disciples of Jesus asked Him to teach them to pray. I think that many of us also ask the Lord to do that for us. There are times, perhaps few, when we simply feel we are making a mess of trying to talk with the Lord. At that time, we also may pray, “Lord, teach me to pray.”
The Lord gave us the model prayer so that we would have some idea of how to pray, but I don’t believe He meant for us simply to repeat those words. We did that in school when I was in elementary school. We stood by our desks, recited the Pledge of Allegiance, sang a patriotic song (usually, “America” [“My Country, ‘Tis of Thee”]), and said “The Lord’s Prayer.” With no religion at home, everything–including “The Lord’s Prayer” — was new to me. I’m sure I was not much different from many of my schoolmates who simply memorized all that and repeated it when asked to do so. Not that I never prayed. I remember praying one night for snow (in Houston, of all places), probably because I overheard a weather forecast for the very unusual stuff. Next morning there was snow everywhere, for which I took full credit, even though I kept it to myself. I really think it was just a matter of repeating “let it snow” over and over as I lay in the bed awaiting sleep. I don’t think I thought of that as a prayer.
I could have prayed the words of this hymn if I had known anything about prayer. But I did not. Thankfully, the Lord saved me and called me to preach without my having a religious background. I learned to pray eventually, but even now, sometimes I feel like praying, “Lord, teach me to pray.”
TEACH ME TO PRAY
Albert Simpson Reitz
1925
Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray;
This is my heart-cry day unto day;
I long to know Thy will and Thy way;
Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray.
Living in Thee, Lord, and Thou in me,
Constant abiding, this is my plea;
Grant me Thy power, boundless and free,
Power with men and power with Thee.
Power in prayer, Lord, power in prayer!
Here ’mid earth’s sin and sorrow and care,
Men lost and dying, souls in despair;
O give me power, power in prayer!
Living in Thee, Lord, and Thou in me,
Constant abiding, this is my plea;
Grant me Thy power, boundless and free,
Power with men and power with Thee.
My weakened will, Lord, Thou canst renew;
My sinful nature Thou canst subdue;
Fill me just now with power anew;
Power to pray and power to do!
Living in Thee, Lord, and Thou in me,
Constant abiding, this is my plea;
Grant me Thy power, boundless and free,
Power with men and power with Thee.
Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray;
Thou art my pattern day unto day;
Thou art my surety, now and for aye;
Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray.
Living in Thee, Lord, and Thou in me,
Constant abiding, this is my plea;
Grant me Thy power, boundless and free,
Power with men and power with Thee.