How to Pray Like Jesus - The Prayer of a Disciple
In Luke 11, the disciples ask Jesus a simple but life-shaping question: “Lord, teach us to pray.” It is the only recorded moment in the Gospels where the disciples directly asked Jesus to teach them something. They saw Him heal, preach, calm storms, and raise the dead, yet the one skill they longed to learn was prayer.
Why?
Because they saw in Jesus a life anchored in communion with the Father. His words carried power. His actions carried authority. But His prayer life carried intimacy.
This request did not come while Jesus lectured about prayer. It came while Jesus was praying in front of them. They watched Him approach the Father with confidence, humility, surrender, and purpose, and something inside them stirred: We want to pray like that.
Jesus responded by giving them not a script but a pattern, a model, a framework for drawing near to God with both reverence and trust.
The Pattern Jesus Gives Us
Jesus gives six movements in the Disciples’ Prayer. The first three focus on God’s glory. The last three focus on our need. Together, they form a complete picture of how a disciple approaches God.
1. Father — The Person of God
When Jesus says to begin with “Father,” He teaches us that prayer starts with relationship. We come not as strangers or servants, but as children who belong to a loving Father who delights in hearing us. He is intimate and near.
2. Hallowed Be Your Name — The Praise of His Name
God is not only Father but also holy. Reverent. Set apart. When we pray, we remember who He is and who we are. We approach Him with awe, not casualness. This simple line calls us to honor God’s name in our prayers and our daily lives.
3. Your Kingdom Come — The Priority of His Kingdom
Prayer is not about getting God into our plans but getting us into His. Praying “Your kingdom come” is a surrender of our agendas. It is asking God to reign in our homes, our community, and our hearts. It is saying, “Change me first.”
4. Give Us Today Our Daily Bread — The Provision We Need
Jesus invites us to pray for our everyday needs. Physical, emotional, and spiritual. Bread symbolizes everything required for life. Prayer teaches us dependence, reminding us we are not self-sustaining. Everything we have is a gift from God.
5. Forgive Us Our Sins — The Pardon of God
Forgiveness is at the heart of following Jesus. We confess freely, not hiding, because we know God is full of mercy. But Jesus adds a challenging truth: we cannot ask God for what we refuse to give others. Forgiven people forgive.
6. Lead Us Not Into Temptation — The Protection We Need
We live in a world full of temptations and trials. Jesus teaches us to ask God for strength, discernment, and rescue. We cannot stand firm alone. But God faithfully provides a way out for those who seek Him.
Together, these six movements shape a disciple’s heart, align our desires with God’s will, and teach us that prayer is more than words. It is surrender, relationship, worship, and dependence.
Reflect:
Which part of the Disciples’ Prayer speaks to your current season of life: relationship, reverence, surrender, provision, forgiveness, or protection?
When you pray, do you begin with God’s glory or your own needs?
Is there anyone you need to forgive before you can pray with a clear conscience?
How can you incorporate Jesus’ prayer pattern into your daily rhythm this week?
Pray:
Father, thank You for teaching me to pray. You are close like a parent and holy beyond comprehension. Help me to desire Your kingdom above my own plans. Provide what I need today and help me trust that every good gift comes from You. Forgive my sins and reveal anyone I need to forgive. Protect me from temptation and give me strength to walk in obedience. Shape my heart to pray as Jesus prayed. Amen.