#1371. How can we learn to pray? (23/10/25)
- Matt Beaney
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
This week, through this week of prayer, we’re taking a short break from Ephesians to think about The Power of Prayer.
Today, we ask: How can we learn to pray more effectively?
You can listen to this devotional below
Learning from the best
There are many ways to get better at something.If you wanted to improve your golf swing, you could watch YouTube tutorials, read a book, head to the driving range, or even record yourself in slow motion.But the best way to improve—whether in golf (not that I play!), language learning, art, or music—is to have a coach. An experienced teacher helps you see what you can’t see yourself and guides you to grow.
The same is true for prayer.
Ask Jesus to teach you to pray
Jesus is the best teacher when it comes to prayer. We can read what He says about it in Scripture—and we can also ask Him to teach us personally.
Luke tells us:
‘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.” He said to them, “When you pray, say: “‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.”’ (Luke 11:1-4)
Notice that Jesus didn’t ignore their request or rebuke them for asking such a question. He welcomed it—and taught them.
The same is true for us: Jesus delights to teach anyone who comes to Him asking, “Lord, teach me to pray.”
Ask the Spirit to help you to pray
Like Jesus, the Holy Spirit is also our helper in prayer. Paul writes:
‘In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.’ (Romans 8:26)
Now, of course, this verse needs some study, however, let’s notice how we are promised that the Spirit helps those who ‘do not know how to pray as [they] ought’! I guess that all of us!
Response
Do we ask Jesus to teach us to pray, as His first disciples did?
When we pray, do we invite the Holy Spirit to help and lead us?
If we struggle in prayer, we’re in good company—the disciples did too.But take heart: Jesus will teach anyone who asks Him, and the Spirit will help anyone who depends on Him.
Focus of prayer for today
This week, at CCP, is a week of prayer, today, our focus for prayer:
Pray that you, personally, would grow in passion and power in prayer.
Pray for the church to grow in the humility that leads to prayer.
Pray for the church in our nation and the world - to grow in faithfulness and revival.
Pray for Roehampton - for our vision and God’s mission in that place.
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