Prayer

“Contrary to popular opinion, prayer doesn’t come naturally. The “Lord’s Prayer” as we call it, was given in response to the request from a disciple, “Lord, teach us to pray as John taught his disciples” (Luke 11:1). Jesus replied: “When you pray, say Our Father…” Three things stand out here: First prayer must be taught. Second, the most natural way to pray is out loud. Third, when we pray, we pray together with Jesus. For when he instructed his disciples to pray to our Father, he implied that his Father was their Father too.

All prayer of the children of God is therefore prayer in and through the one and only beloved Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ. Baptized into him, we have put on Christ (Gal 3:27). Therefore in union with Jesus we can pray boldly and confidently to God, the maker of heaven and earth, knowing that in Christ he is our true Father and we are his true children so we can ask him anything as beloved children ask their beloved father.”

— Harold Senkbeil

Senkbeil is right that prayer is not an innate skill for sinners. The Word teaches us what to seek in prayer, and how to seek it.