Article December 22, 1973 Issue

Jesus Taught Us How to Pray

CHRISTINA ELIZABETH BENTINCK

One of Jesus' disciples once asked him, "Lord, teach us to pray."^{ Luke 11:1;} Perhaps this request arose from a longing for a really satisfying communication with God, a need for concrete evidence that prayer is heard. Jesus' answer was the wonderful prayer we call the Lord's Prayer, in which the whole range of human need is met in a few words.

The opening words of the Lord's Prayer—"Our Father"—both in the version recorded in Luke and in the more widely used form given in Matthew, emphasize its universal application and embrace. All people can find unfailing comfort and healing in it, for sickness and injury, as well as all other discordant conditions, can be healed by prayer.

A necessary attitude toward prayer is conviction. Conviction follows correct reasoning. In the first chapter of Genesis is the record that God created all and all was good.^{ See Gen. 1:31;} The first commandment tells us to honor only one God.^{ See Ex. 20:3;} The first chapter of Genesis also records that God created man in His own image and likeness.^{ See Gen. 1:26, 27;} Thus these facts are clear: God is the only creator, or Father, and man is the expression of his heavenly Father; there is no second power or god to create evil.