Murray Meditations

“As we grow in the Christian life, the thought and the faith of the beloved Master in His never-failing intercession becomes more and more precious, and the hope of being like Christ in His intercession gains an attractiveness before unknown. And as we see Him pray, as we remember that there is no one who can pray like Him, no one who can teach like Him, we feel the request of the disciples, ‘Lord, teach us to pray’ is just what we need. “A. Murray

The first and foundational prayer is the prayer of "Lord, teach us to pray". What a simple concept, and yet, I must confess that I have never prayed this prayer. Have you? As Murray so aptly instructs us, there is no one that can teach like Jesus. Not only is He the master teacher, but He delights in teaching us to pray. When we pray, we join Christ in His eternal work of intercession and in this way we become more Christlike. What a glorious thought.

We know that we are praying in God's will when we ask the Lord to teach us to pray.  He longs to commune with us in close fellowship. Is there anything more intimate or more sacred than prayer? Is there anything more accessible or more powerful than communing with our heavenly father?

“Though in its beginnings prayer is so simple that the most helpless child can pray, yet it is at the same time the highest and holiest work to which man can rise.” A. Murray

 All too often I fail to understand that prayer is the channel through which we take hold of Christ and His power. What a humbling and exciting thought. We have been given the privilege and the responsibility of joining Christ in His work. I am certain that the devil has gained a victory when we fail to access this power. How he plots and plans to keep Christians from engaging in the spiritual battle that wages by convincing us that there is little point to praying.

True prayer that takes hold of God's strength, that benefits much, to which the gates of heaven are really opened wide--who would not cry, "Oh for someone to teach me to pray this way?" A. Murray

Luke 10:37
Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciple said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples". (ESV)

Oh Lord, give me the longing to sit at your feet and learn to pray rightly, in truth and in faith. You are the author and the finisher...you give me the prayer and then you give the answer. Amen!