This morning we begin a new six-week Sunday sermon series focused on prayer. Prayer is meant to be natural, easy, and powerful. But for many, even those who have been Christians for a long time, prayer is confusing and difficult.

Am I praying enough? What if my mind wanders when I pray? Does God care whether I pray or not … He already knows what I need? What should I pray for? Do my prayers change anything? These are some of the questions I’ve been asked, and I’ve asked myself, over the years.

Prayer has been a part of our relationship with God from the very beginning. We find prayers scattered throughout the Old Testament. In this series we will look at some of those prayers. In the New Testament Jesus not only asked us to pray, He prayed. This brings us to one of the most profound mysteries of our faith; Jesus, eternally one with the Father and the Holy Spirit prayed. If He prayed then there must be something important about our prayers too.

This morning we take a closer look at the most famous of prayers, which Christians call “The Lord’s prayer.” This prayer is recorded twice, here in Luke chapter 11, and also in Matthew chapter 5, each with small differences. In our passage this morning Jesus’ closest followers asked Him, “Lord, teach us to pray.” And so, whether we find prayer easy or difficult, a regular part of our life or an occasional part of our life, their request becomes ours as we ask, “Lord, teach us to pray.”