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.”
Luke 11:1 NIV
In Luke 11, one of the disciples asked Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray.” The request raises a natural question. These men had followed Jesus for some time, yet they had never asked this before. In any case, Jesus was about to teach them about shameless audacity in prayer. He responded without a single word of rebuke.
You Do Not Have to Pray Perfectly to Be Used by God
Meanwhile, the disciples had followed Jesus for some time. Jesus had sent them on mission — at least twice — and they had returned with reports of miracles. Yet here, only now, they were asking Jesus to teach them how to pray. Notably, Jesus did not rebuke them. He did not question why they had waited so long. Instead, He simply taught them.
This reveals something important: miracles, signs, and wonders do not necessarily depend on the vessel praying. Indeed, they depend on God — on His decision to act and His authority to perform the miraculous. So even ‘imperfect’ prayer does not disqualify the one who prays. God still acts through willing vessels.
Moreover, their request itself shows that there is always room to grow in Jesus. Indeed, even those who already understand prayer can go deeper. Whatever we know now, we can unlearn and relearn. Not necessarily because it was wrong — but because God always has more to teach us.
The Privilege of Shameless Audacity in Prayer
The key lesson in this passage, however, is the privilege of prayer itself. When someone engages God in prayer — on His terms and according to His will — God will answer. He answers in His time. Without the disciples’ request, “teach us how to pray,” they would have continued with whatever understanding they already had. They would not have learned any better way.
Furthermore, Jesus went on to give the illustration of a man who knocked on his neighbour’s door at midnight. The man needed bread for a visitor. Eventually, the neighbour rose and gave him what he needed. The reason was not friendship; rather, it was the man’s shameless audacity. This is the posture Jesus highlights. Likewise, when we approach God’s throne of grace with such shameless audacity in prayer — persistent and unashamed — God attends to our requests. He meets our needs.
Living It Out
Prayer is a privilege you cannot afford to neglect. However you have prayed until now, there is more that God would have you learn. He is willing to give generously to those who approach Him with shameless audacity in prayer.