There is a general perception among Christians that prayer is a topic for the New Testament rather than the Old. But prayer was not an unknown subject among the Jews as evidenced by the fact that John the Baptist had instructed his disciples how to pray.

That makes Jesus’ disciples’ request to Him a little unusual: “Lord, teach us to pray.” Perhaps they had learned from Jesus that prayer could be a very personal discipline instead of just a religious practice. Their request to Jesus suggests a newfound dimension to an ancient practice: prayer to a personal Father rather than only to the God of the nation (Matthew 6:9; Luke 11:2). And perhaps the disciples had done what we often do—taking conversation with our Heavenly Father for granted rather than entering into it as life’s greatest privilege.

If prayer for you has become more of a formality than an adventure, consider using the prayer Jesus taught His disciples as a model for your own prayers (Matthew 6:9-13).

Prayer is the key of heaven; faith is the hand that turns it.
Thomas Watson