"A Simple Man's Guide to Prayer"

Presented on October 19, 2025

Main text: Luke 11:1-13

Preached by Pastor Rich Chasse

Day 1: Ordinary People, Extraordinary God

Devotional

Have you ever felt unqualified to approach God? Maybe you think you're not educated enough, spiritual enough, or good enough to have a meaningful prayer life. If so, you're in good company. The twelve apostles were ordinary people - fishermen, a tax collector, and common workers whom the religious elite dismissed as uneducated. Yet these same "ordinary" people witnessed something extraordinary in Jesus' prayer life that made them hunger for more. When one of the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, it wasn't because they didn't know how to talk to God. They had grown up with religious traditions and formal prayers. What they saw in Jesus was different - authentic, powerful, and transformative. His prayers weren't just religious rituals; they were real conversations with His Father. This is encouraging news for all of us who feel ordinary. God doesn't require a seminary degree or perfect theology to commune with Him. He invites common people into extraordinary relationship through prayer. Your background, education level, or past sin don't disqualify you from approaching the throne of grace. In fact, God often chooses the ordinary to display His extraordinary power. The beauty of prayer is that it's not about our qualifications - it's about God's invitation. He welcomes you just as you are, with all your imperfections and insecurities. Your prayers don't need to sound impressive to others; they just need to be honest conversations with your heavenly Father who loves you deeply.

Bible Verse

'When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.' - Acts 4:13 (Read Luke 11:1-13)

Reflection Question

What insecurities or feelings of inadequacy have kept you from developing a deeper prayer life, and how might knowing that God uses ordinary people change your perspective?

Prayer

Father, thank You that You don't require perfection or impressive credentials to come to You in prayer. Help me to set aside my insecurities and approach You with confidence, knowing that You welcome ordinary people like me into extraordinary relationship with You. Amen.

Day 2: Prayer as Conversation

Devotional

Think about your best friendships. What makes those relationships special? Likely, it's the quality of your conversations - the way you share what matters to both of you, listen to each other, and genuinely care about each other's concerns. Prayer works the same way. It's not a one-sided monologue where we dump our requests on God and walk away. It's a two-way conversation over matters of mutual concern. This perspective transforms how we approach prayer. Instead of seeing it as a religious duty or emergency hotline, we begin to understand it as relationship building. We discuss things that matter to God - His glory, His kingdom, His will - and we also share what matters to us - our needs, fears, hopes, and dreams. The beautiful truth is that what matters to us also matters to God because we matter to Him. To discover what's on God's heart, we need to spend time in His Word. Scripture reveals God's character, His desires, and His plans. When we combine Bible reading with prayer, we're not just learning about God intellectually; we're using His Word as a springboard for conversation. We read about His faithfulness and thank Him for it. We discover His promises and claim them. We learn about His heart for justice and pray for it in our world. This conversational approach makes prayer less intimidating and more natural. You're simply talking with someone who loves you about the things that matter most to both of you.

Bible Verse

'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 (Read Hebrews 4:14-16)

Reflection Question

How might viewing prayer as a conversation rather than a religious duty change the way you approach your time with God?

Prayer

Lord, help me to see prayer as a precious conversation with You rather than a religious obligation. Teach me to share my heart with You while also listening for what's on Your heart. Show me how to use Your Word to guide our conversations together. Amen.

Day 3: The Power of Dedicated Time

Devotional

In our always-connected world, we're constantly available to everyone through texts, calls, and notifications. Yet the most important relationships in our lives require dedicated, focused time. You wouldn't try to maintain a marriage or close friendship through scattered moments between other activities. The same principle applies to our relationship with God. Jesus, despite His incredibly busy ministry schedule, consistently set aside specific times for focused prayer. He didn't just maintain a prayerful attitude throughout the day - though that's important too. He deliberately withdrew from the crowds and even His disciples to spend concentrated time with His Father. This wasn't because He was more spiritual than us; it was because He understood the necessity of dedicated communion with God. Think of this focused prayer time as a spiritual momentum generator for your entire day. Just as a good breakfast energizes your body for the day ahead, dedicated prayer time energizes your spirit for whatever lies ahead. It's like having a secure foundation that keeps you steady when life gets chaotic. This doesn't mean your prayer time needs to be lengthy or elaborate. Even fifteen minutes of focused conversation with God can transform your perspective and strengthen your faith. The key is consistency and intentionality. When you prioritize this time with God, you'll find that your awareness of His presence throughout the day increases naturally. Action is required here - prayer isn't just an attitude we carry, but a deliberate choice we make to connect with our heavenly Father.

Bible Verse

'But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.' - Matthew 6:6 (Read Matthew 6:6-14)

Reflection Question

What specific time and place could you set aside for focused prayer, and what obstacles might you need to overcome to make this a consistent practice?

Prayer

Father, help me to follow Jesus' example by setting aside dedicated time to meet with You. Show me how to create space in my schedule for focused prayer, and give me the discipline to protect this time as sacred. May these moments with You energize my entire day. Amen.

Day 4: God's Agenda First

Devotional

When we approach someone in authority with a request, we usually begin by acknowledging their position and showing respect. Jesus taught us to apply this same principle in prayer, but for a much deeper reason than mere protocol. When we begin our prayers by focusing on God's agenda - His name, His kingdom, His will - we're aligning our hearts with His purposes before presenting our own needs. This isn't about earning God's favor through flattery. It's about perspective. When we start by acknowledging who God is and what He desires, our own concerns find their proper place. Our problems don't disappear, but they're viewed through the lens of God's sovereignty and goodness. Our requests become less demanding and more trusting. Praying for God's agenda first also transforms what we pray for. As we focus on His kingdom and His will, we begin to care about the things He cares about. We find ourselves praying for justice, mercy, and the spread of the gospel. We become concerned about His reputation in our world and His work in other people's lives. This doesn't mean we can't bring our personal needs to God. Jesus taught us to pray for daily bread, forgiveness, and protection. But when these requests come after we've focused on God's agenda, they're offered with greater trust and surrender. We're essentially saying, "Lord, I trust You with what matters most to You, and I trust You with what matters most to me." This approach to prayer builds our faith because it reminds us that we're partnering with the God of the universe in His eternal purposes.

Bible Verse

'This, then, is how you should pray: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."' - Luke 11:2-4 (Read 1 Chronicles 29:10-13)

Reflection Question

How might beginning your prayers with God's agenda rather than your own requests change both your perspective and your faith?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to prioritize Your agenda in my prayers. May Your name be honored, Your kingdom advanced, and Your will accomplished in my life and in our world. Teach me to trust You with both Your concerns and mine. Amen.

Day 5: Keep Knocking with Confidence

Devotional

Have you ever felt like giving up on a prayer request? Maybe you've been asking God for something for months or even years, and you're wondering if He's listening or if you should just stop asking. Jesus addressed this exact struggle through His teaching on persistent prayer, but with a beautiful twist that changes everything. Jesus told a parable about a persistent friend who kept knocking until his neighbor gave him what he needed. The point isn't that God is like a grumpy neighbor who only responds when we pester Him enough. Rather, Jesus is making a contrast: if even a reluctant human will eventually respond to persistence, how much more will our loving heavenly Father respond to His children's requests? The encouragement to "keep asking, seeking, and knocking" isn't about wearing God down or proving our dedication. It's about maintaining faith and hope in the character of our Father. Persistent prayer demonstrates our trust that God is good, that He hears us, and that He will respond in His perfect timing and way. Sometimes God's answer is "yes," sometimes it's "no," and sometimes it's "wait." But His response always flows from His love for us. The best gift He has to give us is Himself - His presence, His Spirit, His character being formed in us through every circumstance. So keep praying with confidence, not because you're trying to change God's mind, but because you're trusting His heart. Your persistent prayers aren't annoying to Him; they're precious expressions of faith that delight your loving Father.

Bible Verse

'So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.' - Luke 11:9-13

Reflection Question

What prayer request have you been tempted to give up on, and how does understanding God's loving character encourage you to continue praying?

Prayer

Father, thank You that You welcome my persistent prayers not as pestering but as expressions of faith. Help me to keep asking, seeking, and knocking with confidence in Your goodness, trusting that You will answer according to Your perfect love and timing. Amen.