Practicing The Way Week 5: Prayer | Nathan Hughes

Title: Practicing the Way — The Practice of Prayer
Main Text: Luke 11:1–4
Big Idea: Prayer is the doorway to life with God—not just something we do, but a relationship we enter.

Key Points:

Prayer Misunderstood

For many, prayer feels distant, boring, ineffective, or frustrating.

It often becomes a last resort—like grabbing the steering wheel once we’re already in the ditch.

But Jesus shows us that prayer is the very entry point to life with God. It’s not optional; it’s vital.

Jesus' Example

Luke's Gospel shows Jesus frequently withdrawing to pray (Luke 5:16, 6:12, 9:28).

The disciples watched His vibrant relationship with the Father and asked, “Lord, teach us to pray.”

They didn’t ask Him to teach them how to preach, lead, or heal. They wanted His prayer life—because they saw it was the foundation of His power.

Four Things Jesus Teaches About Prayer (Luke 11:1–4)

1. God Is Our Father (Abba)

Jesus uses intimate, unheard-of language for God: Abba—a deeply personal, affectionate term.

God is not a dictator or vending machine—He’s a good Father.

Some of us need to spend more time healing our image of God before we can freely talk to Him.

The word “heaven” doesn’t mean distant outer space—it can also mean the air, the atmosphere.

God is as near as your next breath. His name, YHWH, even sounds like breathing: inhale Yah, exhale Weh.

You are never praying into silence—God surrounds and sustains you.

“Hallowed be Your name” means we approach God with awe and joy, not just a grocery list of needs.

Tim Keller calls this “a wondrous sense of His beauty.”

We often treat prayer like pain management—but it’s actually about delight in His presence.

“Your kingdom come… on earth as it is in heaven.”

The Bible is filled with stories where prayer changes outcomes: Hannah’s child, Elijah’s rain, Hezekiah’s extended life, Peter’s release.

Prayer doesn’t just align us with God’s will—it often invites God to act in ways He’s waiting for us to ask.

The Goal Isn’t to Master Prayer—It’s to Be Mastered by God

Don’t strive to be a prayer expert. Strive to be present.

Make it consistent, habitual, personal. Pick a time. Pick a place.

Prayer isn’t a spiritual luxury—it’s spiritual oxygen.

Final Challenge:
Draw near to God—and He will draw near to you (James 4:8). Let prayer become as normal as brushing your teeth or breathing in air. It’s not performance—it’s presence.