It’s very interesting that in the Westminster Shorter Catechism each petition in the Lord’s prayer is examined and explained.  It’s very helpful in teaching a new believer what prayer is all about.  However, we’re not to that point yet with this new believer.  Intimacy with God in prayer grows slowly.  When one is helping a new believer learn to pray, remember it’s in the context of his new relationship with God.  

The following article is a guest post by Pastor Ken Smith, retired minister in the RPCNA. This article appeared in a monthly email column Ken has called “Man-to-Man.”

It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples. – Luke 11:1

I want you to note in the verse above the factor of “teaching men to pray.”  Yes, and that includes how to pray.  It’s interesting to note that Jesus was praying and His men observed.  No, the text does not say whether or not He was praying out loud.  Maybe.  The twelve knew what He was doing regardless.  It led them to ask Him to teach them to pray.  He did, many times.

I’ve told you about the railroad engineer who came to Christ.  When he first showed up on a Wednesday for prayer meeting, he prayed in our threesome.  After we were finished, he smiled a big smile of satisfaction, and then he said: “Men, that’s the first time in my life I ever prayed out loud.”  O, yes, he was a member of the church.  He learned to pray listening.

In helping a new believer develop his own “private worship,” how does he learn?  A simple way to respond to that is to ask, “How do children learn to talk?”  Of course, by listening.  And how delightful when their firstborn says his/her first word!  The process started, it never seems to stop!  And prayer is like that: it’s talking to God.  And Jesus taught His men to begin His model prayer by addressing God the Father.  And just like children listening, a new believer learns the relevance of “Our Father, Who art in heaven….”

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