Wednesday October 7, 2026

Luke 11:1-4

Once Jesus was in a certain place praying, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’

So he did, he actually taught them how to pray. He gave them a prayer that I have enjoyed praying these last few years in Aramaic. I love the way it prays in the original language. Actually it is a beautiful thing to say the Lord’s Prayer in English and in the other languages that I have come to know. Let me share with you one line that changes meaning from culture to culture. In English we say “… your will be done on earth as it is in heaven…” In Aramaic and in our African languages we say “..your will be done in heaven as it is on earth…” When I say this prayer I acknowledge that God’s will is being carried out so beautifully in my life and I pray that it be carried out too everywhere else. Debashmaya.. in Aramaic does not mean the skies.. Heaven it means in other lands and skies.

No matter how messy and unpredictable my life can be, God’s will is being done here. Just look at me lol. What are the odds as my American friends would say. What are the odds that Rabbouni would thrive? Anyway…

This might be scandalous on some level but I doubtful that you can teach someone how to pray. You can introduce someone to a beautiful relationship with God. You can help someone see how they are already in relationship with God and out of that relationship comes the prayer. One can say Amen and another can pray Amen. Seek relationship not a quick fix with God. Have you noticed how people in deep relationship can seat in silence and have a whole conversation?