Do You Know How to Pray?
Good Morning Friends,
Amazing though this may sound, God really loves to spend time with us in prayer. It is a verb that turns us into a better noun and is at the confluence our spiritual lives with leadership as a noun becoming activated in us as a verb evoking, engaging and empowering us. Unfortunately it does not always feel natural to have a transparent and intimate dialogue with the creator of the universe. Prayer is a discipline that needs not just some practice but continual practice. It also has an order and structure that is designed to mold us. Prayer starts with a movement of the heart. Some days leaders of Leadership Foundations around the world pray for our work with One by One Leadership Foundation here in Southwest Florida. Other days I pray for one of them. It is a similar experience for me when I pray for a missionary or a friend going through hard times. I always pray they be sustained in life. For me it is a time to be focused as a rifle shot not a shotgun. And yet I am comforted in the thought that others, in many different languages, might be lifting us up in prayer even though they have little clue as to what to actually be praying for except perhaps for the leadership in me to be a prayer. The thought brings me to my knees and to today’s devotion. And here in the talking and the writing and the asking and the praising, I contemplate the centrality of Christ and how the Holy Spirit might help all of us live a life of prayer. Do You Know How to Pray?
Scripture: ‘Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.
Matthew 6:9-13 (NRSV)
For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.’
Matthew 18:20
And he said to them, ‘Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.” And he answers from within, “Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.” I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs. ‘So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’
Luke 11:5-13 (NRSV)
Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, ‘In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, “Grant me justice against my opponent.” For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, “Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.” ‘ And the Lord said, ‘Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?’
Luke 18:1-8 (NRSV)
Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.
Colossians 4:2 (NRSV)
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NRSV)
Message: Today’s scripture gives us not only the structure of prayer but also its posture and preferred positive attitude. When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, Jesus gave them, as Jesus gives us, a pattern on how to pray which in fact is a pattern on how to live so that our lives become a life of prayer to God. And in prayer we learn that we begin and end with Christ. We think about the reality that we cannot live only for ourselves. We realize that we cannot just be laying up treasure for our own needs. We think about the youth that need to be mentored…the new Christians that need to become disciples and to disciple others. We think about homeless Haitian youth and farm workers. We think about the environment and God’s great creation…and we pray for discernment….the gift to make good decisions… to choose wisely…to distinguish in our work the disciplines that we must develop as Christians to be in His will. So today we look at prayer and pray that we learn to think biblically about all areas of life… empowered to understand the truth and its context, and apply it to our lives to the glory of God while furthering our enjoyment of Him. When Paul wrote some of today’s scripture, he was probably in prison. We might expect this to be a time of unfavorable circumstances that would limit his work but Paul thanks God for hard times. He uses it as a productive time made more important though the power of daily prayer. Here we are lit by grace…here our response to God’s love demonstrates who we really are. That is why prayer is ever more important in our fast paced society. Through prayer our hearts are prepared. Through prayer, with the Holy Spirit, we learn to be earnest….to be persistent and active and unwearied and intent. Though prayer we develop our character…we grow in Christ. That is why prayer is vitally important…that is why we must make it a priority in our lives. With prayer the Lord will open doors of opportunity for us and through prayer, open our eyes to them so we might see the way He wants us to live…overwhelmed with thanksgiving….overwhelmed with obedience to love. Here we learn that praying to God, proclaiming the Word and partnering with others to accomplish what we cannot do alone is our purpose. Through prayer we learn that it is good to be alive and glorify God.
Pray today that our lives be sustained…that our lives be redeemed…that our lives not be led into temptation. Pray with confidence, divine dependence, humble praise and heavenly approval. Pray that we learn to share. Pray that we learn to be as children in the presence of the Father. Pray that we learn to make the right investments, honoring holiness, loyalty and obedience. Pray we have a heavenly mindset but still be of earthly good. Pray that we learn to trust. Pray that we forgive. Pray that we walk in the way of the Kingdom with respect for the glory of God. Pray we gain the right perspective and in faith apply the truth to our lives.
Pray
we learn to pray with devotion the gospel message and with the power of grace so that others might receive and know Christ. Pray that God bless us with victory over the troubles of our lives. Pray we be patient with people, never giving up on them, praying persistently until they are freed to see and adore the beauty of salvation. Pray we be faithful in the promise that God is still at work in our community and that in and through Him all things will work for the good of those who love Him.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 