Day 80 – Prayer (Luke)

We have so many ways to communicate today…letters, phone calls, emails, text messages, video messages, picture messages, IMs, MySpace, Facebook…I’m sure I missed something.  I was so excited to get a “real” letter from my brother, Troy.  He bought some cute notecards with classic storybook characters on the front and challenged himself to send personal notes to friends and family.  I remember getting short notes from my grandmother as a kid.  Her cursive writing was not very neat, so I suspect she wrote in block letters that so 8-year old Maria could read them.  Then I remembered the 4-page note my mother wrote to the school requesting an excused absence so that I could visit my grandparents.  She detailed when I was going, who was taking me, and the activities I would engage in while away which she suggested would be far more valuable than sitting in class.  I thought it was fantastic and my 6th grade teacher found it so entertaining that he passed it around the teacher’s lounge.  It was an immediate hit!  (A few years later, they discovered that she felt traveling cross-country was more important than final exams – much to their dismay!)  Today, I smile when I hear the familiar “ding” alerting me to a text message.  It means there’s a message awaiting from someone I love.  I think God treasures our prayers like I do a hand-written love letter or a “thinking of you” text message.  Even though God hears and knows our every thought, there is something really special about our intention to speak to Him.  

Do you think Jesus needed to pray?  I highly doubt that God the Father needed Jesus to get on his knees and enter into prayer for them to communicate with one another.  So, why did Jesus engage in prayer like we do?  I think it was for intimacy with the Father and to set a good example for us.  There is something so intimate, personal, and powerful about deliberate prayer with the Father.  Jesus often left the people to pray privately.  “But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray,” (Luke 5:16) “…he was praying alone…,” (Luke 9:18) “…he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed…” (Luke 22:41).  Jesus seemed to prefer quiet solitude when praying.

Jesus teaches us how to pray through his teachings.  The disciples specifically requested that he teach them to pray, and he responded, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name.  Your kingdom com.  Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.  And lead us not into temptation.’” (Luke 11:2b-4)  Jesus teaches to pray with one another but warns us not to be like some of the scribes who “…for a pretense make long prayers.” (Luke 20:47)  There is wonderful fellowship in praying together. 

Jesus’ prayers give us clues of things that we should pray about:

• To receive the Holy Spirit (after salvation for us – baptism for Jesus) – Luke 3:21-22
• Interactions with others (Jesus regularly retreated to pray before and after preaching and healing) – Luke 5:16)
• Big decisions (Jesus prayed before choosing his 12 disciples) – Luke 6:12
• To give thanks – Luke 10:21
• Food and drink – Jesus’ body and blood (Lord’s supper) – Luke 22:17-19

Jesus also instructs us to pray for:

• People who abuse us – Luke 6:28
• Missionaries and those doing God’s work – Luke 10:2
• Our needs – Luke 11:9-13
• Determination – Luke 18:1
• Strength – Luke 21:36
• Protection against temptation – Luke 22:40, 46

As a young adult, it was a revelation when the pastor suggested that prayer can be done any time, any where.  Until that time, I would reserve prayer for bedtime when it was quiet, and I was settled.  After this revelation, I would pray during my commute, before an important event, while dealing with a difficult client, listening to praise music, or any other time and place.  I found, though, that these multi-tasking, purpose-driven, need-based prayers took over my prayer life.  What I was missing was a quiet conversation with God and the opportunity for me to hear him.  It’s hard to hear God when I’m doing all the talking while I drive, type, wash dishes, run errands, and so on.  The most meaningful prayer time is when I am offering my undivided attention to God.

My prayer today:

Thank you, Jesus, for teaching me how to pray, when to pray, and what to pray about.  I’m thankful, Lord, that you hear my prayers any time and any where.  Help me to stand still and hear you, Lord.  Today, Lord, I pray for my friends and their needs.  You know each and every one of those needs and concerns.  Thank you for my friends and for hearing our requests.  Amen

Add a comment August 9, 2010

Day 68 – Answers to Prayer (Nahum – Haggai)

God isn’t just a big, warm, fuzzy teddy bear.  God can be jealous and angry.  Nahum 1:2 says, “The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord is avenging and wrathful; the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries and keep wrath for his enemies.”  His anger is not limited to evil enemies, though.  Zephaniah 3:1 speaks to the corruption, violence, and sin that plagues God’s people and how God feels about that. “Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, the oppressing city!”  There is no doubt that God’s anger and wrath is justified against all people.

Habakkuk prays and complains to God about this sin not being addressed (we always think we know better, don’t we?).  “O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear?”  Habakkuk believes that God is not listening or answering his prayer, but I like Habakkuk’s response to his own feelings.  He opts to deliberately seek and watch for God’s answer.  “I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what he will answer concerning my complaint.” (Habakkuk 2:1)

God’s response is so cool and relevant to us now.  “For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.” (Habakkuk 1:5b)  God’s telling us that He is working things out, and it’s going to be beyond our imagination.  Now, notice it doesn’t say things are going to be better than we ever imagined.  God also answers Habakkuk by saying, “If it seems slow, wait for it, it will surely come.” (2:3b)  God’s answer to his complaint is in time - God’s time. 

When we are waiting for an answer to pray, what are we to do?  “Keep your feasts, O Judah; fulfill your vows,” (Nahum 1:15b), “…live by [your] faith,” (Habakkuk 2:4) and “rejoice and exult with all your heart.” (Zephaniah 3:14)  We shouldn’t be paralyzed while waiting for God’s answers.  We must continue to live out our faith in our commitments and in worship.  This is also an opportunity for spiritual and character growth, while we keep watch and continue to seek God’s response to prayer.  Listening patiently can build our relationship with God and prepare us to hear Him more clearly.

My prayer for today:

Lord, quiet my heart and settle my feet so that I can hear your response to my prayer.  While I wait, Lord, allow me to serve you, grow more like Christ, and weed out sin and distraction.  Help me to seek you in all times, not just when I want an answer or have a complaint.  Thank you for providing me with the Bible and letting me speak directly to you.  Amen

Add a comment July 26, 2010