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Thoughts in Worship 5.12.2015
Thoughts in Worship
Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Based Upon Luke 11:1-4
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One of the things I love about reading and studying the Bible is that there are so many ways that the Holy Spirit teaches us valuable lessons, even in familiar stories. Today’s story focus is no exception.
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You, no doubt are familiar with the Lord’s Prayer written of in Luke 11:1-4. However, instead of highlighting the blessings Jesus shared in the various elements of the prayer, I would like to focus on the request one of Jesus’ disciples made and draw encouragement from it. The Bible says, “And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” (Luke 11:1). Notice that the disciple observed the Master in close communion and prayer with His Father, and immediately his interest level spiked. So intimate and powerful was that experience that the disciple decided that he just had to have it too. He asked Jesus to teach he and his friends “to” pray like John did for his disciples—full stop. I don’t know about you, but I am blessed by this request, because far too many of us simply do not pray. And if we do perform something that sort-of resembles prayer, some of us more model the proud Pharisee in Luke 18 who proudly prayed “with himself,” and did not receive the cleansing he desperately needed.
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Pay close and careful attention to my focus here: We need not only to be taught “how” to pray. We need to be taught “to” pray. Speaking into the air and hoping that God is listening is not praying. Thinking deeply about our needs without ever investing the time and pouring out our hearts to God is not praying. Waxing eloquent in a long session of speaking toward God with no real regard for His will in our lives is not praying. Shouting a quick dart of desire toward the sky, hoping that God will somehow swoop down and catch it like a falcon dive bombs its prey is not praying. And, most certainly, neglecting to open our hearts to God as we would a close friend is not praying. We need our Master to teach us to always be in a prayer relationship with God, and not to cease. It is our privilege to walk and talk with our loving heavenly Father like Enoch; therefore, we would do well to begin by asking Him to protect us from the terminal disease of prayer neglect. When God teaches us to pray, we know of certainty that His ear is already attuned to listen and answer according to His divine will, and incredible love for us. So, will you ask God to teach you to pray today?--L. David Harris (www.davidwritesalot.com)
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By Message Magazine
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Thoughts in Worship
Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Based Upon Luke 11:1-4
-
One of the things I love about reading and studying the Bible is that there are so many ways that the Holy Spirit teaches us valuable lessons, even in familiar stories. Today’s story focus is no exception.
-
You, no doubt are familiar with the Lord’s Prayer written of in Luke 11:1-4. However, instead of highlighting the blessings Jesus shared in the various elements of the prayer, I would like to focus on the request one of Jesus’ disciples made and draw encouragement from it. The Bible says, “And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” (Luke 11:1). Notice that the disciple observed the Master in close communion and prayer with His Father, and immediately his interest level spiked. So intimate and powerful was that experience that the disciple decided that he just had to have it too. He asked Jesus to teach he and his friends “to” pray like John did for his disciples—full stop. I don’t know about you, but I am blessed by this request, because far too many of us simply do not pray. And if we do perform something that sort-of resembles prayer, some of us more model the proud Pharisee in Luke 18 who proudly prayed “with himself,” and did not receive the cleansing he desperately needed.
-
Pay close and careful attention to my focus here: We need not only to be taught “how” to pray. We need to be taught “to” pray. Speaking into the air and hoping that God is listening is not praying. Thinking deeply about our needs without ever investing the time and pouring out our hearts to God is not praying. Waxing eloquent in a long session of speaking toward God with no real regard for His will in our lives is not praying. Shouting a quick dart of desire toward the sky, hoping that God will somehow swoop down and catch it like a falcon dive bombs its prey is not praying. And, most certainly, neglecting to open our hearts to God as we would a close friend is not praying. We need our Master to teach us to always be in a prayer relationship with God, and not to cease. It is our privilege to walk and talk with our loving heavenly Father like Enoch; therefore, we would do well to begin by asking Him to protect us from the terminal disease of prayer neglect. When God teaches us to pray, we know of certainty that His ear is already attuned to listen and answer according to His divine will, and incredible love for us. So, will you ask God to teach you to pray today?--L. David Harris (www.davidwritesalot.com)