DO YOU KNOW HOW TO PRAY?

The painting is by Nicolaes Maes

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." [Luke 11:1]

If you are a Christian already, does the peak of your prayer life consist of nodding in agreement when the Preacher prays, while your mind wanders off in all directions?" You can do better than that. A lot of people who call themselves Christian do not know God as a living, personal God. They need to learn how to make that connection with him and to do that, you have to know Jesus. As you learn about Jesus, you come to know God for they are one and the same. I know there are poeple who were raised in the church, and yet they do not have a personal relationship with Jesus. No wonder they don't know how to pray! They don't know him.

The woman in the picture is giving thanks to God for her food. That is prayer in it's simplest form. Jesus gave us a perfect example of how to pray when he gave us the scriptures we know as the Lord's Prayer in Luke 11:2. Now, he was not giving us a prayer to memorize and recite. It was to serve as an example of how to pray.

In Psalm 100 it says: Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and praise his name. That's where you start. Thank him for the blessings he has given you. Praise him and give him all the glory for the good things in your life. Prayer is not about what you need. God knows what you need. Prayer is about spending time with him. Get to know the one who made you and loves you.

Prayer is not just words alone. It is the offering of our heart, mind, imagination and our whole self to God. Even if you just sit in silence, God is with you. He hears your silent prayer.

Let his peace surround you as you sit quietly. Let the hurry and worry of your life fall away from you. God loves you and cares for you. He is here with you now – and always. Speak to him slowly and thoughtfully.

Lord in heaven, please listen to all those who are praying to you now. Those who are sad and crying, those who have lost friends and family, those who are alone and frightened. Help them to remember, that you are there and you are listening. Amen

CELEBRATING IN THE MIDST OF DEFEAT

A friend of mine tried very hard to fit in with the family she married into but no matter how hard she tried, she was always on the outside looking in. She had been alone most of her life and the idea of a family seemed like the most wonderful thing in the world. One day one of the Sons told her, she was not family. She was just their brother's wife. It stung her and she walked away in defeat. She didn't know God then and for many years she felt unwanted whenever she visited his family with him. Although her husband loved her, she still wanted to be loved by his family.

Then she got saved and found this verse. It dawned on her that the Lord was her strength and he loved her. She could take the high road and walk on those high places. She did not have to let this defeat her. In the midst of her deep Winter of sorrow, she couldn't see any victory ahead. But with God's help, and through his strength, she has learned how to celebrate in the midst of defeat. She has learned to trust, and she has gained a much bigger family, the family of God.

Habakkuk 3: 17-19 A prophet's prayer


[17] Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

[18] Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

[19] The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon high places.


Lord, My prayer for today...Give me the trust to celebrate in the midst of defeat and have confidence, like that of a sure-footed mountain deer. It is easy to celebrate and trust in the good times but when I feel defeated and nothing seems to be going right, that is when I need more than ever to trust. Help me to understand that even though I feel defeated, I can still walk on high places because you are my strength. Amen