Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – June 25, 2014
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.” He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.” Luke 11:1-2
The prayer of Jesus, otherwise known as the Lord’s prayer, is our model for prayer. Jesus, in customary fashion, created consistent time to be with His heavenly Father. One day, upon conclusion of His private prayers, a perceptive disciple asked Jesus for prayer instruction for himself and the other disciples. Yes, this prayer of Jesus’ was birthed out of intimacy with His heavenly Father. He instructed on prayer with authority, because He prayed with authority.
The prayer of Jesus is as much about the spirit of the prayer as it is the words of the prayer. Indeed, the Lord spoke about prayer having just prayed. Only minutes before He bowed in humble worship seeking the face of His heavenly Father. He gloried in the glory of the One from heaven who sent Him to earth to save the world. Oh, what a privilege to pray in the presence of our all wise God. Our spirits are expunged of all selfish pride and replenished with selfless humility. The reverent and submissive spirit of our Lord’s prayer is the navigator for our prayers.
“The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).
Our flesh seeks to dismiss the power of prayer by questioning its effectiveness, “Does it really matter if I pray or not?” “Are things truly any different after I pray than before I pray?” In His prayer Jesus desires all men and women everywhere to pray with hands lifted high in praise and hearts bowed low in protracted submission. He’s heavenly minded with earthly aspirations. He prays for God’s Kingdom to be ushered onto earth with the splendor of heaven’s resources. Our globe governed by God, for God and with God. The prayer of Jesus pronounces God king!
Furthermore, the prayer of Jesus is our model of how and what to pray. Begin and end with Him. Satan shrinks back at the supplicants set forth by our Savior. Thus, we take to heart the heart of our Lord in His instructions to pray. The words are not a magical chant, rather a divine mandate to: seek the love of our heavenly Father, fear His holiness, align with His will, ask His provision, receive His forgiveness, trust His power and announce His glory. Pray His prayer as your prayer!
“I will certainly pray to the Lord your God as you have requested” (Jeremiah 42:4).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, my prayer is for the prayer of Jesus to be my pattern for prayer.
Related Readings: 1 Chronicles 29:10; Daniel 9:3-4; Acts 4:24; 2 Thessalonians 1:12
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© 2014 by Boyd Bailey. All rights reserved. www.wisdomhunters.com
