pray without ceasing;
One of those things that seems to allude us or be pushed away when things are fine is prayer, yet I assert that one of the things that God wants close to us in good and bad times is prayer.
Prayer is what connects us to God. Throughout Scripture are stories and truths about prayer. We watch people stay close to God through prayer. We see people who bare their souls in times of deep trouble and need. We watch as God shows up and strengthens His children through prayer.
In fact Jesus shows His disciples over and over the great need for a strong prayer life. He speaks of if and shows them about it. That is why they ask and our sermon title is, Teach us, Lord.
Luke 11:1 NASB
It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.”
Encompassed here is that teaching. Jesus pulls a part some things we need to remember. He doesn’t say pray this prayer, but we do. That is not a bad thing. It is good, but there is more to it.
Matthew 6:9-13 KJV
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
We call that The Lord’s Prayer. It is use in many different places. Many use it daily or often in worship services. We are reminded that our connection, our filter, our learning, our strength comes from our connection to God.
What we believe about God is made evident in our prayers. Our motives are revealed in our prayers. Our deepest pain and our greatest celebration are revealed in our prayers.
I challenge us to deepen our prayers, learn to pray and make this a life style for daily or even minute-by-minute life.
The challenge is to join me and many from our church to pray at 17 minutes passed the hour. Choose a few times through the day or at every waking hour to stop and pray. Where did that time come from? It is from this verse.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 NASB
pray without ceasing;
May we be people who do what we say we believe and pray!
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