Jesus teaches us to pray

We move closer to our back2school outreach, and I am excited because of several different reasons. I will confess that there have been several challenges this year. Yet what we continue to be excited about and encouraged by is how God continues to come through.

Volunteers have been so good. Support and sponsors have come on board to help in great ways. And there is more.

Please pray that this Tuesday hundreds of students will register to be part of this year’s outreach. Pass the word, but most of all pray.

As we move toward the big day of August 2 I call your attention and mine to how Jesus responded to a request from those closest to Him. This is something that applies to your life and mine. Let us learn how to pray even more.

Luke 11:1 NASB

It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, when He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.

Simple request with profound answer that takes us to new places with God. Listen in to what Jesus taught.

Matthew 6:9-13 NASB

“Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

That is not the full text of the prayer, but it is the majority. The beginning is where I want us to focus for a few minutes.

Jesus says, pray in this way. That is a clear move forward for all who wish to follow Jesus and learn from Him. May be this is how Jesus often prayed. I believe this to be a guide and encouragement. I do not care for memorized prayers, but this one is powerful.

The prayer begins with, Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name.

Several things stick out that need our attention. First and foremost, Jesus calls on His Father. Our father as well and the one we are to focus our attention on. The next part I draw our attention to is that His name is holy.

The way we look at God says a lot about our faith. He is holy, full of love, abundant in grace to give and so much more.

Take some time today to learn from the prayer that Jesus gave as a example and pattern for us all to follow. And what we learn today is that we a Father who desires us and our time with Him. He is holy. So, let’s pray.

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

wash feet, sharing hope

John 13:4-5,14 NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow. He served. He valued and gave value to others. That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet. It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives. Jesus said we should do this. See the verse above. Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

Search This Blog