WATCHWORD:
1 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.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’” Luke 11:1-4
5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity, he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. 9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Luke 11:5-10
Meditation:
Our Time with God
I think I have always viewed the above passage as two separate ideas and concepts. One is the pattern of prayer that Jesus teaches, the ‘Our Father…’ section that we follow, often in rote, without too much thought about content.
Then, there is the part that I often refer to as ‘The Ask’, those times when, confronted with a difficult problem, we ask God to intervene or to simply help us. But this is a singular and continuing lesson by our Lord. He lays out a pattern, yes, but then, by the friend parable, he instructs us to keep communicating with Him, with God. Keep asking, keep knocking, keep seeking, keep praying without ceasing…one lesson in two parts.
A member of our Bible study group came across a statement on prayer and meditation written by Pastor Chuck Swindoll. The pastor describes his approach to keeping in contact with our Lord throughout the day. There is much to be learned from his brief statement —
- First I begin each morning determined to walk all day in the Light. I commit to it. In my morning prayers, I pray something like ‘Lord I don’t know what the hours in front of me will hold. I have no idea of the people I’ll encounter, the challenges I’ll face, that temptations I’ll need to overcome. I don’t know what tragedies, trials, or triumphs I’ll experience. I don’t know what my health will be like at the end of the day. But you know. So today I determine before you to walk in the Light by your power. As I come to forks in the road throughout the day—choices between darkness and light—Guide me to the Light. I know that I’m a sinner, and in my own strength I can do nothing to make this happen. So, I ask for your power to walk in the Light.”
Are you that thorough in your morning prayers? I confess that I tend more to generalities, you know, guide me, Lord, along the path of your Will in my life. It is at this point each morning I speak about the needs of family, friends, the church, the nation, etc. However, I know that it is during those morning hours of conversation with God when I listen, and, often, He speaks to me, sometimes in special ways.
- Then as I continue each day, I tried to remain aware of my own dark nature. I must never forget that I can, at any point, make a step toward the darkness. In fact, there’s never a day that goes by in which I haven’t entertained a stray thought, a bad attitude, a careless glance, a foolish word for an offensive remark. When I do, I confess it. I say the same God says about me: I’m a sinner and I’ll call it what it is: sin. By confessing it, I’m keeping short accounts with God.
Too often my dark nature seeps out in moodiness, and I am reminded of that state of mind by my own awareness or a nagging (but sweet) little voice that seems to be in the same room, if you know what I mean. I have to say those course corrections are helpful, but…gee whiz!
- Finally, as the sun sets and the day draws to a close, I never forget to thank him for seeing me through. It’s not my own might or power, or some clever method or trick I’ve discovered, that gets me through the day. It’s only through His powerful, transforming Grace—His Light that guides me deeper into the Light.
We need to end the day with a grateful heart, for we know that a grateful heart is helpful and leads to peaceful rest. Our evening prayers always seem to end with a brief read of Joyce Meyer‘s Ending Your Day Right: Devotions for Every Evening of the Year, which sets the tone for a good night’s sleep.
We can all take something away from what Pastor Swindoll has outlined, but somewhere in the midst of day, we draw closer to our Lord and Savior, as we begin our conversation with Him with ‘Our Father…’
Bulletin Board:
Tomorrow is the Third Sunday of Advent, 2020. Historically, the pink or rose candle is called the Gaudete candle, from the Latin word meaning “rejoice.” The third Sunday of Advent is also known by some Christians as Gaudete Sunday. … It is an important reminder in the Advent season of preparation, of the joy that is ours in knowing the power of love in our lives.
Closing Prayer:
Psalm 51:12 prepares us for prayer: “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”
Lord, would you restore the joy of our salvation? Help us to be willing to follow you with all we have. As we read the Scriptures that remind us who you are and the ways you love us, ignite in us a sense of joy that overflows out of our hearts! Let this holy joy be contagious and spill over onto the lives of those around us. May your peace that surpasses all understanding be upon us…especially as we’re wrapping up a year that has felt very scary and uncertain. Encourage our hearts with the knowledge that with you we can live in your perfect peace, no matter our circumstances. We thank you for the joy and peace you give! Amen.
