The Power of Prayer

  

Luke 11: 1-13

Jesus’ Teaching on Prayer

11 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 com
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.

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.’ 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.

¹¹ “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? ¹² Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Here's a day's, yea, even a lifetime's meditation on prayer.  Jesus speaks so calmly about it, a man of prayer himself as we read how he so often slipped away to be with his Father in prayers  How much time to I spend in  prayer? Can I, do I want to do more? Luke's succinct version of the Lord's prayer captures its essence and demonstrates to us that a multiplication of words is not necessary for an effective prayer..My faith behind my prayer is what counts, not the string of words or y distracted thought wanderings that always seem to pepper my prayers.No, peace confidence, the attitude and belief that God knows these needs and will grant them in due time.  He wants my faith, confidence and love.  May I make an effort today and in the weeks ahead to pray from these foundation stones.

Bro. Rene