06/07/2020
As people of varying degrees of spirituality we have different prayer habits. Some of us come to God many times a day, some come only in the morning, others in the evening, and there are those who only pray on days like Christmas and Easter, but rest assured we all find time to pray when we are in need, or hurting. So which is right? Well, there is no wrong prayer, but scripture tells us to pray without ceasing, because God loves us and desires us to be with Him just as He is with us... always.
“Give us this day our daily bread,”
Matthew 6:11 ESV
Jesus taught his disciples a prayer to use as an example when they prayed, and we call it the Lord’s Prayer. In this prayer Jesus teaches us to ask for God to feed us each day. Isn’t this interesting? The implication here is to live in the presence of God one day at a time... to never stay away longer than a day, and to trust Him enough that you can ask Him for only what you need that day.
When I was a boy living in Germany I had a circuit that I traveled each Saturday morning when there was no school. Here is an overview... I would rise in the morning, eat breakfast, dress, get 25 cents from my mother for admission/popcorn at the theater, meet my friends on the playground, walk a roundabout way to the morning matinee, watch the movie until noon, and then wander through the army base as we headed home for lunch... looking for anything interesting, and climbing on the battle tanks parked there. It was the same each Saturday, but I should have mentioned that during our wanderings there was one place that we visited without fail. We would walk across a large field, and weave our way through the shrubbery to the back door of the Officer’s Club. This is where the kitchen was, and we would slip in amongst the German Chefs, who were busy preparing breakfast and getting that day’s menu ready. Although they were incredibly busy, the head chef would lead us to a special room that was filled with every delectable pastry imaginable. The smell alone was enough, but he allowed each of us to pick one. Then we would eat them slowly as we continued our march towards the theater. We wandered, and we received one day’s provision... sounds rather biblical doesn’t it?
“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.”
Exodus 16:4 ESV
When the Israelites were traveling their 40 years in the wilderness God fed them just as certainly as we boys received our pastry each Saturday morning, but God fed them every single day like clockwork. Like us though, they were only allowed to take provisions for that one day... they were given that day’s manna, and we were given one pastry, and not a sack full.
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.”
Psalm 81:10 ESV
God never wants us to be far from His hand, and to be looking to Him for our every need, and good thing. Although He already knows our needs, He wants us to come to Him because that is relationship... otherwise we are simply His wards. When we begin to think that we can provide our own sustenance, and attempt to fend for ourselves there is always something that brings us back to our knees in prayer. There is no shortage of trouble in the world. So why must we wait on calamity to pray? Why do we pray a few times a year and fend for ourselves every other day? Why should we pray in the morning, or talk about our troubles with God each night? Why do we do this when God is with us always, and is listening for our voice? He wants us to come to Him as Jesus did... always... and to pray in Jesus name because that is relationship too.
“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
John 15:7 ESV
So how will we adjust our prayer life? Will we continue trying, in some form or fashion, to provide for ourselves, and leaning on infrequent prayers, or will we begin to pray every day, then multiple times a day, and finally without ceasing? What will each of us determine our next step to be as we seek to enrich our relationship with God, and Jesus Christ?
“As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!”
Psalm 40:17 ESV
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your desire to be in a close relationship with me, and for your Son Jesus who has made this possible by His life, death, resurrection, and ascension. I pray “Come Lord Jesus“, but until that day I depend on you, and thank you for my daily bread, and all those things you do for me each moment of every day... especially as I breath in and out in prayer. Every breath I breathe carrying the sweet scent of heaven, every word I speak being in thanksgiving, and every moan I utter lifting up my desire for your provision, and protection. Jesus taught us to pray, but Father, teach us through your Holy Spirit to pray without ceasing. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who walks with me always, and listens for my prayer in every breath I take. Merciful are you through your Son Jesus, and keen is your ear as you listen for His name as we pray. Praised be your name in every answer, and in every provision, and defense you provide us in life. Hear our worship Father, and draw close to us so that our relationship might be strengthened. Glorious are you, and we shout “Glory to God in the Highest” as we feel your grace pouring over us through Jesus Christ. Hear my prayers now, and forevermore, as my trust remains in you this moment of eternity.
“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?”
Matthew 6:26-27 ESV
Rich Forbes