The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 15 September 2019 – Lord, Teach Us To Pray

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TOPIC: Lord, Teach Us To Pray

READ: Luke 11:1-13 King James Version (KJV)

1. Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”
2. So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
3. Give us day by day our daily bread.
4. And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.”
5. And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves;
6. for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’;
7. and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’?
8. I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.
9. “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
10. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
11. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone?
12. Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13. If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

THE MESSAGE:

The disciples of Jesus must have observed Him going out early to pray daily in a quiet place (Mark 1:35). This must have made them to realise the importance of prayer and to ask Jesus to teach them how to pray. The prayer Jesus taught them is the popular “Our Lord’s Prayer” (cf. Matthew 6:7-13). Some reduce the contents of this prayer to ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication). It is a sample prayer and contains all the ingredients of prayer. It can be applied for all seasons and situations in derived forms. Jesus also taught them consistency in prayer till an answer comes (verses 9-10). Some call it PUSH (Pray Until Something Happens).

These days, many people pray all manner of prayers. Some pray for their enemies to die. Some pray amiss and for selfish purposes (James 4:1-3). Some believe that if you have not shouted or jumped up, you have not prayed. There is no particular formula to prayer. All these call for the necessity to ask Jesus to teach us to pray. Have you ever asked Jesus to teach you? Once you make out time to pray, Jesus will come to your aid! Pour your heart out to your Father in heaven. He has assured you that if you ask, you will receive; if you seek, you will find and if you knock, the door will be opened unto you. Please seize this opportunity and cry to heaven now. If you pray according to the will of God, you are sure of answers (Isaiah 65:24; 1 John 5:14-15). The time to start is now. Only sin hinders answers to prayers (Isaiah 59:1-2).

PRAYER: Lord, teach us how to pray aright (A&M 317, stanza 1)