Devotional - July 30, 2025
Scripture: Luke 11:1 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.”
Prayer is a part of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. Many feel uncomfortable praying, but it need not be so. What Jesus taught His disciples was simple, ...on purpose. Trying to embolus your prayers with a lot of religious jargon or with words you don't even know won't help (Matthew 6: 5-7). Simply speak to God in your own words and mean what You say. Afterall, God knows what is in your heart (Matthew 6:8, Ps 139:4). It is when I am praying, that I too can know what is in my heart. If I stay observant of my feelings, attitude, and words. And sometimes, I am surprised by what I see or feel. When God acts, God addresses the need. If I am not in touch or aware of what is occurring in me, how will I know when the prayer is answered. One more thing, I do not believe God only has three answers to prayer, yes, no and wait. As I said in the last devotions, God's ways are not my ways (Isaiah 55: 8-9), so God's response may not be something I fully understand. But, I have faith that God will assist me in the matter at hand (Mark 11:24). And..., as hard as it is to say, I may not agree with God's response (2 Corinthians 12: 8-10). The formula for the prayer Jesus taught is worth knowing. You can memorize His prayer or use the formula in your own words. He began by honoring God. If something is bothering you when you pray, that in itself can resolve the matter. Just remembering who God is puts everything in context and gives you the right perspective to continue to pray. Then, we ask that the will of God be done. We trust that God's will is what is best for all concerned. Doing so can be difficult, since we know what we want, but even Jesus in His most difficult hour prayed in that way (Luke 22:42). Rest assured, God will give you the strength and the support you need to face each day. Including, God's forgiveness. And as odd as it may seem, it is just as important to forgive others of what they have done to you. Forgiving others, detaches you from whatever was entailed in their act. It is not worth your time, so leave it behind. There is no need for you to carry it around anymore. To forgive helps you, but it does not keep you from acting in situations that have violated your personal or constitutional rights. Then, Jesus instructs us to ask that God continue to lead us. We do not want to sin or be the source or prey of evil in the world. He closes by again giving glory to God who hears our prayers and helps us. It is a powerful thing when we live like we pray. The prayer Jesus taught is relevant today, just as it was back then. Jesus gives us this formula as a gift to help us navigate our lives.
Pray with me..., Holy God we are thankful for Your instruction. For the help You give us each day and for listening to us. We ask Your blessing on our loved ones and on our church. Help us to be the blessing You call us to be in this world. In Jesus name, Amen.
God's peace,
Pastor Brian
