Verse of the Day 3/18

Verse of the Day 3/18

 

Luke 11:1-2  Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." ² And he said to them, "When you pray, say:

"Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.   English Standard Version (ESV)

Yesterday we were considering what it means, what it looks like to be a "Christ follower", to clothe ourselves, to put on Christ.  It is more than just putting on a garment, it involves seeking His guidance and direction, and as today's verse indicates, prayer is at the center of it.

 

Jesus was praying in a certain place.  The place probably doesn't matter, but it was a chosen place and so it is with us.  The place doesn't matter but we need to choose a place where we can spend time with Him in prayer, it is getting away from the commotion and noise of the day to focus our attention and to receive guidance from Him. 

 

James MacDonald writes, "They not only went to the right instructor, they also went with the right intent.  This was more than a "how to" request; it was a "give us the desire to pray" petition.  After noticing the pattern of prayer in Jesus life, they longed to see it in their own lives.  They saw Him slip out of the house to pray in the early morning, while they rolled over for a little more sleep.  They watched Him pause to thank His Father at various times and draw attention to the bigger picture."

 

We too need time with Jesus and with the Father to "draw our attention to the bigger picture".  Yesterday we also considered Steven Curtis Chapman's song "God Follower".  If we truly want to be one and go wherever He leads, along the path He's marked for us, we will need to find that "certain" place in our busy lives and pray as He taught the disciples "Father, hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done"........

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Luke 11:1-4

The Message (MSG)

Ask for What You Need

11 One day he was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said, "Master, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples."

^2-4 So he said, "When you pray, say,

Father,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil."