Title: Observations on Prayer/ Topic: Prayer

Today’s Reading: Zechariah 1; Zechariah 2; Zechariah 3; Luke 11

Scripture: Luke 11:2-13
2 He said to them, "When you pray, say: " 'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 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 he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.' 7 "Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs. 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; he who seeks finds; and to him 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!"

Observation: When asked to teach the disciples to pray, Jesus tells them to include the following aspects into their prayers: 1) worship and praise of God – hallowed be thy name. 2) intercession – your kingdom come. 3) supplication for provision – give us each day our daily bread. 4) forgiveness for ourselves and others – verse 4 above. 5) protection from the enemy – lead us not into temptation. After teaching how to pray, Jesus gives some instructionon on when to pray and attitudes toward prayer. Pray always, without getting discouraged when the answer doesn't come right away. God's heart is to answer and His love for us is greater than that which we bear toward our own children.

Application: Jesus made a priority of prayer in his life. He is the best one to teach us how to think about prayer as well as how to DO prayer. The best application I can make in my life from these scriptures is to make praying a priority. The disciples asked Jesus about how to pray because they saw the correlation between Jesus' prayer life and the power he had. I need to follow his example.

Prayer: Father, I love you so much and yet busyness can often crowd out spending time with you in prayer. I can't use "busyness" as an excuse---we all choose the way we spend our time and what we say "yes" and "no" to. I choose to say yes to you. I want to know you more, love you more and serve you in the power of the Spirit more. That only comes through prayer.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.