I’ve heard the expression “desperate times call for desperate measures…” and can’t help but think sometimes my prayer life is something like that. We live in desperate times. Our country’s economy is currently very difficult and as a nation, we struggle with divisions along racial lines, not to mention our own personal situations of debt, personal relationships and work challenges.
In our lives, prayer, which is our communication with the Lord, is obviously influenced by these factors. One might argue that if we had no challenges in our lives, we probably wouldn’t communicate with God!
Recently, I had a conversation with someone at a fellowship gathering which went something like this:
I asked him how he was. He replied the he was very well.
I enquired after his wife and he told me she too, was very well.
An enquiry about their young son brought a similar answer.
I then asked him how is Jesus doing?…..
There was a short silence and I could see he was a bit lost for an answer.
The thought then occurred to me, that if we are in constant communication with people, we generally know how they are and what they are currently feeling. Shouldn’t it be the same with the Lord? Shouldn’t we know what He is currently feeling?
How are we currently communicating (praying) with the Lord? Are our prayers only born out of a place of desperation? – in other words, as our personal situations become graver, our prayers become more intense? I don’t believe there’s anything wrong with these types of prayers, but there are more ways of communicating with our Father.
“Oh Lord, teach us how to pray?”
Most of us are familiar with the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9. Jesus uses this example to teach us how to pray.
It is interesting to note the following:
Firstly…
“Our Father who art in Heaven….” – Exalting HIM
“Hallowed be thy name….” – Worshipping HIM
“Thy Kingdom come….” – Desiring HIS Will
Only then does He say….
“Give us this day OUR daily bread….”
Jesus shows us that our needs (if translated as ‘daily bread’) are further down the list than the position of exalting, worshipping and desiring HIS Will. Here’s a point to ponder: When we measure this template against how we pray – what do we find?
In the book of John is portrayed a picture of one of Jesus’ disciples, who is at total peace with the Lord (John 13:23). He has his head on Jesus’ chest, not concerned about his own needs or fretting in a given situation, but just resting there on the Father’s heart – listening….
If we go to the Lord throughout the day and place our head upon His heart, we will find the same peace and joy, as we listen out for what His heart is saying to us. Not always ‘bombarding’ Him with desperate requests, but listening for His will.
“Give us this day OUR daily bread”.
If we ask the Lord, He will not only supply our daily need, but will give us ‘bread’ for those that we come into contact with on a daily basis. It may be a physical need, a prayer, words of encouragement or perhaps just being there for them.
Let’s desire to be a container for the Lord today. Let Him use us as a vessel to bless those around us. Whether we leave home today or not, let’s ask Him for daily bread – that which we can deliver to others on our Father’s behalf.
From: “…time with the Master…”