I love Jesus’ sense of humor.
Don’t think he had one? Consider the time the disciples asked him to “teach us to pray.”
Jesus immediately responded with a beautiful prayer that teaches us much about our relationship with God the father. But did he stop there? Is prayer simply a rote recital of a few magic phrases? Certainly not!
Now that he had their attention, Jesus did what he did best – tell a story to teach a lesson. What were the points of the lesson?
- It’s never a bad time to pray. God doesn’t care what time of day it is, or what you’re doing. Take a moment and connect with Him!
- Don’t worry about asking for the wrong thing. God will give you exactly what you need.
- Sometimes, what we ask for isn’t what we truly need. My daughter, if given the choice, would eat chocolate milk and candy for every meal. Does this mean I give that to her every time she asks? Of course not. I give her food because I know that although she is hungry, candy will not meet her needs.
A more contemporary lesson how to pray can be discovered via Igniter Media. Thanks Johnny and Chachi!
Have you practiced any prayer positions today?
Luke 11:1-13
11 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.”
2 He said to them, “When you pray, say:
“‘Father,[a]
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.[b]
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
4 Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.[c]
And lead us not into temptation.[d]’”
5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity[e] he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.
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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for[f] 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!”