Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: "Apostle Tom" <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Tue, 02 Oct 2007 15:56:34 -0500
To: pressingon@hotmail.com
Subject: Morning Manna (Oct. 3); BP: Lk. 11:1-4; RBTTY: Eph. 5:17-33; Is. 17-19
October 3 “Teach Us to Pray”
“And it came to pass that, as He was praying in a certain place, when He
ceased, one of His disciples said unto Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John
also taught His disciples’.”
Luke 11:1
We don’t know how or what—but He does.
Prayer.
Of all the spiritual disciplines, none is more difficult than this one.
Part of the reason is we don’t know “how” to pray. Should we close our
eyes, clasp our hands together and kneel? Should our language be formal and
stilted? Should we first write it out? And, how do we keep our minds from
wandering or simply stay awake long enough to pray?
A second difficult rests in our “focus.” We have so many things to
pray for: Personal needs. . .family needs. . .financial needs. .
.work-related issues. . .health issues. . .the neighbor’s dog that keeps
turning the trash can over or digging up the flowerbed. And, what about the
threat of terrorism. . .hungry children around the world. . .division in our
church, etc.? Why, it’s enough to leave you reeling and overwhelmed?
Perhaps this was why Jesus’ disciples asked Him “Lord, teach us TO
pray.” It’s possible they had “spiritual mechanics” on their mind—i.e., the
“how to’s” or “form” for praying; however, more than likely they were
saying, “Lord, give us the DESIRE to pray”. . .for we certainly don’t come
about it naturally. When we finally do pray, too often it’s all about us
and our needs and little about others and theirs. And, sadly, more times
than not we spend more time talking than we do listening, when we’d probably
be better off to say “Dear Lord, what’s on YOUR mind this morning?”
Although most commentators view this portion of Dr. Luke’s writing as a
restatement of Jesus’ teaching in the Beatitudes or Sermon on the Mount (Mt.
6:9-13), its context and timing would indicate otherwise. Could it be that
the disciples (like us) “just didn’t get it” the first go-round? Could this
be “righteous remedial training” for them—especially since they’re finally
getting around to asking Him to teach them?
Regardless, what’s important is that they felt the NEED to pray and
knew WHOM to ask. Glory! Wouldn’t you have loved to have been there that
day, eavesdropping on Jesus’ conversation/communion with the Father? Most
likely, they were out in a quiet, somewhat solitary place—for our Lord
seemed drawn to such environs (Mk. 1:35; Lk. 6:12), whether it be early
morning or all night.
Most likely, Jesus’ praying was like His preaching/teaching/speaking:
It was definitely “different” and “passionately powerful” (Mk. 1:27; Lk.
4:36). And, we can rest assured it was quite personal and deeply
intimate—for effectual prayer never springs from the lips; it always erupts
from the depths of the soul.
Oh, dear Pilgrim, shouldn’t this be our deepest heart desire
today—“Lord, teach us to pray”? Most likely, when we ask this from a heart
that cannot rest until He does, we’ll discover a depth of intimacy with Him
we’ve never known before.
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