5 Habits - Prayer #2
Welcome to Everyday Devotions. These daily Bible readings and Prayer Pathways are designed to help you go deeper with God each day in response to what you are hearing at the Everyday Church services and Life Group gatherings.
Tuesday 14th January
In this week’s Everyday Devotions, we are learning some Prayer Pathways – some simple structures that God has given us to help us to marshal our thoughts and our focus whenever we come to him in prayer. Today we are carrying on looking at the most famous of those prayer pathways – the prayer that Jesus taught us, which is known as The Lord’s Prayer.
Bible Meditation
Matthew 6:5-13
5 “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.9 “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. [For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever. Amen.]’
1) Jesus uses the phrase ‘the Kingdom of God’ to any proof that God is on the throne of the universe. In verse 10, he is therefore encouraging us to pray that God’s rule will be as obvious on earth as it is in heaven, so let’s get specific. What would it mean for the kingdom of God to come and the will of God to be done as much as it is in heaven in:
- Your own life?
- In the lives of your family and your friends?
- In the lives of the nonbelievers you work and socialise with?
- In our culture and in the life of our nation?
Don’t rush over this. Let your imagination run freely. Now answer this question: Does God want to do those things that you’ve imagined? Jesus wouldn’t ask you to pray for it, if his Father didn’t want to do it!
2) God cares about the macro but he also cares about the micro. From the heady heights of praying that his Kingdom will come in our nation, Jesus encourages us to pray that he will also provide for our very practical daily needs. So, be specific. What are your own practical needs for today?
Luke 18:35-43
35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. 42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” 43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.
3) Why do you think Jesus asks the blind man, “What do you want me to do for you?” Isn’t it obvious?!
4) Why do think God wants you to be specific with him about what you want too?
5) How does this answer the question that many Christians ask: ‘What’s the point in my praying when God knows what I need before I ask him?’ How would you answer a Christian friend who asked you that question?
Prayer Pathway
In that case, let’s ask God! Let’s continue using The Lord’s Prayer as our first prayer pathway. Take some time to worship and pray, using the following headings to structure your prayers:
OUR FATHER: Joyful thanks to God that today you can run freely into his arms as your Dad.
IN HEAVEN: Faith-filled proclamation of the truth of Psalm 115:3 – ”God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.”
HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME: Speaking God’s Name back to him from the Scriptures, asking him to be true to his Name and to make all the world confess his Name is holy.
YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL BE DONE: Pray specific prayers for the will of God to be done in your own life, in the lives of your family and friends, in the lives of your nonbelieving friends, in your workplace or college, and in your nation.
GIVE US TODAY OUR DAILY BREAD: Be specific with God in your answer to his question: “What do you want me to do for you?” Bring focused, specific and faith-filled requests that he will provide for all your daily needs.
OUR FATHER: Joyful thanks to God that today you can run freely into his arms as your Dad.
IN HEAVEN: Faith-filled proclamation of the truth of Psalm 115:3 – ”God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.”
HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME: Speaking God’s Name back to him from the Scriptures, asking him to be true to his Name and to make all the world confess his Name is holy.
YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL BE DONE: Pray specific prayers for the will of God to be done in your own life, in the lives of your family and friends, in the lives of your nonbelieving friends, in your workplace or college, and in your nation.
GIVE US TODAY OUR DAILY BREAD: Be specific with God in your answer to his question: “What do you want me to do for you?” Bring focused, specific and faith-filled requests that he will provide for all your daily needs.
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Connect: We’d really like your feedback on how these Everyday Devotions are helping you and how we might help you even better. Talk to us by emailing: devotions@everyday.org.uk
Continue: your connection with us by attending our Online Church Service
Connect: We’d really like your feedback on how these Everyday Devotions are helping you and how we might help you even better. Talk to us by emailing: devotions@everyday.org.uk
Continue: your connection with us by attending our Online Church Service