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Scripture:
Luke 11:1-13
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.”
He said to them, “When you pray,
say: “ ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily
bread.
Forgive us our sins, for we also
forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into
temptation.’ ”
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, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me,
and I have nothing to set before him.’
“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.’ 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.
“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. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who
knocks, the door will be opened.
“Which of you fathers, if your
son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg,
will give him a scorpion? 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!"
Awe
Sense Daily Practice
IN
THE MORNING (15 minutes)
· Be
still. Find a quiet place. Get seated comfortably.
Relax. Take a few deep breaths. Remind yourself, “I am here to meet with the
Father. No other appointment competes in importance.” Read a Bible verse for the day.
· Adoration. Think on the Greatness of God. How
incredible is that God knows you and desires fellowship with you. God is eager
to encounter you. Adore him
· Thanksgiving. Name the things God has given you for which
you are grateful: family, friends, health, work, the church, fun, food, etc.
Picture these gracious gifts and thank God for each one.
· Dedication. Review the large vows you have taken as a
Christian, church member, spouse, employee. Reaffirm these, but also focus
intently upon this day. Offer your life to God for joyful service today.
· Guidance. Envision your day with God. Foresee Him in
each task, each relationship, each opportunity, each member of your family, and
in the unscheduled events sand encounters. Ask for God’s guidance in each
aspect of your day.
· Intercession. Make a list of the names of persons who
need a relationship with Jesus. Resolve to pray for them daily. Also include in
your intercessory prayers those whom you love and those who suffer in whatever
way. If our imagination could grasp the effect of
prayer on others, we would all pray more often and with more assurance. In
addition, pray for the country, that the Kingdom of Christ may come in all our
national affairs.
Here are four ways to pray for the persons you have named. Use these forms of prayer alternately.
Call their names in God’s
presence, asking God to fulfill their needs.
Picture each person in the
transforming presence of God.
Write a prayer letter to God in
which you express your concerns and hopes for each.
Offer a prayer of presence by
deliberately being with the person for whom you pray.
· Petition. Tell God what most deeply desire in your
life. “Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.” (Matthew
21:22) Don’t be fooled by the blank
check appearance of this promise. As you spend time in God’s presence, your
desires change; your true wants get crystallized by the Spirit. So persist in
asking for what you really want until you know what it is.
· Act
of trust. Intentionally
release your prayers to God and trust God to answer them. “…for whoever would
approach God must believe that God exists and…rewards those who seek
(God).” (Heb. 11:6
· Wait. In the silence wait to hear what God wishes
to say to you. “Speak, Lord your child
listens.” Repeat the passage for the day and reflect on it. Write it on a slip
of paper and carry it with you throughout the day.
Prayer
Pattern from an Adventure In Prayer by Ben Johnson
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