Why do we pray and how are we supposed to go about doing it? So small yet so big. Everybody's doing it, you know. You do it, I do it, he does it and she does it. Have you ever heard the saying "there's no such thing as an atheist in a foxhole?" Prayer seems to be something that we just do. But have you ever took the time to actually think about what you are asking when you tell your friend, your pastor or Sunday School teacher about a problem you are having and you ask them to pray for you? What are you really asking them to do?
God provides the answers we are looking for in His Word particularly in the ministry of Jesus. In fact a good place to start our search is in the Book of Luke. I have a feeling that we will eventually cover alot of the entire Bible answering these questions but Luke is a good place to start............and finish.
Luke 11: 1-11
1One 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."
2He said to them, "When you pray, say:" 'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3Give us each day our daily bread. 4Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.' "
5Then 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, 6because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.'
7"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.' 8I 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.
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. 10For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
11"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?
Here we see Jesus' answers to our questions. Let's focus on 4 words that Jesus highlights in Luke 11. The words Desperation, Desire, Boldness and Confidence are usually not words associated with prayer but they are important words as we begin to unwrap this awsome mystery of prayer. They are at the center of what it means to pray.
Let's start off with our Need for God......Desperation.
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