Friday Devo
Fast 2023 - Day 3
Scripture Reading:
Luke 11:1
…one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray…"
…one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray…"
Commentary:
We all need Jesus to teach us to pray and to pray more effectively. It is not ordinary for the natural man to decide to pray. When we are born again and follow Jesus, we can either starve or nourish our spiritual life by how much we pray. Prayer is the way that our spirits are nourished. We can be selfish with prayer by simply asking God for things for ourselves, but the biblical purpose of prayer is that we may get to know God Himself.
“Ask, and you will receive…” (John 16:24). We complain before God, and sometimes we are apologetic or indifferent to Him, but we actually ask Him for very few things. A child exhibits a magnificent boldness to ask! Jesus said, “…unless you…become as little children…” (Matthew 18:3). Ask, and God will do. Give Jesus the opportunity and the room to work. The problem is that many of us wait to do this until we are out of other options.
When a person is at his wits’ end, it no longer seems to be a cowardly thing to pray; in fact, it is the only way he can get in touch with the truth and the reality of God Himself. Be yourself before God and present Him with your problems— the things that have brought you to your wits’ end. Recognize you are not self-sufficient, and it is normal in our Christian life to ask God for all things.
“Ask, and you will receive…” (John 16:24). We complain before God, and sometimes we are apologetic or indifferent to Him, but we actually ask Him for very few things. A child exhibits a magnificent boldness to ask! Jesus said, “…unless you…become as little children…” (Matthew 18:3). Ask, and God will do. Give Jesus the opportunity and the room to work. The problem is that many of us wait to do this until we are out of other options.
When a person is at his wits’ end, it no longer seems to be a cowardly thing to pray; in fact, it is the only way he can get in touch with the truth and the reality of God Himself. Be yourself before God and present Him with your problems— the things that have brought you to your wits’ end. Recognize you are not self-sufficient, and it is normal in our Christian life to ask God for all things.
Questions For Reflection:
1. Am I like a child who comes boldly to ask God about everything?
2. Or does my self-sufficiency show by what I don’t talk to Him about?
2. Or does my self-sufficiency show by what I don’t talk to Him about?
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for being a teacher. Teach me to be like a child in prayer. I want to come often with my requests. Today, I want to bring my life situations to you and ask for help. Show me areas where I am self-sufficient and not trusting you. Forgive me for not bringing those things to you in prayer. I realize that the more I come to you and talk to you, the closer our relationship will be. Continue to draw me close to you.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
4. Can a person be good enough to go to heaven? No. Because Jesus rose from the dead proving He is God, I believe a person is saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)
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