Monday
Luke 11.1 “Lord, teach us to pray…”
Behind that request there is a lot of honesty, even humility. We all recognise prayer is vital, that is, life-giving. How do we speak to God? What do we ask for? Is there a right way and a wrong way to pray? To the first question, we speak as children to a loving parent. To the second, we ask whatever we need and whenever we need it. The third is best answered by remembering God knows our heart, and our world. The only wrong way to pray may well be not bothering to pray at all!
Tuesday
Luke 11.9 “Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you.”
Promises, promises. If I ask for grace in time of need God says, my grace is sufficient for you. If I seek God’s guidance about a big decision, God says you will look and you will find me when you seek with your whole heart. If life seems to be a closed door, remember at Easter Jesus came and stood amongst them “though the doors were closed”. No, life doesn’t always turn out the way we thought, or the way we want. So we trust God’s promises, because all God’s promises are ‘Yes’ in Christ! (2 Cor.1.20)
Wednesday
John 17.20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message.”
It’s well worth remembering that before we utter a word of prayer, we have already been prayed for by the One to whom we pray. What’s more, the crucified and risen Lord “is at the right hand of God and ever lives to make intercession for us.” Every day, every breath and heartbeat, we are held in the heart of Eternal Love, drawn into the inner life of the Triune God. The Spirit prays within us, and Christ intercedes for us, at the right hand of the Father. We pray as those continually prayed for.
Thursday
Romans 12.12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
These three things are connected in the spiritual life. Joy isn’t an occasional emotional high, it’s the underlying confidence of faith, trustfulness in God who is the God of hope. Patience in affliction is easier said than done, but it’s often in the hard times, even the hardest times, that strength comes to us from beyond us, from God. Faithfulness in prayer is that persistent leaning on God, in whose hands we are held, and in whose loving purposes our daily lives are woven in mercy and grace.
Friday
1 Timothy 2.1 “I urge then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for everyone…”
Paul is writing about prayer in worship – and insisting that the worshipping community should pray urgently, widely, generously, faithfully and inclusively. For everyone. The church is not entitled as a first priority to pray for itself and its own success. The Christian community at prayer is putting into words the love of God for a broken world, and for people to be loved and prayed for wherever we might find them and wherever they have ended up in life. We should pray in a church with glass walls, and with our eyes open and with hearts pre-set to compassion as default.
Saturday
1 Timothy 2.1-2 “I urge then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for everyone…for kings and all those in authority that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”
The idea that the church shouldn’t get involved in politics is one that Paul’s whole life refutes. From his speech on the Areopagus, his meetings with Agrippa, his detention in Philippi, his insistence against every claim of the Emperor that there is one Lord and his name is Jesus – political. Faithful discipleship requires of us an awareness of power, how it is used and abused. One way we confront and critique power is in prayers for justice to the One whose is the kingdom, the power and the glory.
Sunday
2 Corinthians 1.10-11a “God has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers.”
This verse is one good reason we pray for each other, and for those going through difficult times and valleys of darkness. We have no idea what difference our prayers make to how people’s lives turn out. We do know that people are helped by knowing they are being prayed for. What we don’t know is how God answers not only our prayers, but the deepest needs of those he loves. God uses our faithful prayers in ways we can’t begin to imagine in bringing blessing to others. You know you’re doing this prayer thing right when someone says, “you help us by your prayers.”
We are pilgrims on a journey. We are brothers on the road.
We are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load.
I will hold the Christ-light for you in the night time of your fear.
I will hold my hand out to you; speak the peace you long to hear.
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