Scripture Reading: Luke 18:1-8; Matthew 6:5-13
Key Scripture: “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Luke 18:1
Devotional Reading
Prayer is not a spiritual activity reserved for a select group of people. Jesus made it clear: “Men ought always to pray.” Prayer is God’s invitation to every believer.
The question should therefore not be, “Should I pray?” but rather, “How should I pray?”
The disciples saw Jesus praying and witnessed the extraordinary things that followed His prayer life. Their response was, “Lord, teach us to pray.” They understood that prayer was something they needed to learn.
Jesus answered them by giving what we commonly call The Lord’s Prayer. He was not merely giving them words to recite; He was giving them a pattern for approaching God.
Notice that the pattern encompasses the major concerns of human life: God’s kingdom and will, daily provision, forgiveness, protection, and deliverance from evil.
Prayer therefore gives us the privilege of bringing every legitimate concern of life before God.
Do not allow prayerlessness to become normal in your life. If you do not yet know how to pray effectively, learn. If you struggle to pray consistently, develop the discipline. The Father wants to hear from you.
Personal Reflection
- Is prayer a consistent and meaningful part of my relationship with God, or do I only pray when I have a problem?
Life Application
- Set aside a definite time today to pray. Do not focus first on how long you pray; focus on coming consciously into God’s presence.
Prayer Points
- Father, give me a growing desire and discipline to pray.
- Help me to make prayer a consistent part of my daily walk with You.