Word@Work Luke174 - Luke 11:1
Published: Mon, 08/23/10
Word@Work from BeaconLight
A LIFE OF PRAYER
Luke 11:1 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." (NIV)
More than all the other Gospel authors, Luke writes about the prayer life of Jesus. This evangelist was not one of the disciples surrounding Jesus, so he gained his information from interviews with eye witnesses (Luke 1:1-4). It was as though he asked, "What most impressed you about Jesus?"; and got the answer, "He was always praying!" We know that Jesus prayed at times of crises, sometimes in public, often in private; but also as a part of His daily routine. But such prayer times were obviously different from the prayer formulas of the rabbis, and much more like that of John the Baptist. There was an intimacy and profound personal effect on the person who prayed; the satisfaction of a two-way communication rather than religiously repeated words.
Although the disciples heard His public prayers, some of which are recorded for us, they wanted to know what prayer was all about, and how to do it - to be like Jesus and to benefit from the intimacy with Father God as He did. They took their opportunity to ask the question after He returned from a favourite spot where He had been praying. His example and discipline had impressed them and they wanted to be like Him: which must be the true aim of every apprentice/disciple.
Today, many might envy the prayer life of a godly person, but somehow think that it is not possible to become intimate with God. Others might have drifted from that close relationship and feel diffident about coming back. So, Jesus' lessons in how to pray are as valuable now as then. He opens up God's royal route to the centre of His heart, and encourages us to 'get real' with Father God who loves us. However, some have lost that appetite. Perhaps your example, the workplace Christian Fellowship or local Bible Study group is an opportunity for them to see godly people in prayer, to hear their requests and to witness God's answers. So first be refreshed in your own prayer life and then allow others to be stimulated in theirs.
Prayer: All loving God. Thank You that You desire a personal relationship with me. Please forgive me when I have not known how to draw close to You, or when I knew how but resisted Your call. Please help me to pray in such a way that there is a real open communication between us, established by Jesus Christ when He died as the punishment for all my sins. Thank You for those godly people whose prayer life has blessed me and made me hungry to know You more. May I also be a good example and encouragement to believers around me, that they may desire to spend time in prayer with You too. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
More than all the other Gospel authors, Luke writes about the prayer life of Jesus. This evangelist was not one of the disciples surrounding Jesus, so he gained his information from interviews with eye witnesses (Luke 1:1-4). It was as though he asked, "What most impressed you about Jesus?"; and got the answer, "He was always praying!" We know that Jesus prayed at times of crises, sometimes in public, often in private; but also as a part of His daily routine. But such prayer times were obviously different from the prayer formulas of the rabbis, and much more like that of John the Baptist. There was an intimacy and profound personal effect on the person who prayed; the satisfaction of a two-way communication rather than religiously repeated words.
Although the disciples heard His public prayers, some of which are recorded for us, they wanted to know what prayer was all about, and how to do it - to be like Jesus and to benefit from the intimacy with Father God as He did. They took their opportunity to ask the question after He returned from a favourite spot where He had been praying. His example and discipline had impressed them and they wanted to be like Him: which must be the true aim of every apprentice/disciple.
Today, many might envy the prayer life of a godly person, but somehow think that it is not possible to become intimate with God. Others might have drifted from that close relationship and feel diffident about coming back. So, Jesus' lessons in how to pray are as valuable now as then. He opens up God's royal route to the centre of His heart, and encourages us to 'get real' with Father God who loves us. However, some have lost that appetite. Perhaps your example, the workplace Christian Fellowship or local Bible Study group is an opportunity for them to see godly people in prayer, to hear their requests and to witness God's answers. So first be refreshed in your own prayer life and then allow others to be stimulated in theirs.
Prayer: All loving God. Thank You that You desire a personal relationship with me. Please forgive me when I have not known how to draw close to You, or when I knew how but resisted Your call. Please help me to pray in such a way that there is a real open communication between us, established by Jesus Christ when He died as the punishment for all my sins. Thank You for those godly people whose prayer life has blessed me and made me hungry to know You more. May I also be a good example and encouragement to believers around me, that they may desire to spend time in prayer with You too. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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