Based on “Jesus Teaches Us How to Pray” by Pastor Mark Balmer; 6/16-17/12,
Message #MB515; Daily Devotional #3 - “Enter His Gates with Thanksgiving”
Preparing the Soil (Introduction): Jesus teaches us how to pray (Matthew 6:5-8), and we are commanded to "pray without ceasing, giving thanks for all things, for this is God's will for us in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18) Often our prayers are running dialogs of all that we feel the Lord needs to know, but our Heavenly Father already knows what we need before we ask Him. The Creator, our Heavenly Father, always knows everything, especially what we need. Indeed, we are told that, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." (Romans 8:26) God Himself prays with us and for us, for we do not know what we ought to pray for! But we are commanded to pray without stopping because it keeps us constantly connected with God Almighty so that everything that He has provided for us in heavenly realms may be ours in Christ. So, since we can trust God to pray WITH us and FOR us, and He already KNOWS all that we need, let’s learn how to pray.
Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): Jesus teaches us HOW to pray. (Matthew 6:9-13). “Our Father in Heaven:” We are always blessed when we begin prayer with addressing God as Our Heavenly Father because this entreaty already begins to refocus our thoughts and cares back to what really matters. We can talk to God always; He never grows tired of us! 'Our' Father’ reminds us that we are not in this alone; we have God and His Body of Believers with us in our lives. We have a 'Father', Who is provider and protector and Who is Almighty. And He is 'in Heaven,' eternal, perfect, and without sin. Just focusing our hearts and minds on this truth alone can set our lives back on the right track. Then recalling that His name is Holy satisfies the longings of our hearts for righteousness and perfection. To pray that ‘His kingdom come’ before we pray for anything else, sets our priorities straight indeed. This affects not only His rule in our lives, but His rule in the lives of others and eternally. This pattern for prayer is such a blessing because it points our purposes and affections back onto the One who is worthy and able. That is empowering! Then we are so blessed to pray ‘His will be done,’ remembering who He is, His holiness, who we are in Him and how we are related to Him. These truths melt all the cares, strife and stress of this temporary world away.
Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): Prayer is such a gift! We have Jesus, Who modeled this lifestyle for us and taught us that we should pray by simply remembering Who our God is, who we are in Him, and what His purposes are for us and those around us. These steps all prepare us for sweet surrender, for His will to be done in us, just as it was in Christ. God has so many blessings in store for us when we stay connected to Him in prayer, remembering WHO He is. We can always stop and ask ourselves the 5W's and an H. They are all answered in how we should pray: 'Who?' Our Father. 'What?' Thy will be done. 'When?' Now and forever. 'Where?' On Earth and in Heaven. 'Why?' His Name is Holy. 'How?' Forgiveness. This is how we are to pray: to realign our thoughts (all 5w's plus h) and priorities with God Almighty by simply staying focused on the Lord and entering into His presence with praise (Psalm 100:4-5). Practice today, by praying like you breathe. Prayer: Father, thank You, for who You are. Help us to remember You, Lord. Empower us to do Your will as we ask that it be done for and through us on earth as it is in Heaven. Thank You for forgiveness and Your eternal perspective, Lord, and may Your praise inhabit our life and breath. Amen.
Cultivating (Additional Reading): Psalm 100; Psalm 37:4-6; Acts 17:24-25
CSH
Calvary Chapel of Melbourne; 2955 Minton Road; W. Melbourne, FL 32904; 321-952-9673
All Bible references are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted.