5 Feb, 2008
Would you kneel down and pray in a cement parking lot when the wind chill temperature is twenty degrees below zero?
This picture is not of the actual event I describe below, but it's a vivid reminder for all of us who claim to be followers of Jesus to evaluate our prayer lives:
The recent bone-chilling cold weather that has affected much of America reminded me of an experience I had about a year ago. My wife and I stopped at a Target Store to do some shopping. We were moving quickly through the lot because we live in Minnesota in January. But this 20 degrees below zero was something that even us macho weather people don't like!
Suddenly, I was stopped cold...so to speak! There was a man beside his car with his face on the ground. Was he hurt? No, he was a Muslim taxi driver kneeling on his prayer rug doing his afternoon prayer chats.
As I ran inside the store, two thoughts ran though my head:
How sad....this poor guy has been deceived by Satan to believe that if he does these prayer rituals, he has a better chance of making it to paradise.
How sad....I'm not this dedicated to praying and I know the One and Only True Living God!
picture courtesy images.google.com
Time with The One and Only God!
Matthew 6:7-8 (NLT)
7
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about prayer?
Jesus makes it clear that we're not to pray the same words over and over as if we're reciting some magic formula that requires God to come through for us. God is a loving Heavenly Father who wants us to come to Him with our needs, but He wants us to come with trusting, sincere hearts.
Think about it. The Only True Living God knows our needs and loves as as His own when we have received Jesus Christ into our lives as our Savior.
There's no need to "babble", because we belong to the Father!
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Spend a few minutes being honest with yourself and God about your own prayer life or lack of one.
- Thank God that He is your loving Heavenly Father who knows your needs and wants to listen to you as you talk to Him. Thank Him that you can talk to him without having to use some sort of ritual. Praise Him for the truth that He never changes - that you can depend on Him, no matter what! Ask His Spirit to keep teaching you how to pray.
- For the next several days, spend at least five minutes in worship of God before you talk to Him about your needs and requests. Try listening to a worship CD or go for a walk in silence. After giving Him praise and glory, tell your Father your needs.
- Write out your needs and requests. It might be for strength, wisdom, courage, physical healing for yourself or someone else, a mending of a broken relationship, a need at school, or home, or ____________________________? Keep track of God's answers and what He teaches you while you wait for His answers.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- Whenever you see people of false religions praying, rather than judging them, stop and pray that followers of Jesus will be able to learn their stories and connect them to God's Story.
- Use today's DAILYBIDE to enourage other followers of Christ to evaluate their own prayer lives. Remember to start by being honest about yourself.
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