Day 6 - Saturday, October 17th
LIFE Journal
This Week's Memory Verse
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23
Devotional
We’ve looked at why, we’ve examined our hearts and our desires, and we’ve recognized that prayer isn’t something we do sporadically, but rather, it’s a part of who we are. Now, it’s time to get to the nuts and bolts of it. We all love for someone to just tell us what we need to do. It’s why YouTube and Pinterest have become our universities on how to live our lives.
When we start training for a race or a sporting competition, foundational mechanics, that is the right form and moves, are essential for toning the muscles necessary to lead us across the finish line and we need an excellent example before we ever set foot in the arena. Most people that struggle with leading a prayer filled life say its because honestly, they just don’t know what they are supposed to say. And there is no better trainer, no one more versed in giving us the how to than Jesus himself:
“This, then, is how you should pray:
‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”- Jesus (Matthew 6:9-14 NIV)
At some point or another, you’ve probably heard these words commonly referred to as The Lord’s Prayer. While it is a great place to start by repeating these words when it comes to praying, it also gives us some ideas on how we can speak to God in our own words as well. Jesus says to start by recognizing who God is in comparison to ourselves. He is God, we are not. That means identifying all the reasons He is worthy of our love and affection: his powerfulness, his kindness, his wisdom.
Next, we acknowledge His sovereignty in our lives. We can pray and ask for things, but we have to know that ultimately it is God’s will that will be done. Our limited perspective here on earth pales in comparison to all that God knows and sees. We may think we know the best outcome for our circumstances, but in the end, the Lord has the final say as to what is best for our life and the lives of those we pray for. We can ask for provision for our daily needs. We can ask for forgiveness for the ways in which we have sinned. We can ask for protection against the things that will lead us off the path in our pursuit of godliness.
Jesus wraps it up with a pretty intense endnote: if you want to experience forgiveness, you have to be willing to give it out. When we refuse to let others off the hook for the ways in which they have sinned against us, we are telling God that we don’t truly understand the message of the gospel: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Think On This Verse:
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13 NIV
Ask and Answer:
Have you ever modeled your prayers after the example set forth in Jesus’ words? Try it by putting it into your own words. Some people like to use the acronym ACTS: adoration (what is praiseworthy and good about God?), confession (what sins in your life do you need to confess?), thanksgiving (what are you grateful for?), and supplication (what do you or others need right now?). Have you ever thought about the connection between prayer and forgiveness? Is there a person you haven’t extended forgiveness to? Before anything else, start asking God to soften your heart and give forgiveness in the same way He has forgiven you!
When we start training for a race or a sporting competition, foundational mechanics, that is the right form and moves, are essential for toning the muscles necessary to lead us across the finish line and we need an excellent example before we ever set foot in the arena. Most people that struggle with leading a prayer filled life say its because honestly, they just don’t know what they are supposed to say. And there is no better trainer, no one more versed in giving us the how to than Jesus himself:
“This, then, is how you should pray:
‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”- Jesus (Matthew 6:9-14 NIV)
At some point or another, you’ve probably heard these words commonly referred to as The Lord’s Prayer. While it is a great place to start by repeating these words when it comes to praying, it also gives us some ideas on how we can speak to God in our own words as well. Jesus says to start by recognizing who God is in comparison to ourselves. He is God, we are not. That means identifying all the reasons He is worthy of our love and affection: his powerfulness, his kindness, his wisdom.
Next, we acknowledge His sovereignty in our lives. We can pray and ask for things, but we have to know that ultimately it is God’s will that will be done. Our limited perspective here on earth pales in comparison to all that God knows and sees. We may think we know the best outcome for our circumstances, but in the end, the Lord has the final say as to what is best for our life and the lives of those we pray for. We can ask for provision for our daily needs. We can ask for forgiveness for the ways in which we have sinned. We can ask for protection against the things that will lead us off the path in our pursuit of godliness.
Jesus wraps it up with a pretty intense endnote: if you want to experience forgiveness, you have to be willing to give it out. When we refuse to let others off the hook for the ways in which they have sinned against us, we are telling God that we don’t truly understand the message of the gospel: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Think On This Verse:
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13 NIV
Ask and Answer:
Have you ever modeled your prayers after the example set forth in Jesus’ words? Try it by putting it into your own words. Some people like to use the acronym ACTS: adoration (what is praiseworthy and good about God?), confession (what sins in your life do you need to confess?), thanksgiving (what are you grateful for?), and supplication (what do you or others need right now?). Have you ever thought about the connection between prayer and forgiveness? Is there a person you haven’t extended forgiveness to? Before anything else, start asking God to soften your heart and give forgiveness in the same way He has forgiven you!
Prayer
Lord, help me to pray like Jesus. ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ Show me those I need to forgive in the same way you have already forgiven me. Amen.