2025-02-06
Luke 18:1 NKJV
A PhD student at Princeton University once walked into Albert Einstein’s office and asked, “What is there left in the world for original dissertation research?” The brilliant scientist replied, “Find out about prayer.” Einstein wasn’t the only person who was curious about prayer. Jesus taught about it, and the reason was because the disciples asked Him to. They may not have desired to write dissertations on it, but they wanted to know how to pray. It’s the only time in the Bible where one person clearly teaches another person how to pray, and all because of a request from the disciples.
“Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray'” (Luke 11:1 NIV). The disciples had been observing Jesus as He prayed. Apparently, the way He prayed was so distinct from the way they prayed that they said, “Show us how to pray the way you pray.” Before Jesus fed the multitude supernaturally, or selected His twelve disciples, or calmed the storm on the Sea Galilee, He took time to pray. And the results of His prayers were so amazing that the disciples said, “Lord, teach us to pray.”
Prayer is not primarily about telling God what you need; it’s about getting closer to God. As one pastor writes: “It’s almost as if God is saying, ‘Don’t bring me your shopping list. I already know what’s on it. We will deal with that later. Bring me your heart. Bring me your love. Bring me your undivided attention.'” Prayer is not mainly about getting things from the Lord; it’s about spending time with the Lord.
Soul food: Gen 20-23; Luke 8:40-56; Ps 125; Prov 4:3-4
2025-02-05
Luke 11:1 NKJV
Demonstrating an uncommon level of honesty, a well-known pastor says: “Prayer is the biggest struggle I have… It’s difficult to maintain a consistent prayer life, and especially difficult to sustain the conviction that it does any good at times.” Prayer doesn’t come naturally for the majority of us. We know it’s supposed to be a dialogue, but often it feels like a monologue. There is nothing worse than trying to talk with someone who won’t talk back. We don’t like to admit it, but often what we are really wondering about prayer is, “How can I pray so that God will give me what I want?” One little boy was asked if he said his prayers every night. He replied, “No, some nights I don’t need anything.”
Prayer is not about the particular words you use or the length of time you spend praying. It’s about getting acquainted. It’s about building a relationship. If you have something to talk to someone about, you may say, “We need to find somewhere we can talk.” You want to make sure you’re heard, and that you hear what the other person has to say. When you eliminate the noise of this world, you maximize your ability to hear God. It shows God you’re taking your relationship with Him seriously.
The psalmist said, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1 NKJV). Do you have a “secret place” where you can be alone with God? It can be anywhere. But you need a place where you can go and show you mean business with God.
Soul food: Gen 17-19; Luke 8:26-39; Ps 67; Prov 4:1-2
2024-04-05
Matthew 6:32 NLT
Jesus said, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (v. 33 NLT). You ask, “When I think about God, is that the same as praying?” It can be. We’re all familiar with the power of unspoken communication. Many of us grew up with parents who didn’t have to say a thing to make their will known. It may have been a certain look in their eye or some other unspoken signal. But we knew exactly what was being communicated and how we were expected to respond.
Prayer works that way too. When you think about God, it’s prayer; and when God communicates His thoughts back to you, it’s a form of answered prayer. A little boy wanted a bicycle for Christmas, and one night he was praying at the top of his voice telling God exactly what kind and color of bike he wanted. His mother said, “Son, you don’t need to shout for God to hear you.” He replied, “I know Mama, but I need to shout if Grandpa is going to hear me and buy me that bike!”
The truth is, you don’t need to shout for God to hear you, and you don’t need to try and conjure up answers to your prayers. Jesus said, “Your heavenly Father knows what you need before you even ask.” So, why even take the time to pray? Because God wants you to approach Him with confidence, trust Him with all your needs, and build a relationship with Him. That’s what it’s all about!
Soul food: Jer 25-27; Mark 1:9-15; Ps 31; Prov 8:34-36
2023-01-31
Philippians 4:7 NKJV
Wise people never make important decisions in a wrong emotional state. When Elijah found out that Queen Jezebel was after him, he was ready to give up his role as a prophet and die. So God gave him forty days of rest, prayer and recovery, before he decided what his next steps would be. He was now ready to decide on the basis of his faith in God, and not his fear of Jezebel. And his decision was very different at the end of forty days of rest, than it would have been before he rested.
You’ve probably seen people make terrible decisions when they were drained, tired, discouraged, and afraid, that they would never have made otherwise. Generally speaking, you won’t choose the right course of action when you’re in the wrong frame of mind.
When you have an important decision to make, sometimes the wisest thing you can do is – wait until you’re rested. An anxious mind in an exhausted body can lead to a terrible decision. The Bible says: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (vv. 6-7 NKJV).
Notice what “the peace of God” does for you. It will “guard” your mind. From what? Acting impulsively, acting selfishly, or acting maliciously. Acting in any way that will result in loss rather than gain – and regret rather than joy.
Soul food: Gen 17-19; Luke 7:1-10; Ps 107:17-22; Prov 3:21-24
2022-06-19
Joshua 24:15 NKJV
The beloved radio commentator, Paul Harvey, wrote: “At a time when being a buddy to one’s son is popular, I am going to stay a Father… If a gap exists between my sons and daughters and myself, I am going to work hard to understand, but I am also going to work hard to be understood… when they tell it like it is, I will listen, even if I like it better the way it was. If old fashioned things such as prayer, Bible study, worship and faith in God ever seem to my children to be out of date, square, or whatever – I trust God’s help to have faith enough to yet pray for them, and I pledge with the patriarch Job to offer additional sacrifices for them.
With love in our home, I will answer their questions about the facts of life, but at nudeness and lewdness I refuse to wink… If experimentation with drugs or Marijuana is ever a problem, it will be in violation of my every prayer and request… I want my children to know that I make mistakes, that I am foolish, proud and often inconsistent. But I will not tolerate that as an excuse for my hypocrisy. I will ask them to help me change… and to expect me to help them change…
Others may look to the under-thirty crowd for the wisdom to throw away the past, and to say what will remain for future generations; others may let the offspring in the house determine the foods, the music, and the spending of the household, but I am going to stay a Father.”
Soul food: Est 4:9-5:3; Heb 4:7-16
